Piney Woods Preparation Plant has $77K in proposed MSHA penalties and $9K outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
23
Years on record
1995–2018
Latest incident
Jun 2018
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
267
citations
92
significant & substantial
$76,977
proposed penalties
$67,786
paid to date
88% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $9,191 gap.
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.
267 citations across 2,318 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: 2011-08-17.
On record since 2011.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Piney Woods Preparation Plant has $77K in proposed MSHA penalties and $9K outstanding across 5 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.
$77K
proposed penalties
$77K
current assessed
$68K
paid to date
$9K
outstanding
261 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $25K in penalties contested before the Commission, $25K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-07-31.
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.
9citations taken to the federal commission · 3% of citations on record
Settled
1 · 11%
Stood as issued
8 · 89%
100%
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 9 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$25K proposed, $25K 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 2012-10-31.
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 Piney Woods Preparation Plant shows 99% of 254 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: 2025-07-17
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
254
samples
3.04
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.
213 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 41 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.
Piney Woods Preparation Plant recorded 4.19 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2018.
Injury rate, 2018
ⓘ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.
4.19
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.34 and the all-US-mining average was 2.33 cases per 100 workers.
In Alabama, coal mining averaged 3.65 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
2018 *
4.19
0.00
0.000
2015 *
4.01
0.00
0.000
2014 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2013 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2012 *
13.25
13.25
0.000
2011 *
10.37
5.19
0.000
2010 *
8.61
4.31
0.000
2009 *
13.65
4.55
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)
2025
4
2024
3
2023
3
2022
1
2021
0
2020
0
2019
9
2018
20
2017
9
2016
13
2015
16
2014
12
2013
14
2012
14
2011
13
2010
18
2009
18
2008
11
2007
6
2006
4
2005
5
2004
5
2003
5
15,914
2002
10
2001
5
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Piney Woods Preparation Plant sits in Shelby County, Alabama, where the Census mining category is 0.5% 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.
Shelby County, Alabama · Population 226,955
0.5%
Mining share of county employment
$93,543
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
2025 Q2
2,154
0
0
0.0
2025 Q1
1,560
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
1,560
0
0
0.0
2024 Q3
1,560
2
0
1282.1
2024 Q2
1,560
0
0
0.0
2024 Q1
1,560
1
0
641.0
2023 Q4
2,782
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
2,750
0
0
0.0
Show 83 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2023 Q2
520
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
520
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
520
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
560
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
0
0
0
2022 Q1
0
0
0
2021 Q4
0
0
0
2021 Q3
0
0
0
2021 Q2
0
0
0
2021 Q1
0
0
0
2020 Q4
0
0
0
2020 Q3
0
0
0
2020 Q2
0
0
0
2020 Q1
0
0
0
2019 Q4
0
0
0
2019 Q3
160
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
504
0
0
0.0
2019 Q1
18,292
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
16,555
3
1
181.2
2018 Q3
12,280
1
0
81.4
2018 Q2
12,169
2
0
164.4
2018 Q1
6,681
1
0
149.7
2017 Q4
6,678
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
4,739
2
0
422.0
2017 Q2
5,289
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
1,264
3
0
2373.4
2016 Q4
5,416
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
4,713
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
11,027
3
0
272.1
2015 Q4
18,244
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
13,135
3
0
228.4
2015 Q2
9,358
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
9,133
7
1
766.5
2014 Q4
6,552
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
6,945
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
8,981
2
1
222.7
2014 Q1
10,746
1
0
93.1
2013 Q4
10,432
1
0
95.9
2013 Q3
11,880
1
0
84.2
2013 Q2
7,926
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
7,783
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
7,806
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
7,191
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
7,071
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
8,127
2
0
246.1
2011 Q4
10,947
9
3
822.1
2011 Q3
8,943
9
8
1006.4
2011 Q2
10,113
18
6
1779.9
2011 Q1
8,561
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
8,486
10
5
1178.4
2010 Q3
8,245
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
13,726
3
1
218.6
2010 Q1
15,998
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
12,727
7
2
550.0
2009 Q3
14,852
1
0
67.3
2009 Q2
9,073
8
1
881.7
2009 Q1
7,304
3
1
410.7
2008 Q4
7,519
18
3
2393.9
2008 Q3
6,263
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
6,634
2
1
301.5
2008 Q1
4,624
9
4
1946.4
2007 Q4
4,151
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
2,788
8
2
2869.4
2007 Q2
1,750
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
1,850
4
0
2162.2
2006 Q4
2,150
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
2,475
7
1
2828.3
2006 Q2
2,450
15
6
6122.4
2006 Q1
2,795
2
0
715.6
2005 Q3
1,600
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
2,160
5
2
2314.8
2004 Q2
2,160
1
0
463.0
2004 Q1
2,460
12
7
4878.0
2003 Q3
2,880
11
8
3819.4
2003 Q2
3,840
1
0
260.4
2003 Q1
630
6
1
9523.8
2002 Q4
6,149
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
5,583
1
0
179.1
2002 Q2
5,407
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
4,769
5
1
1048.4
2001 Q4
5,366
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
5,382
4
1
743.2
2001 Q1
0
0
0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
23 on file
2018 · 1 incident
June 26, 2018AL · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorDISORDERS (PHYSICAL AGENTS)
Employee was working in the upper levels of the preparation plant and ended up suffering from heat stress requiring IV hydration therapy at a medical facility.
2016 · 1 incident
May 19, 2016AL · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
Employee was cutting a piece of metal with a torch when the piece fell on one end. The opposite end moved upward and hit EE in the knee, causing a laceration. Employee was taken to American Family Care where the wound was cleaned and closed with 2 stitches. Employee was given a tetanus booster.
2015 · 1 incident
October 8, 2015AL · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorMACHINERY
Employee was assisting welder when a hot piece of welding debris had gone down his waistline at his belt/lower back. Welder was above him on a ladder when the debris fell causing burns to his lower back/upper buttocks. Employee went to American Family Care where the 2nd degree burn was cleaned and dressed. The employee was given a tetanus shot and prescription antibiotics.
2012 · 2 incidents
May 21, 2012AL · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Changing screens in the power screener - felt a burn in his arm when he picked up hammer to swing. Employee refused to go for medical treatment. He said it would be fine. On 6/4, he said his arm was still hurting, worse and decided to seek medical treatment after all.
January 10, 2012AL · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Motor grader was cutting pad. In doing so, it was creating uneven places in the yard. The loader operator ran over one of these after the loader shifted into 2nd gear, which caused the loader's speed to increase and bounce, resulting in his injury.
April 14, 2011AL · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was working inside a screen with limited space to work. He pulled hard with a long handle rachet, he felt something pull in his left shoulder.
2008 · 2 incidents
December 16, 2008AL · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EE was in a manlift installing a camera line. He tripped over his lanyard and grabbed handrail w/his left hand and started to grab it w/his right hand also (which he was holding a box cutter in) and cut his left index finger, which required some stitches.
December 6, 2008AL · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Chute feeding the scalping screen had plugged causing a few rocks to fall on floor below. The individual had cleared the chute and was going back to bottom floor of structure. The laborer did not have time to get to spill at this time. The individual stepped on one of the rocks causing him to fall onto the floor grating.
2003 · 1 incident
August 29, 2003AL · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator
THE INJURED STUCK A PRY BAR INTO THE VALVE OF A SUMP, TRYING TO BREAK UP THE MATERIAL. HIS HAND BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE VALVE AND THE PRY BAR RESULTING IN INJURY.
VANDALS BROKE INTO LOAD-OUT, RAN COAL THROUGH BELT SYSTEM, DROPPED LOAD-OUT CHUTES TO SPILL COAL ON RAIL TRACKS. CONTROL ROOM WAS SET ON FIRE. SHERRIFF DEPT. & FIRE MARSHAL INVESTIGATED SAME. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE. FACILITY USELESS NOW.
1997 · 1 incident
April 3, 1997AL · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverHANDLING OF MATERIALS
CONTRACT COAL HAULER STOPPED TO HELP ROCK TRUCK DRIVER CLOSE TAILGATE ON HAUL ROAD, AND GOT HAND IN WAY AS THEY TRYED TO CLOSE TAILGATE, BROKE RT LITTLE FINGER AND HAD TO HAVE SOME STICHES IN RT HAND.
1996 · 4 incidents
August 5, 1996AL · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverHANDLING OF MATERIALS
MOVING STEEL PLATFORM WIHT FORKLIFT. CLEANING PREP PLANT YD. WHILE SCOTCHING LOAD, PLATFORM SLIDDOWN FORKS, MASHING LEFT THUMB OF INJURED.
February 28, 1996AL · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
TRUCK DRIVER STEPPED OVER GUARD RAIL TO GET A SHOVEL. WHEN HE WAS STEPPING BACK OVER HE TRIPPED AND FELL. THIS DRIVER DOES NOT WORK FOR BOONE RESOURCES, HE IS A CONTRACTOR.
May 16, 1995AL · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS