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.
167 citations across 2,808 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Noble Mine #2 has $62K in proposed MSHA penalties and $26K outstanding across 1 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.
$62K
proposed penalties
$62K
current assessed
$35K
paid to date
$26K
outstanding
154 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-11-04.
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.
6citations taken to the federal commission · 4% of citations on record
Still open
6 · 100%
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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2025-05-07.
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 Noble Mine #2 shows 98% of 284 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: 2026-06-11
98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
284
samples
7.05
dust max (mg/m3)
0
over MSHA ECV
ⓘThe excessive concentration value (ECV) is MSHA's own per-sample enforcement threshold, which builds in measurement uncertainty; a sample over its ECV can trigger a citation. The count covers only samples MSHA assigned an ECV.
155 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 129 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.
Noble Mine #2 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2023.
Injury rate, 2023
ⓘ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
No reportable injury cases in any year shown. Employee-hours were reported in each of those years, so these are true zeros rather than missing data. Citations, listed in the compliance record above, are inspector-found violations and are counted separately from worker injuries.
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.17 and the all-US-mining average was 2.10 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.32 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
2023 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2013 *
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.
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)
2026
10
26,063
2025
10
39,965
2024
10
40,353
2023
10
48,164
2022
16
72,359
2021
11
30,687
2020
11
35,678
2019
17
45,993
2018
11
52,802
2017
8
22,996
2016
3
9,348
2015
5
16,163
2014
5
16,123
2013
11
31,546
2012
5
34,882
2011
6
37,001
2010
4
8,198
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Noble Mine #2 sits in Perry County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 3.3% 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.
Perry County, Kentucky · Population 27,847
3.3%
Mining share of county employment
$45,261
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
2026 Q2
4,552
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
4,455
0
0
0.0
2025 Q4
3,900
1
0
256.4
2025 Q3
4,233
2
0
472.5
2025 Q2
4,244
0
0
0.0
2025 Q1
4,109
8
5
1946.9
2024 Q4
3,882
0
0
0.0
2024 Q3
4,703
0
0
0.0
Show 51 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
3,806
2
0
525.5
2024 Q1
4,089
3
0
733.7
2023 Q4
4,019
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
4,613
1
0
216.8
2023 Q2
5,538
8
4
1444.6
2023 Q1
6,327
6
1
948.3
2022 Q4
5,682
1
0
176.0
2022 Q3
9,851
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
9,187
1
0
108.8
2022 Q1
5,911
2
1
338.4
2021 Q4
5,403
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
4,917
1
0
203.4
2021 Q2
4,055
2
0
493.2
2021 Q1
3,253
3
0
922.2
2020 Q4
2,664
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
2,146
5
1
2329.9
2020 Q2
4,184
3
0
717.0
2020 Q1
4,193
2
0
477.0
2019 Q4
2,733
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
6,623
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
7,529
5
0
664.1
2019 Q1
5,889
3
0
509.4
2018 Q4
5,459
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
4,811
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
3,929
3
0
763.6
2018 Q1
3,242
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
3,600
6
1
1666.7
2017 Q3
3,560
3
0
842.7
2016 Q2
0
0
0
2016 Q1
2,400
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
2,400
2
0
833.3
2015 Q3
960
3
0
3125.0
2015 Q2
3,360
2
2
595.2
2015 Q1
2,400
4
1
1666.7
2014 Q3
2,400
8
2
3333.3
2014 Q2
2,560
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
480
4
1
8333.3
2013 Q4
6,720
4
3
595.2
2013 Q3
4,800
6
1
1250.0
2013 Q2
4,800
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
5,280
1
1
189.4
2012 Q4
2,400
11
4
4583.3
2012 Q3
1,600
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
1,600
8
3
5000.0
2012 Q1
2,400
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
2,400
3
0
1250.0
2011 Q3
2,400
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
2,400
7
2
2916.7
2011 Q1
3,360
2
0
595.2
2010 Q4
280
6
3
21428.6
2010 Q1
0
0
0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
4 on file
2025 · 1 incident
August 21, 2025KY · Coalmaster mechanic, foreman, supervisorPOWERED HAULAGE
Road was wet and driver lost control of rock truck when going down the hill causing them to lose control and they hit the side of the mountain. Employee drove themselves to the hospital to get checked out.
2020 · 1 incident
August 20, 2020KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerPOWERED HAULAGE
Noble Construction · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
Service worker was caught between rock truck tire and service truck. Was no visible injuries.
Road was watered prior to the incident truck slip around hitting the berm then sliding the other way hitting the other berm. Then he hit his leg on the shifting power in the truck. Driver exited the cab on his own. He states he wasn't wearing his seat belt.
2011 · 1 incident
October 28, 2011KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE lifted a 5 gallon can of gas over the side of a pickup truck with his left arm one handed causing strain on his shoulder pulling it out of place which resulted in a fracture of the shoulder.