North Star Mining, Inc. · Accident type, without injuries
HAD A ROCK FALL 1ST BREAK BETWEEN #3 & #4 INTERSECTION ABOUT 5' HIGH. REBOLTED & SET CRIBS & TIMBERS.
No 4: 216 MSHA citations Coal
North Star Mining, Inc.
· Underground
Controlled by
Carl Kirk
Printer,
Floyd County,
KY
·
Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 1517734
No 4 has $18K in proposed MSHA penalties and $3K outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 6
- Years on record
- 1996–2003
- Latest incident
- Dec 2003
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
216
citations
61
significant & substantial
$18,237
proposed penalties
$15,707
paid to date
86% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $2,530 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
97
inspections on record
2,208
inspection hours
9.8
citations per 100 inspection hours
ⓘ
This rate is recorded citations divided by MSHA inspection hours, per 100 hours. It reflects inspection effort, not mine size or production.216 citations across 2,208 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
No 4 has $18K in proposed MSHA penalties and $3K outstanding across 0 contested dockets.
Penalty disposition
ⓘ
Differences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.$18K
proposed penalties
$18K
current assessed
$16K
paid to date
$3K
outstanding
214 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2004-03-11.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.
Violation severity profile
ⓘ
Shares are computed over citations that carry the MSHA gravity and negligence coding; a small share of records are uncoded.28.5%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
28.5%
reasonably likely or greater
7.9%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.5% none, 20.1% low, 79.4% moderate, 0.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at No 4 shows 93% of 353 respirable coal dust samples met the 1.5 mg/m3 standard.
Health sampling
ⓘ
A sample is a point in time compliance measurement, not an individual exposure history. These figures describe MSHA sampling records and do not establish causation or personal dose.Respirable coal dust
ⓘ
Respirable coal dust and silica figures cover coal facilities. Dust compliance is measured against the current 1.5 mg/m3 standard; samples predating the 2014 standard are included, so compliance rates are a coarse historical signal.
Last sampled: 2004-04-22, 22 years ago
ⓘ
Respirable coal dust and silica figures cover coal facilities. Dust compliance is measured against the current 1.5 mg/m3 standard; samples predating the 2014 standard are included, so compliance rates are a coarse historical signal.93%
within 1.5 mg/m3
353
samples
4.04
dust max (mg/m3)
184 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 169 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR156
- SCOOP CAR OPERATOR26
- SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)24
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2004-01-05, 22 years ago6.1
silica avg (%)
28
samples
13.9
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR12
Noise
ⓘ
The share counts noise samples whose measured dose exceeded the 90 dBA permissible exposure limit. It describes the sampled workplace, not what reached the miner's ear: hearing conservation programs and the hearing protection worn during the shift are recorded separately and are not reflected here.
Last sampled: 2004-02-25, 22 years ago
ⓘ
The share counts noise samples whose measured dose exceeded the 90 dBA permissible exposure limit. It describes the sampled workplace, not what reached the miner's ear: hearing conservation programs and the hearing protection worn during the shift are recorded separately and are not reflected here.9%
over PEL
11
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR2
- SCOOP CAR OPERATOR2
- SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)2
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Health sampling trend
ⓘ
A sample is a point in time compliance measurement, not an individual exposure history. These figures describe MSHA sampling records and do not establish causation or personal dose.Respirable coal dust by year
ⓘ
Respirable coal dust and silica figures cover coal facilities. Dust compliance is measured against the current 1.5 mg/m3 standard; samples predating the 2014 standard are included, so compliance rates are a coarse historical signal.| Year | within 1.5 mg/m3 | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 100% | 26 |
| 2003 | 99% | 78 |
| 2002 | 99% | 82 |
| 2001 | 83% | 86 |
| 2000 | 91% | 81 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 5.0 | 4 |
| 2002 | 6.4 | 5 |
| 2001 | 5.4 | 12 |
| 2000 | 7.6 | 7 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 0% | 1 |
| 2003 | 20% | 5 |
| 2002 | 0% | 5 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
No 4 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2004.
Injury rate, 2004
ⓘ
This rate is reportable injury cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers per year, computed as 200,000 times cases divided by MSHA operator-reported employee-hours. Cases are injuries MSHA graded degree 01 through 07; accident-only events that hurt no one are excluded, and so are contractor injuries, whose hours do not attach to a single mine. Rates begin in 2000, when quarterly employment reporting starts, and are withheld below 20,000 hours in a year.0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 5.57 and the all-US-mining average was 4.33 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 5.89 cases per 100 workers that year.
Under 100,000 employee-hours were reported that year, so a single case moves the rate by two or more. Read the figure as approximate.
| Year | total case rate | days-away | fatal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2003 * | 2.60 | 2.60 | 0.000 |
| 2002 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2001 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2000 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
* Fewer than 100,000 employee-hours that year; the rate is less stable.
Source: injury cases from MSHA accident and injury records; employee-hours from MSHA quarterly employment reports. Rate is cases per 100 full-time-equivalent workers, operator employees only.
Ownership history
- Island Fork Construction Ltd 1995 to 2002
- North Star Mining, Inc. 2002 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
ⓘ
Coal production is reported quarterly and lags the current period; the most recent quarters may be incomplete.| Year | Employees | Coal produced (tons) |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 16 | 78,034 |
| 2003 | 35 | 325,202 |
| 2002 | 33 | 260,847 |
| 2001 | 38 | 288,555 |
| 2000 | 37 | 261,628 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
No 4 sits in Floyd County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 4.4% of county employment.
Local economic context
ⓘ
County figures come from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey, 5-year pooled estimates, so the 2023 vintage covers 2019 through 2023. The Census category is 'mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction', which is broader than MSHA jurisdiction and includes oil and gas workers no mine employs. These figures describe the surrounding county, not this mine, and are not a factor in any specific incident.Floyd County, Kentucky · Population 35,342
4.4%
Mining share of county employment
$41,582
Median household income
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates.
Quarterly safety rates
ⓘ
Citations per million reported employee-hours. Rates begin in 2000, when MSHA's quarterly employment data starts; earlier incidents are counted but cannot be rate-adjusted. Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2004 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2004 Q2 | 5,795 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q1 | 18,931 | 12 | 3 | 633.9 |
| 2003 Q4 | 19,945 | 19 | 6 | 952.6 |
| 2003 Q3 | 19,521 | 15 | 2 | 768.4 |
| 2003 Q2 | 19,157 | 9 | 0 | 469.8 |
| 2003 Q1 | 18,201 | 10 | 0 | 549.4 |
Show 12 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Q4 | 16,868 | 2 | 0 | 118.6 |
| 2002 Q3 | 15,596 | 5 | 1 | 320.6 |
| 2002 Q2 | 15,455 | 7 | 0 | 452.9 |
| 2002 Q1 | 17,705 | 4 | 1 | 225.9 |
| 2001 Q4 | 18,660 | 6 | 2 | 321.5 |
| 2001 Q3 | 16,938 | 9 | 1 | 531.3 |
| 2001 Q2 | 22,659 | 17 | 7 | 750.3 |
| 2001 Q1 | 23,353 | 13 | 1 | 556.7 |
| 2000 Q4 | 20,618 | 38 | 16 | 1843.0 |
| 2000 Q3 | 20,612 | 14 | 8 | 679.2 |
| 2000 Q2 | 19,061 | 13 | 4 | 682.0 |
| 2000 Q1 | 18,417 | 9 | 3 | 488.7 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
6 on file2003 · 2 incidents
North Star Mining, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
EMPLOYEE WAS PUTTING COIL BREAKER IN MINER HEAD - PUT HEAD OF MINER IN TOP OF ROOF TO PUT PRESSURES ON COIL BREAKER - WHEN THEY LEFT THE HEAD BACK DOWN - EMPLOYEE WENT TO GRAB THE COIL BREAKER - IT FLEW OUT AND STRUCK HIM IN THE FACE. EMPLOYEE SUSTAINED CUTS TO THE MOUTH AND LIP (9 STITCHES) , 1 BROKEN AND 1 LOOSE TOOTH, AND A CONCUSSION.
1999 · 1 incident
July 28, 1999
KY · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Island Fork Construction Ltd · Over-exertion in lifting objects
EE WAS LOADING BELT STRUCTURE INTO SCOOP BUCKETT AND FELT PAIN IN BACK.
1997 · 2 incidents
July 21, 1997
KY · Coal
shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Island Fork Construction Ltd · Over-exertion in lifting objects
EE LIFTING BUGGY CABLE WHEN FELT HE COULD NOT STRAIGHTEN UP.
May 23, 1997
KY · Coal
roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)
MACHINERY
Island Fork Construction Ltd · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
EE'S GLOVE WAS CAUGHT IN THE DRILL STEEL. THE EE HAD JUST STARTED A NEW PLACE IN THE TOP.
1996 · 1 incident
August 6, 1996
KY · Coal
laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
MACHINERY
Island Fork Construction Ltd · Struck by falling object
EMP ALLEGEDLY HURT HIS BACK WHEN THE ROOF SUPPORT SYSTEM ON THE ROOF BOLTER WAS RELEASED AND CAME DOWN ON BACK.