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.
258 citations across 4,612 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Prep Plant #2 has $36K in proposed MSHA penalties and $703 outstanding across 17 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.
$36K
proposed penalties
$34K
current assessed
$34K
paid to date
$703
outstanding
257 assessments are final orders; 17 contested dockets.
Of $9K in penalties contested before the Commission, $8K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-03.
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.
34citations taken to the federal commission · 13% of citations on record
Settled
25 · 74%
Stood as issued
9 · 26%
88%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 24 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
16%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$9K proposed, $7K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2015-07-30.
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 #2 shows 94% of 160 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: 2015-11-17, 10 years ago
94%
within 1.5 mg/m3
160
samples
2.41
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.
130 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 30 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 #2 recorded 7.29 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2015.
Injury rate, 2015
ⓘ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.
7.29
total case rate
7.29
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.76 and the all-US-mining average was 2.72 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.56 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
2015 *
7.29
7.29
0.000
2014 *
5.44
5.44
0.000
2013 *
2.57
2.57
0.000
2012 *
8.33
8.33
0.000
2006 *
10.06
5.03
0.000
2005 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2004 *
4.23
0.00
0.000
2003 *
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
0
2025
0
2024
1
2018
0
2017
0
2016
2
2015
23
2014
32
2013
31
2012
18
2011
0
2010
0
2009
0
2008
0
2007
0
2006
18
2005
20
2004
21
2003
21
2002
22
2001
22
2000
21
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Prep Plant #2 sits in Lawrence County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 3.4% 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.
Lawrence County, Kentucky · Population 16,171
3.4%
Mining share of county employment
$45,584
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
0
1
0
2026 Q1
0
1
0
2025 Q4
0
0
0
2025 Q3
0
0
0
2024 Q4
1,107
2
0
1806.7
2024 Q3
0
0
0
2018 Q4
0
0
0
2018 Q3
0
0
0
Show 72 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2018 Q2
0
0
0
2018 Q1
0
0
0
2017 Q4
0
0
0
2017 Q3
0
0
0
2017 Q2
0
0
0
2017 Q1
0
0
0
2016 Q4
0
0
0
2016 Q1
30
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
5,279
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
6,172
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
21,380
9
2
421.0
2015 Q1
22,032
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
18,141
3
0
165.4
2014 Q3
19,111
1
1
52.3
2014 Q2
21,129
10
4
473.3
2014 Q1
15,203
2
1
131.6
2013 Q4
15,051
4
0
265.8
2013 Q3
24,779
4
0
161.4
2013 Q2
17,107
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
21,006
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
20,256
5
0
246.8
2012 Q3
3,755
1
0
266.3
2012 Q2
0
0
0
2012 Q1
0
0
0
2011 Q4
0
0
0
2011 Q3
0
0
0
2011 Q2
0
1
0
2011 Q1
0
0
0
2010 Q4
0
0
0
2010 Q3
0
0
0
2010 Q2
0
0
0
2010 Q1
0
0
0
2009 Q4
0
0
0
2009 Q3
0
1
0
2009 Q2
0
0
0
2009 Q1
0
0
0
2008 Q4
0
0
0
2008 Q3
680
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
0
0
0
2008 Q1
0
1
0
2007 Q4
0
1
0
2007 Q3
0
0
0
2007 Q2
0
0
0
2007 Q1
0
0
0
2006 Q4
6,702
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
10,484
0
0
0.0
2006 Q2
12,483
2
0
160.2
2006 Q1
10,088
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
12,638
4
0
316.5
2005 Q3
11,045
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
15,327
9
5
587.2
2005 Q1
11,048
3
1
271.5
2004 Q4
12,028
12
3
997.7
2004 Q3
11,906
4
0
336.0
2004 Q2
12,582
6
1
476.9
2004 Q1
10,820
18
2
1663.6
2003 Q4
11,032
1
0
90.6
2003 Q3
12,055
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
11,005
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
11,779
1
0
84.9
2002 Q4
11,291
1
0
88.6
2002 Q3
12,684
2
0
157.7
2002 Q2
13,898
3
2
215.9
2002 Q1
13,524
3
1
221.8
2001 Q4
13,963
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
11,984
1
0
83.4
2001 Q2
11,150
1
0
89.7
2001 Q1
13,134
11
4
837.5
2000 Q4
11,215
8
1
713.3
2000 Q3
12,271
6
2
489.0
2000 Q2
11,551
10
5
865.7
2000 Q1
8,528
9
4
1055.3
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
17 on file
2015 · 2 incidents
March 5, 2015KY · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was setting in the yard truck on the passenger side when he turned right to get out of the truck. A sharp pain went down his left side of his lower back.
January 27, 2015KY · Coalutility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was packing a new crusher bearing with grease. When he turn the bearing over he felt a burning sensation in his left hand. It pulled muscle in-between his pointer finger and middle finger on his left hand.
2014 · 2 incidents
July 29, 2014KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was getting off of a bobcat when his foot slipped and got caught between the arm and forks of the bobcat and twisted his foot. Employee worked until 8/5/14, went off work on 8/6/14.
March 6, 2014KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was climbing off of a dozer when he had a dizzy spell and fell off dozer tracks. Striking his left wrist against the dozer arm. Spraining his wrist.
Employee was in the basement of the plant on a ladder. Installing conduit when he lost footing and started to fall and caught himself with his left arm hurting his left shoulder. Employee worked until 10-9-13 then went off work.
2012 · 1 incident
September 27, 2012KY · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was cutting a case of drinking water into the plant control room when he tripped on a step going into control room and fell onto the floor twisted his back.
2006 · 2 incidents
October 30, 2006KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Victim was looking up through grating to the floor above him. Worker above, knocked a small piece of metal into victims left eye. Went to ER to have it removed. No lost time.
VICTIM WAS PULLING ON CHAIN HOIST WHEN ANCHOR CHAIN BROKE. CHAIN HOIST FELL STRIKING THE VICTIM IN HEAD. VICTIM WAS WEARING A HARD HAT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
2002 · 2 incidents
June 3, 2002KY · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
THE EMPLOYEE STATED THAT HIS BACK STARTED HURTING AFTER HE GOT DOWN FROM THE LOADER. THE ACCIDNET OCCURRED ON 5-28-02 BUT THE EMPLOYEE DID NOT START MISSING WORK UNTIL 6-5-02.
2001 · 1 incident
January 5, 2001KY · Coalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
GETTING OFF LADDER OF 980 C LOADER. SLIPPED, GRABBED HOLD OF LADDER RAIL AND STRAINED LEFT ARM. FIRST LOST WORKDAY WAS 1-8-01. INJURY WAS NOT OTHERWISE REPORTABLE.
1997 · 5 incidents
December 16, 1997KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
SUBJECT CLIMBED A LADDER TO INSTALL SKIRT RUBBER ON BELT SKIRT. THE LADDER SLIPPED AND HE FELL LANDING ON HIS FEET ON CONCRETE FLOOR AND THEN HE ROLLED OVER. HE GOT UP SAYING THAT HE HAD BRUIS ED HIS FOOT. HE WAS TAKEN TO MINE OFFICE AND HIS FOOT WAS EXAMINED BY ME. (NO MARKS OR BRUISES SHOWING) INJURED SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS OK.
October 1, 1997KY · Coalprep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisorHANDLING OF MATERIALS