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.
39 citations across 1,034 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
OAM#40 has $5K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$5K
proposed penalties
$4K
current assessed
$4K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
37 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $2K in penalties contested before the Commission, $1K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2020-06-18.
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.
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 OAM#40 shows 100% of 69 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: 2020-10-26, 5 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
69
samples
0.26
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.
69 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
AUGER HELPER34
AUGER OPERATOR34
HIGHWALL DRILL HELPER1
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.
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)
2021
2
180
2020
2
23,420
2019
2
16,108
2018
2
9,851
2017
2
24,296
2016
2
40,387
2015
3
34,715
2014
2
19,684
2013
2
33,439
2012
2
47,616
2011
2
24,317
2010
2
33,752
2009
2
12,709
2008
2
14,216
2007
2
42,968
2006
4
33,181
2005
2
20,596
2004
3
53,682
2003
2
40,902
2002
4
43,309
2001
3
19,069
2000
2
11,682
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
OAM#40 sits in Knox County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 2.8% 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.
Knox County, Kentucky · Population 30,034
2.8%
Mining share of county employment
$33,153
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
HIGHWALL FAILURE DUE TO HILL SEAM STRUCK FRONT OF AUGER. THIS PUSHED THE AUGER BACK CATCHING EE'S FOOT UNDER FRAME OF THE AUGER. HE WAS STANDING AT THE BACK OF THE AUGER GETTING READY TO GO TO LUNCH.
2000 · 1 incident
March 31, 2000KY · Coalauger operator, auger crew supervisorMACHINERY
DIRT ABOVE TOP OF HIGHWALL BROKE LOOSE AND FELL ON AUGER. THERE WERE SOME ROCKS MIXED IN WITH THE DIRT THAT DAMAGED AUGER. SMALL ROCKS BROKE THE PLEXIGLASS ON TOP OF THE CAB OF THE AUGER AND H IT THE OPERATOR ON THE HAND CUTTING HIS HAND AND HIT HIS KNEE AND CAUSED A BRUISE. THE INJURED MAN HAD 3 STITCHES PUT IN HIS HAND AND X-RAYS OF HIS HAND AND KNEE.
THE HIGHWALL UNDER WHICH THE COAL AUGER WAS WORKING HAD AN UNSEEN SEAM WHICH RAN PARALLEL WITH THE HIGHWALL FACE. APPROX. 8' BACK AT THE TOP AND TAPERING DOWN TO APPROX. 2' AT THE BASE OF THE WALL. WHEN AUGERING WAS PERFORMED UNDER THIS AREA, THE SUPPORT WEAKEND CAUSING THE HIGHWALL TO PCOLLAPSE.
1997 · 1 incident
August 7, 1997KY · Coalassistant mine foreman, assistant mine managerMACHINERY
WORKER IS ACTIVE WHILE EMPLOYEED AS A WELDER. NOW IS OPERATING EQUIPMENT WHICH IS LESS MOBILE JOB AND STATES THAT HIS MUSCLES HAVE TIGHTNENED UP AS A RESULT OF LESS ACTIVITY.