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.
140 citations across 1,976 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
No 4 has $93K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 24 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.
$93K
proposed penalties
$80K
current assessed
$80K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
140 assessments are final orders; 24 contested dockets.
Of $61K in penalties contested before the Commission, $48K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2013-09-17.
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.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
When citations were contested
ⓘContesting a citation before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission is a lawful right. These figures state the public outcomes of that process, from MSHA's Contested Violations file.
43citations taken to the federal commission · 31% of citations on record
Settled
43 · 100%
100%
S&S designation survived the contest
ⓘCounts a Significant & Substantial citation as surviving when a settlement or judge's decision kept the designation, or the contest was dismissed or defaulted so the citation stands as issued. Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.
of 27 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
21%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$58K proposed, $46K after decisions · industry: 39%
Source: MSHA Contested Violations file (public record), updated weekly. A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record. Latest contest filed 2013-12-03.
Contested penalties
ⓘA reduction or dismissal at the Commission is a lawful outcome of contesting a proposed penalty. Figures are the proposed amount and the amount upheld in the docket's decision.
Largest penalties this mine contested before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, with the outcome on record.
MSHA sampling at No 4 shows 100% of 150 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: 2014-02-26, 12 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
150
samples
1.04
dust max (mg/m3)
150 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 by the operator.
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.
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.
No 4 recorded 2.89 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2013.
Injury rate, 2013
ⓘ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.
2.89
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.94 and the all-US-mining average was 2.99 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.63 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
2013 *
2.89
0.00
0.000
2012 *
7.21
4.81
0.000
2011 *
2.31
2.31
0.000
2010
3.69
3.69
0.000
2009
1.21
1.21
0.000
2008 *
2.02
2.02
0.000
2007 *
2.27
0.00
0.000
2006 *
4.10
2.05
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.
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)
2014
6
14,741
2013
29
182,753
2012
31
206,369
2011
43
218,562
2010
57
406,464
2009
57
468,765
2008
36
460,957
2007
29
435,708
2006
36
388,298
2005
37
382,177
2004
36
499,965
2003
26
228,188
2002
28
378,235
2001
21
336,055
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
No 4 sits in Martin County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 8.0% 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.
Martin County, Kentucky · Population 11,181
8.0%
Mining share of county employment
$46,185
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
Employee was helping install lift jack on 900 loader. The cable came off the pulley of boom truck giving slack to the chain hook. The hook hit employee on top of his head cutting it. He received 4 stitches. Came back to work next day.
Employee was operating rock truck going up a hill. The truck spun out and slid backwards straining his back. Employee did not report it to his supervisor until 12/27/11 and went off work on 1/2/2012.
2010 · 3 incidents
August 4, 2010KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was operating a rock truck coming out of the coal pit and the tire hit a hole in the road spinning the steering wheel and it jammed the EE's right shoulder.
2009 · 4 incidents
December 3, 2009KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was helping install rear end in truck. Felt pain in shoulder while lifting rear end. Continued to work full time until scheduled for surgery. Will be off work for 3-4 months for recovery.
It had been raining all night and was now down to a sprinkle. It wasn't completely daylight due to the rain. EE was pulling a winch cable out of the boom to hook onto the dozer track. He was walking backwards in the mud and tripped over a sprocket segment with his left foot. He slipped and fell on his right hip.
2008 · 2 incidents
October 31, 2008KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
Mayo Resources Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
Tramming drill with door open and hand on door facing. Door shut and smashed EE's fingers. Fingernail removed from middle finger on right hand.
May 28, 2008KY · Coalblaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkeySLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE was getting out of Prell Truck, when he slipped off step and pulled muscles in his back. EE did not go off work until 6/17/08, he came back on 6/23/08.
He heated a piece of metal on the blade of a dozer. Another employee struck it with a sledgehammer. The handle broke on the hammer. The head of the hammer went into the air and came down and hit employee on top of his head. Cut on top of his head. 6 staples, "{no lost time".
2006 · 2 incidents
May 8, 2006KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY