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Panther Lick: 1 recorded fatality Coal

KNOTT COUNTY COAL LLC · Underground
Kite, Knott County, KY  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 1516808

Panther Lick has $12K in proposed MSHA penalties and $86 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
27
Years on record
1991–2002
Latest incident
Sep 2002
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
116
citations
36
significant & substantial
$12,303
proposed penalties
$12,217
paid to date
99% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $86 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See KNOTT COUNTY COAL LLC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
65
inspections on record
2,085
inspection hours
5.6
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.
116 citations across 2,085 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Panther Lick has $12K in proposed MSHA penalties and $86 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.
$12K
proposed penalties
$12K
current assessed
$12K
paid to date
$86
outstanding
116 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2002-01-14.
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.
31.0%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
31.0%
reasonably likely or greater
6.9%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 4.3% low, 95.7% moderate, 0.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Panther Lick shows 94% of 323 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: 2002-01-17, 24 years ago
94%
within 1.5 mg/m3
323
samples
3.75
dust max (mg/m3)
170 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 153 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR127
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)39
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)20

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2002-01-24, 24 years ago
8.7
silica avg (%)
57
samples
57.6
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR28
See US coal mines ranked by silica in their dust samples.

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: 2001-06-13, 25 years ago
0%
over PEL
21
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)5
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR4
  • ROOF BOLTER (TWIN HEAD) (RETURN SIDE)3
See US mines ranked by noise samples over the legal limit.
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
2002 100% 7
2001 92% 145
2000 95% 171
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2002 4.3 1
2001 7.5 22
2000 9.7 34
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2001 0% 12
2000 0% 9
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Panther Lick recorded 4.48 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2001.

Injury rate, 2001
ⓘ 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.
4.48
total case rate
2.99
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 6.94 and the all-US-mining average was 5.26 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 7.69 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year total case rate days-away fatal
2001 4.48 2.99 0.000
2000 9.14 7.83 0.000
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
  1. Floyd-Knott Coal Company Inc 1990 to 1992
  2. Knott County Coal Company 1992 to 1999
  3. Knott County Mining Company 1999 to 2016
  4. KNOTT COUNTY COAL LLC 2016 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)
2002 10 28,467
2001 57 499,022
2000 66 709,770
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Panther Lick sits in Knott 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.
Knott County, Kentucky · Population 14,046
2.8%
Mining share of county employment
$37,736
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
2002 Q2 0 0 0
2002 Q1 7,442 2 0 268.7
2001 Q4 18,252 4 1 219.2
2001 Q3 35,248 6 1 170.2
2001 Q2 41,221 5 0 121.3
2001 Q1 39,200 10 3 255.1
2000 Q4 36,109 9 1 249.2
2000 Q3 40,329 12 6 297.6
Show 2 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2000 Q2 41,253 25 13 606.0
2000 Q1 35,516 41 11 1154.4

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
December 7, 1991 KY · Coal loader head operator, roscoe operator Fatality · OTHER
Floyd-Knott Coal Company Inc · Unclassified, insufficient data

EMPLOYEE WAS FOUND HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING

Reportable incidents

26 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2002 · 1 incident

September 19, 2002 KY · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Knott County Mining Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE STATES: WHILE LOADING SHOT, TWISTED LEG ON SLIPPERY SURFACE. A FEW DAYS LATER, IT BEGAN TO SWELL AND BECAME PAINFUL.

2001 · 3 incidents

September 6, 2001 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator MACHINERY
Knott County Mining Company · Struck by falling object

EE WAS OPERATING A CONTINUOUS MINER WHEN A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FELL FROM BETWEEN THE ROOF BOLTS, STRIKING HIS NECK AND LEFT FOOT.

May 10, 2001 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Knott County Mining Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING HANG A MINER CABLE WHEN HE STRAINED HIS BACK.

February 21, 2001 KY · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Knott County Mining Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS BLOCKING GROUND AROUND THE BELT FEEDER WITH WOODEN CRIB BLOCKS. HE MASHED HIS FINGER WITHONE OF THE BLOCKS. HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER REQUIRED 6 STITCHES.

2000 · 14 incidents

December 15, 2000 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Knott County Mining Company · Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL OCCURRED AT APPROX 1:30 PM APPROX 60' IN BY SPAD #5652 IN THE #7 ENTRY. THE FALL RESULTED FROM HILL SEAMS. THE FALL WAS APPROX 18' WIDE 40' LONG AND 7' THICK.

December 13, 2000 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Knott County Mining Company · Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL OCCURRED AT APPROX 0500 ON THE 3RD SHIFT IN THE #6 ENTRY OUTBY SPAD #5680 AS A RESULT OF HAVING HILL SEAMS IN THE ENTRY. IT WAS STRAPPED AND WELL BOLTED. THE FALL WAS APPROX 18' WI DE, 20' LONG, AND 5' THICK.

September 24, 2000 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Knott County Mining Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS MAKING REPAIRS TO A LIGHT CABLE ON A CONTINUOUS MINER WHEN HE CUT HIS LEFT HAND WITH A KNIFE. THE CUT REQUIRED 6 STITCHES.

August 20, 2000 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Knott County Mining Company · Struck by flying object

EE WAS OPRATING A RETRIEVER PULLING ON A MINER THAT CAUGHT IN A PILLAR FALL WHEN ONE OF THE LINKS BROKE AND A PIECE OF METAL HTI HIM IN THE FACE.

August 19, 2000 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Knott County Mining Company · Accident type, without injuries

AT APPROX 10:30 AM A FALL OCCURRED IN THE PILLAR LINE IN THE #4 ENTRY IN BY #5125 WHICH CAUGHT THE 14-14 JAY MINER, THE ROOF FALL WAS APPROX 3' TO 7' THICK, 18' WIDE AND 30'LONG. THERE WERE N O INJURIES.

April 14, 2000 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Knott County Mining Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE A MECHANIC, WAS REMOIVNG A PANEL BOARD LID ON A CONTINUOUS MINER WHEN HE DROPPEDIT CATCHING, HIS THUMB BETWEEN THE LID AND THE FRAME OF THE MINER.

March 19, 2000 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Knott County Mining Company · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING THE OFF SIDE OF A ROOF BOLTER IN THE WORKING PLACE WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK FELL AND STRUCK HIM ON THE LOWER BACK AND HIP.

March 3, 2000 KY · Coal INUNDATION
Knott County Mining Company · Accident type, without injuries

THE #3 ENTRY IN THE PANTHERLICK MINES CUT THROUGH INTO THE OLD WORKS OF THE 002 SECTION OF THE OLD HOLLYBUSH MINES #1. VENTILATION WAS ESTABLISHED AND WORK RESUMED.

March 3, 2000 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Knott County Mining Company · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS PICKING CONVEYOR BELT UP TO INSTALL STRUCUTRE AFTERWARDS HIS LOWER BACK WAS HURTING.

February 22, 2000 KY · Coal scoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Knott County Mining Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE REACHED FOR A BAG OF ROCKDUST, TWISTED AROUNDCAUSING INJURY TO HIS BACK.

February 15, 2000 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Knott County Mining Company · Accident type, without injuries

ROOF FALL FOUND OUTBY 2 RIGHT PANEL IN THE #9 ENTRY OF THE MAINS. FALL IN THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN SPAD NOS. 4219 AND 4220. FALL IS APPROX 15'WIDE, 20'LONG AND 7'THICK. NO INJURIES. HAD BEEN C RIBBED OFF AND MADE SAFE.

January 25, 2000 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Knott County Mining Company · Accident type, without injuries

ROOF FALL ON PILLAR LINE IN #3 ENTRY. WHILE PULLING THE LAST LIFT ON THE LAST CAR OS THE MINER WAS BACKING OUT THE ROOF FELL CATCHING THE MINER. (NO INJURIES.)

1999 · 6 incidents

November 22, 1999 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Knott County Mining Company · Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL WAS DISCOVERED ON 11/22/99 IN IDLE PART OF MINE WHERE BELT RUNS THROUGH THE MOUNTAINBELT IS IN NON-PRODUCING STATUS. THE FALL WAS ELEVEN BREAKS INBY PORTAL FROM HOLLYBUSH MINE #1. I.D. #15-15289. THE FALL MEASURED 30'L X 20'W X 3'H.

August 26, 1999 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Knott County Mining Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ROOF BOLTER MACHINE #5 ENTRY. WAS INSTALLING 2ND BOLT. HE HAD TO BEND BOLT TO GET IN HOLE, SLIPPED ON LOOSE ROCK TWISTING HIS BACK.

June 17, 1999 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech ELECTRICAL
Knott County Mining Company · Flash burns (electric)

WHILE CHECKING POWER ON TRANSFORMER FROM 480 TO 220 POWER FOR LIGHTS, EMPLOYEE SAID HE MUST HAVETOUCHED METER LEADS CAUSING A FLASH OF FIRE FROMPOWER LEADS, CAUSING BURNS ON BACK OF RIGHT HAND AND ON LEFT WRIST.

1991 · 2 incidents

July 13, 1991 KY · Coal gathering arm loader operator, loading machine operator, joy loader operator FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Floyd-Knott Coal Company Inc · Struck by falling object

LOADER OPERATOR WAS CLEANING UPRIGHT BREAK IN #9 HEADING.DRAW ROCK FELL FROM FACE OF BREAK BACK THROUGH BETWEEN BLAST BOLT,FELL ON LOADER OPERATOR,HURT SHOULDER,AND BACK.