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.
737 citations across 5,531 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘA Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2011-08-31.
On record since 2011.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
P-1 has $1.4M in proposed MSHA penalties and $1.2M outstanding across 84 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.
$1.4M
proposed penalties
$1.3M
current assessed
$56K
paid to date
$1.2M
outstanding
683 assessments are final orders; 84 contested dockets.
Of $1.4M in penalties contested before the Commission, $1.2M was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-09-29.
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.
548citations taken to the federal commission · 74% of citations on record
Settled
514 · 94%
Stood as issued
23 · 4%
Vacated or withdrawn
11 · 2%
82%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 291 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
13%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$1.4M proposed, $1.2M 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2013-08-05.
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 P-1 shows 94% of 475 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: 2011-05-25, 15 years ago
94%
within 1.5 mg/m3
475
samples
12.44
dust max (mg/m3)
225 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 250 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.
P-1 recorded 11.86 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2011.
Injury rate, 2011
ⓘ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.
11.86
total case rate
5.93
days-away rate
2.964
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.83 and the all-US-mining average was 3.08 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.28 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
2011 *
11.86
5.93
2.964
2010
4.76
3.17
0.000
2009
8.94
7.45
0.000
2008 *
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)
2020
0
2019
1
2018
3
2017
2
2016
2
2015
1
2014
1
2013
2
2012
2
2011
40
84,688
2010
77
189,319
2009
68
190,506
2008
19
60,146
2007
6
2,482
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
P-1 sits in Harlan County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 4.3% 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.
Harlan County, Kentucky · Population 26,185
4.3%
Mining share of county employment
$37,198
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 working on pump line, pulling a broke band out of crimping tool, when the broke band came out of the tool it struck employee on the ring finger on the right hand requiring stitches.
2011 · 3 incidents
June 20, 2011KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
He was shoveling on #2 beltline, as he leaned forward, his face was too close to the moving belt. The edge of the belt at a splice came in contact with his right eye. He had dirt in his eye and a scratch on the side of his eye.
2010 · 3 incidents
November 24, 2010KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
EE was bolting top 002 section, while bolting he was positioning a strap in place when a rock fell pinching his left little finger between the canopy and the strap. No lost time accident happened Wed. before Thanksgiving weekend. EE RTE on next reg. shift. 11/29/10.
April 19, 2010KY · Coalcontinuous miner helper, coal mole helper, bridgemanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The EE was spreading rockdust from the rockdust bag with one hand, while holding the bag of rockdust with the other hand. He stated that he felt a sharp pain in his lower back. He left work at that time, driving himself home, he went to his doctor the next day.
April 13, 2010KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The EE stated that he was pulling on the cable and the cable stopped he then jerked the cable and he felt pain in his back. He left the job site but returned to work the next day and worked the next 4 days. EE didn't come to work on 4/19/10 and didn't call his foreman. The next day the foreman called him, EE stated that he would be off for a week or two requested by a Doctor.
2009 · 6 incidents
October 8, 2009KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
The injured EE stated that he was shoveling material from underneath the belt conveyor when he slipped and fell landing on a 4" crib block. The crib block was under the foot of a piece of support structure.
September 29, 2009KY · Coalbull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift bossHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The injured miner was pulling a 4/0 crawler from beltline to the section power center when he felt pain in his lower back. The miner also stated that he had been injured at a former employer that was still paying his medical bills on his back. The foreman should have asked for help when dragging the cable.
June 4, 2009KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The injured employee was putting guard back on the No. 1 conveyor belt tail pulley and dropped the guard striking his little finger (pinky finger) on his left hand.
May 18, 2009KY · Coaldiscontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The injured person was removing a piece of rock out of a Long-Airdox bridge conveyor. When he let the rock fall, he didn't move his right foot out of the way letting the rock fall on his right foot.
April 4, 2009KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY