East Star Mining, Inc. · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was getting up out of Uni Hauler. When he turned to get out of the deck, he twisted his left knee.
No. 5: 537 MSHA citations Coal
East Star Mining, Inc.
· Underground
Controlled by
Clinton L Ramey
Amonate,
Tazewell County,
VA
·
Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4405745
No. 5 has $694K in proposed MSHA penalties and $673K outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
Watch this mine
Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at No. 5.
- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 11
- Years on record
- 1994–2007
- Latest incident
- Jun 2007
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2005
537
citations
211
significant & substantial
$693,548
proposed penalties
$20,422
paid to date
3% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $673,126 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2005
26
inspections on record
1,746
inspection hours
30.8
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.537 citations across 1,746 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
No. 5 has $694K in proposed MSHA penalties and $673K 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.$694K
proposed penalties
$694K
current assessed
$20K
paid to date
$673K
outstanding
534 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2008-07-30.
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.39.5%
significant & substantial
1.3%
high negligence or reckless
39.5%
reasonably likely or greater
4.7%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 4.1% low, 94.6% moderate, 1.3% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at No. 5 shows 96% of 184 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: 2008-07-14, 18 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.96%
within 1.5 mg/m3
184
samples
5.25
dust max (mg/m3)
64 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 120 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR96
- TRACTOR OPERATOR/MOTORMAN22
- ROOF BOLTER (SINGLE HEAD)4
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2008-05-20, 18 years ago7.5
silica avg (%)
27
samples
29.4
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR5
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: 2008-01-10, 18 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.6%
over PEL
18
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- TRACTOR OPERATOR/MOTORMAN8
- ROOF BOLTER (SINGLE HEAD)5
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR4
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 98% | 43 |
| 2007 | 97% | 61 |
| 2006 | 97% | 64 |
| 2005 | 88% | 16 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 11.2 | 3 |
| 2007 | 8.8 | 7 |
| 2006 | 6.3 | 16 |
| 2005 | 7.7 | 1 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 0% | 5 |
| 2007 | 0% | 5 |
| 2006 | 33% | 3 |
| 2005 | 0% | 5 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
No. 5 recorded 6.37 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2007.
Injury rate, 2007
ⓘ
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.6.37
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 4.71 and the all-US-mining average was 3.77 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.66 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 * | 6.37 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2006 * | 5.23 | 5.23 | 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
- Frontier Coal Corp 1982 to 1993
- Pigeon Branch Coal Company Inc 1993 to 1996
- Kens Coal Company Inc 1996 to 1997
- Braveheart Inc 1997 to 2001
- Consolidation Coal Company 2001 to 2004
- East Star Mining, Inc. 2004 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 17 | 31,128 |
| 2007 | 18 | 67,787 |
| 2006 | 20 | 79,937 |
| 2005 | 6 | 16,763 |
| 2000 | 0 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
No. 5 sits in Tazewell County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 3.1% 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.Tazewell County, Virginia · Population 39,933
3.1%
Mining share of county employment
$45,788
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Q3 | 2,451 | 11 | 5 | 4488.0 |
| 2008 Q2 | 8,116 | 49 | 20 | 6037.5 |
| 2008 Q1 | 9,052 | 43 | 10 | 4750.3 |
| 2007 Q4 | 7,977 | 68 | 23 | 8524.5 |
| 2007 Q3 | 6,183 | 95 | 29 | 15364.7 |
| 2007 Q2 | 8,518 | 41 | 9 | 4813.3 |
| 2007 Q1 | 8,724 | 37 | 14 | 4241.2 |
| 2006 Q4 | 8,060 | 40 | 12 | 4962.8 |
Show 8 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Q3 | 9,568 | 24 | 18 | 2508.4 |
| 2006 Q2 | 10,047 | 38 | 29 | 3782.2 |
| 2006 Q1 | 10,539 | 48 | 25 | 4554.5 |
| 2005 Q4 | 10,151 | 41 | 17 | 4039.0 |
| 2005 Q3 | 320 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2005 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2000 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
11 on file2007 · 1 incident
2006 · 1 incident
January 17, 2006
VA · Coal
roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)
HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
East Star Mining, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
EE WAS TRYING TO CLEAN HIS DUST HOSE OUT ON ROOF BOLTER MACHINE WITH HIS PINNER WRENCH. HE STRUCK HIS LEFT FOREARM WITH THE WRENCH. THIS CAUSED A BRUISE ON HIS LEFT FOREARM.
1999 · 5 incidents
April 30, 1999
VA · Coal
laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Braveheart Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects
PICKING UP BELT STRUCUTURE LOADING IT IN PUSHOUTCAR, STANDING IN WATER, WHEN HEW AS LOADING STRUCTURE IN CAR HIS FEET SLIPPED CAUSING HIM TOLOSE HIS BALANCE TWISTING HIS LOWER BACK
April 8, 1999
VA · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Braveheart Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
PICKING UP RIPPER HEAD JACK, LOST HIS BALANCE WITH THE JACK WHEN HE PICKED IT UP, LOSING HIS BALANCE, THUS TWISTING HIS BACK.
April 8, 1999
VA · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Braveheart Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface
EMPLOYEE WAS PICKING UP A RIPPER HEAD JACK IN SHOP. WHEN HE PICKED UP THE JACK HE LOST HIS BALANCE, CAUSING HIM TO FALL, THUS PULLING AND TWISTING HIS LOWER BACK.
March 23, 1999
VA · Coal
shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator
FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Braveheart Inc · Struck by falling object
PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL OUT BETWEEN BOLTS STRIKING RAM CAR OPERATOR ON THE KNEE WHILE HE WAS SITTING IN THE DECK OF HIS TRACTOR.
March 17, 1999
VA · Coal
roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)
MACHINERY
Braveheart Inc · Struck by falling object
PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL STRIKING EMPLOYEE ON BACK OF HEAD, PUSHING HIS HEAD AGAINST ROOF BOLTING MACHINE, CAUSING A LACERATION OVER HIS RIGHT EYE.
1998 · 1 incident
June 22, 1998
VA · Coal
roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Braveheart Inc · Struck against stationary object
EE WAS TAKING A SHOWER IN BATHHOUSE, WHEN EE HIT HIS LEFT ARM AGAINST THE MIRROR ON THE WALL, BREAKING THE MIRROR, THUS CUTTING A LACERATION ON HIS LEFT FOREARM.
1995 · 2 incidents
Pigeon Branch Coal Company Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
MINER OPERATOR WAS TRAMMING TO FACE OF #4 ENTRY WHERE A CHANGE IN GRADE EXISTED. WHEN MINER WENT OVER GRADE THE BACK OF THE MINER RAISED UP CLOSE TO TOP FORCING OPERATOR UP AGAINST TOP.
January 5, 1995
VA · Coal
roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)
MACHINERY
Pigeon Branch Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
RUNNING ROOF BOLTER , BENT ROOF BOLT, PUT IN HOLE, THEN BENT BOLT BACK STRAIGHT TO PUSH UP IN HOLE. BOLT TURN CAUSING EE TO JURK AND HURT LOWER BACK.
1994 · 1 incident
Pigeon Branch Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects
EMPLOYEE REPORTED ON 1-11-95 THAT HE HURT HIS BACK ON 12-27-94, WHILE HE WAS HELPING CHANG ECABLE REEL ON 21SC SHUTTLE CAR THIS WASN'T REPORTED BY EMPLOYEE IMMEDIATELY TO HIS SUPERVISOR.