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.
128 citations across 1,460 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Patton No 11 has $71K in proposed MSHA penalties and $7K outstanding across 8 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.
$71K
proposed penalties
$51K
current assessed
$45K
paid to date
$7K
outstanding
123 assessments are final orders; 8 contested dockets.
Of $41K in penalties contested before the Commission, $18K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2018-04-11.
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.
19citations taken to the federal commission · 15% of citations on record
Settled
17 · 89%
Stood as issued
1 · 5%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 5%
73%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 15 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
55%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$41K proposed, $18K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2012-09-12.
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 Patton No 11 shows 98% of 51 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: 2018-04-11, 8 years ago
98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
51
samples
2.16
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.
46 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 5 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.
Patton No 11 recorded 3.22 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2012.
Injury rate, 2012
ⓘ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.
3.22
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 3.74 and the all-US-mining average was 2.96 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.13 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
2012 *
3.22
0.00
0.000
2009 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2006 *
3.81
3.81
0.000
2005 *
2.65
0.00
0.000
2002 *
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.
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)
2019
5
2018
7
2017
12
14,497
2016
7
2015
8
2014
9
2013
8
2012
27
88,147
2011
25
52,457
2010
4
20,550
2009
10
3,794
2008
7
2007
11
4,396
2006
32
115,237
2005
37
164,000
2003
3
18,881
2002
17
133,166
2001
17
14,445
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Patton No 11 sits in Mingo County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 15.0% 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.
Mingo County, West Virginia · Population 22,979
15.0%
Mining share of county employment
$39,527
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
DFM Coal, LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface
Was coming back from car stepped over gate and missed stepped and fell on face, skinned knees and elbows, jammed wrists and shoulder, chipped tooth. No first aid on job, not reported at time of accident. Went to doctor the next day x-rayed didn't find anything wrong.
2012 · 1 incident
September 6, 2012WV · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was going to move the Komatsu 200 excavator that was owned by a contractor which had a broke door glass. When he went to open the door, some slivers of glass went into his eye. We attempted to wash it out and could not, so we took him to the Emergency Room. Which the glass was washed out and he returned to work.
2007 · 1 incident
February 1, 2007WV · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was lifting on a slate bar while trying to hook up a chain link on a road grader and strained his lower back. Employee did not report accident until 1-10-2006. Employee missed one day of work
2005 · 1 incident
November 4, 2005WV · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee was operating a loader when he backed into high wall and damaged the equipment. At the end of the shift, employee left the job without reporting the damages. On 11/4/05 employee called in and wanted the day off, wife hand delivered the Workers Comp WC-1 form and alledged the employee had an injury.Employee filed claim after he was terminated.
2003 · 1 incident
February 20, 2003WV · Coalbackhoe operator, trackhoe operator, crane operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE SLIPPED GETTING ON THE BACKHOE. AS HE WAS FALLING, HE GRABBED THE HANDRAIL AND PULLED A MUSCLE IN HIS GROIN. EE DID NOT MISS WORK UNTIL 9-24-02.