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.
Rate withheld: 424 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Poundmill has $2K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$2K
proposed penalties
$2K
current assessed
$2K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
19 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2003-07-08.
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.
MSHA sampling at Poundmill shows 100% of 40 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: 2003-04-16, 23 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
40
samples
1.05
dust max (mg/m3)
40 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 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.
Poundmill recorded 3.31 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2003.
Injury rate, 2003
ⓘ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.
3.31
total case rate
3.31
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 5.87 and the all-US-mining average was 4.43 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 6.65 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
2003 *
3.31
3.31
0.000
2002 *
2.30
0.00
0.000
2001 *
4.78
4.78
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)
2003
24
200,106
2002
31
358,054
2001
32
565,139
2000
28
123,972
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Poundmill 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
EE WAS MAKING REPAIRS TO EQUIPMENT. HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO STRAIGHTEN A HANDRAIL ON A DOZER BY USING A SLEDGE HAMMER. EE STRAINED BACK WHILE ENGAGED IN THIS PROCESS. WOULD HAVE REPORTED THIS SOO NER BUT THOUGHT EE WOULD RETURN SOONER. WANTED TO COMPLETE FORM BEFOR MAILING.
2002 · 1 incident
August 28, 2002KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
EMPLOYEE WAS PERFORMING RECLAMATION OPERATIONS ON SLOPE WHEN DOZER OVERTURNED. EMPLOYEE HAD SOME ABRASIONS, BRUISING, AND A MODERATE CUT TO BACK OF HEAD WHICH REQUIRED STITCHES.
2001 · 3 incidents
December 14, 2001KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS OPERATING DOZER CLOSE TO HIGHWALL. SOME DEBRIS BROKE LOOSE FROM WALL STRIKING DOZER. DEBRIS ENTERED CAB THROUGH FRONT & LEFT SIDE GLASS STRIKING EE CAUSING BRUISING TO BOTH LEGS.
EMPLOYEE WAS REVERSING ROCK TRUCK DOWN INCLINE TO DUMP AREA. WHEN DIRECTED TO STOP BY DOZER OPERATOR ATTENDING THE DUMP, HE FAILED TO DO SO. EMPLOYEE BACKED TRUCK INTO A HOLE CAUSING FRONT WHE ELS TO LEAVE ROADWAY. EMPLOYEE PANICKED AND JUMPED FROM TRUCK CAUSING INJURY TO LEFT LEG.