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.
257 citations across 4,921 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Prep Plant # 1 has $44K in proposed MSHA penalties and $6K outstanding across 41 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.
$44K
proposed penalties
$39K
current assessed
$33K
paid to date
$6K
outstanding
254 assessments are final orders; 41 contested dockets.
Of $27K in penalties contested before the Commission, $22K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-04-09.
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.
82citations taken to the federal commission · 32% of citations on record
Settled
78 · 95%
Stood as issued
4 · 5%
98%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 51 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
20%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$24K proposed, $19K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2014-08-06.
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 Prep Plant # 1 shows 100% of 208 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: 2026-08-11
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
208
samples
1.81
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.
185 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 23 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.
Prep Plant # 1 recorded 5.64 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2014.
Injury rate, 2014
ⓘ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.
5.64
total case rate
2.82
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 2.93 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.63 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
2014 *
5.64
2.82
0.000
2013 *
4.94
4.94
0.000
2012 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2011 *
2.08
2.08
0.000
2010 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2009 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008 *
3.78
0.00
0.000
2007 *
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
Year
Employees
2026
5
2025
5
2024
6
2023
6
2022
4
2020
3
2019
3
2018
3
2017
3
2016
3
2015
6
2014
27
2013
15
2012
27
2011
35
2010
34
2009
34
2008
20
2007
21
2006
22
2005
20
2004
21
2003
22
2002
23
2001
22
2000
21
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Prep Plant # 1 sits in Johnson County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 1.9% 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.
Johnson County, Kentucky · Population 22,464
1.9%
Mining share of county employment
$43,014
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
2026 Q2
3,083
3
1
973.1
2026 Q1
3,667
0
0
0.0
2025 Q4
3,019
2
0
662.5
2025 Q3
3,279
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
3,410
0
0
0.0
2025 Q1
4,598
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
3,808
6
4
1575.6
2024 Q3
4,612
6
3
1301.0
Show 90 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
3,660
3
1
819.7
2024 Q1
4,546
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
4,012
7
3
1744.8
2023 Q3
4,176
3
0
718.4
2023 Q2
3,623
1
0
276.0
2023 Q1
2,834
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
983
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
1,295
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
2,292
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
2,385
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
2,166
3
0
1385.0
2019 Q3
2,305
1
0
433.8
2019 Q2
2,686
1
0
372.3
2019 Q1
2,368
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
2,017
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
2,335
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
2,601
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
2,367
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
2,186
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
2,248
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
2,466
1
0
405.5
2017 Q1
2,100
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
1,256
0
0
0.0
2016 Q3
1,149
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
1,833
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
2,392
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
2,412
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
2,999
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
3,228
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
4,410
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
16,188
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
18,963
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
18,451
2
0
108.4
2014 Q1
17,376
10
3
575.5
2013 Q4
16,948
2
0
118.0
2013 Q3
5,857
1
0
170.7
2013 Q2
16,685
9
2
539.4
2013 Q1
982
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
0
0
0
2012 Q3
18,774
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
22,685
1
0
44.1
2012 Q1
27,127
5
1
184.3
2011 Q4
21,312
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
24,224
3
2
123.8
2011 Q2
27,874
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
22,661
3
2
132.4
2010 Q4
25,894
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
20,766
2
1
96.3
2010 Q2
24,098
1
0
41.5
2010 Q1
21,801
2
1
91.7
2009 Q4
22,536
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
22,130
3
2
135.6
2009 Q2
21,885
1
1
45.7
2009 Q1
22,622
16
7
707.3
2008 Q4
14,101
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
11,660
4
1
343.1
2008 Q2
13,649
2
2
146.5
2008 Q1
13,497
4
1
296.4
2007 Q4
15,482
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
12,686
16
5
1261.2
2007 Q2
16,278
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
13,138
2
2
152.2
2006 Q4
13,723
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
11,243
0
0
0.0
2006 Q2
14,176
13
7
917.0
2006 Q1
12,341
9
7
729.3
2005 Q4
13,663
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
9,135
5
2
547.3
2005 Q2
14,468
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
11,546
5
2
433.1
2004 Q4
12,709
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
11,778
9
2
764.1
2004 Q2
13,177
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
12,883
3
1
232.9
2003 Q4
11,017
1
1
90.8
2003 Q3
11,602
4
0
344.8
2003 Q2
12,401
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
12,844
4
3
311.4
2002 Q4
13,170
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
12,190
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
11,291
1
0
88.6
2002 Q1
16,644
0
0
0.0
2001 Q4
12,732
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
10,225
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
11,196
11
7
982.5
2001 Q1
11,711
7
4
597.7
2000 Q4
8,907
6
1
673.6
2000 Q3
9,437
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
11,234
8
6
712.1
2000 Q1
9,496
2
0
210.6
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
37 on file
2015 · 1 incident
October 17, 2015KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was helping replace segment on an excavator when they set the excavator back down a piece of metal sheared off the segment and struck him in the right leg. He received 5 stitches.
Employee was in the process of moving a brake rotor chamber with the shops overhead crane. When the safety chain slipped off rotor chamber and him above his right eye. He received 7 stitches. Came back to work same day.
2013 · 1 incident
May 3, 2013KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was working on a John Deere grader. Employee had to get off the grader to get another tool. When he did he twisted his right knee. Employee worked until 5-21-13 then went off work.
Employee was changing a spring on screen #1 using a chain. Fall when the beam clamp on the chain fall pulled away from the beam and the chain fall fell and hit the employee on the back. It fractured 1 vertebra.
2008 · 1 incident
June 27, 2008KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
THE EMPLOYEE WAS SLIDING PIPE ACROSS FLOOR TO WHERE IT WAS TO BE INSTALLED AND CAUGHT HIS FINGERS BETWEEN PIPE AND MAGNETITE SCREW SHAFT LACERATING INDEX AND MIDDLE FINGER ON LEFT HAND. SUTURE S REQUIRED.
1998 · 1 incident
January 15, 1998KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
EMPLOYEE WAS USING PRYBAR TO PRY SCREEN INTO PLACE. THE PRYBAR SLIPPED CAUSING THE EMPLOYEE TO HIT 3RD FINGER ON RIGHT HAND DISLOCATING IT. THIS WAS REPORTED TO ME ON 10-15-96.
July 26, 1996KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EE WAS INSTALLING A BUCKET ON EXCAVATOR USING A 20# SLEDGE HAMMER. HE TWISTED BODY AROUND TO HIT BUCKET WITH HAMMER, SLINGING THE HAMMER CAUSED HIM TO FALL TO GROUND. DR. DIAGNOSIS: PULLED LIG AMENTS.
May 27, 1996KY · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
THE EMPLOYEE WAS PUTTING AN ENGINE INTO A TRUCK & WAS THIGHTAENING BOLTS OF TORQUE CONVERTOR & THE STARTER FELL OFF FRAME & HIT THE EMPLOYEE IN THE NOSE.
February 1, 1994KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techOTHER
EMPLOYEE WAS CLEANING A PIPE FITTING WITH A BENCH GRINDER & HIS LEFT THUMB GOT CAUGHT ON THE WIRE BRUSH WHICH CAUSED A FX & LACERATION TO HIS LEFT THUMB
October 11, 1993KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
PUTTING LINEAR (METAL) PLATE IN CRUSHER SHOOT. PLATE WAS 2' BY 8' AND WEIGHED APPROX 300 LBS.HUNG 1 END OF PLATE THEN LIFTED THE OTHER END TO GET IT OVER VIBRATOR SO HE COULD GET IT DOWN SHOOT .HE WAS LIFTING ON PLATE WHEN HE HURT RIGHT SHOULDER RIGHT ARM AND NECK.INJURED DIDN'T GO TO DR UNTIL 10-14-93 MISSED WORK ON 10-15-93.
October 4, 1993KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY