Mining Incidents

Preparation Plant Coal

MC Mining LLC · Facility
Pikeville, Pike County, KY  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 1517733

Preparation Plant has $134K in proposed MSHA penalties and $9K outstanding across 6 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
28
Years on record
1998–2024
Latest incident
Nov 2024
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
790
citations
272
significant & substantial
$134,241
proposed penalties
$122,101
paid to date
91% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $12,140 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
253
inspections on record
7,993
inspection hours
9.9
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.
790 citations across 7,993 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Preparation Plant has $134K in proposed MSHA penalties and $9K outstanding across 6 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.
$134K
proposed penalties
$132K
current assessed
$122K
paid to date
$9K
outstanding
776 assessments are final orders; 6 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-05-07.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Preparation Plant shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.47 mg/m3 (98% compliant) across 607 samples.

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.
0.47
dust avg (mg/m3)
4.45
dust max (mg/m3)
98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
607
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-06-12.
Silica (quartz)
1.6
silica avg (%)
6.2
silica max (%)
92
samples
Most recent sample: 2026-04-14.
Noise
9%
over PEL
192
samples
Most recent sample: 2025-11-06.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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 Q4 12,652 5 1 395.2
2025 Q3 13,239 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 12,842 7 1 545.1
2025 Q1 14,861 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 21,972 6 0 273.1
2024 Q3 23,483 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 24,314 10 1 411.3
2024 Q1 25,466 0 0 0.0
Show 96 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 25,648 9 1 350.9
2023 Q3 29,275 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 30,865 3 1 97.2
2023 Q1 32,092 1 0 31.2
2022 Q4 30,984 2 1 64.5
2022 Q3 24,686 23 4 931.7
2022 Q2 22,565 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 21,036 11 0 522.9
2021 Q4 17,914 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 17,512 10 2 571.0
2021 Q2 14,018 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 14,065 8 1 568.8
2020 Q4 12,556 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 20,162 7 2 347.2
2020 Q2 14,897 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 12,214 1 0 81.9
2019 Q4 11,259 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 12,161 2 0 164.5
2019 Q2 12,679 1 0 78.9
2019 Q1 13,554 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 12,360 19 5 1537.2
2018 Q3 12,349 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 12,798 11 1 859.5
2018 Q1 13,536 11 2 812.6
2017 Q4 12,084 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 12,457 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 12,397 12 5 968.0
2017 Q1 13,123 2 0 152.4
2016 Q4 12,759 9 2 705.4
2016 Q3 11,724 4 0 341.2
2016 Q2 11,421 6 4 525.3
2016 Q1 11,560 7 1 605.5
2015 Q4 10,839 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 11,884 5 1 420.7
2015 Q2 11,532 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 13,594 20 5 1471.2
2014 Q4 13,272 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 15,262 13 1 851.8
2014 Q2 15,077 13 5 862.2
2014 Q1 16,578 18 4 1085.8
2013 Q4 13,440 18 4 1339.3
2013 Q3 13,055 3 2 229.8
2013 Q2 13,374 18 9 1345.9
2013 Q1 12,865 1 1 77.7
2012 Q4 11,931 22 10 1843.9
2012 Q3 12,183 27 9 2216.2
2012 Q2 10,136 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 11,587 11 5 949.3
2011 Q4 11,087 3 1 270.6
2011 Q3 12,056 15 6 1244.2
2011 Q2 12,933 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 12,566 20 7 1591.6
2010 Q4 11,128 2 2 179.7
2010 Q3 11,168 9 5 805.9
2010 Q2 12,380 1 0 80.8
2010 Q1 12,882 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 11,402 17 5 1491.0
2009 Q3 12,489 15 3 1201.1
2009 Q2 12,457 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 13,373 16 2 1196.4
2008 Q4 13,551 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 14,152 16 2 1130.6
2008 Q2 14,633 1 0 68.3
2008 Q1 15,342 11 3 717.0
2007 Q4 14,626 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 14,037 14 11 997.4
2007 Q2 14,637 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 14,893 14 5 940.0
2006 Q4 14,452 1 0 69.2
2006 Q3 15,888 18 10 1132.9
2006 Q2 13,930 12 4 861.5
2006 Q1 14,182 6 3 423.1
2005 Q4 13,795 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 12,755 8 5 627.2
2005 Q2 13,694 7 1 511.2
2005 Q1 12,203 9 1 737.5
2004 Q4 13,670 42 27 3072.4
2004 Q3 13,493 15 8 1111.7
2004 Q2 13,465 10 3 742.7
2004 Q1 15,014 18 7 1198.9
2003 Q4 13,430 5 2 372.3
2003 Q3 12,921 11 3 851.3
2003 Q2 11,807 7 5 592.9
2003 Q1 12,855 12 6 933.5
2002 Q4 11,003 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 9,556 1 0 104.6
2002 Q2 9,993 12 7 1200.8
2002 Q1 9,956 16 10 1607.1
2001 Q4 10,664 9 4 844.0
2001 Q3 10,866 3 2 276.1
2001 Q2 11,442 10 4 874.0
2001 Q1 10,700 22 8 2056.1
2000 Q4 9,034 4 4 442.8
2000 Q3 10,056 1 1 99.4
2000 Q2 10,252 13 3 1268.0
2000 Q1 9,538 2 1 209.7

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
July 5, 1999 KY · Coal electrician, lineman Fatality · ELECTRICAL
D-Mac Enterprises Inc · Contact with electrical current

EMPLOYEE WAS REMOVING MOUNTING BOLTS ON A GOB SWITCH WHEN ELECTROCUTION OCCURRED.

Reportable incidents

27 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2024 · 1 incident

November 5, 2024 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
MC Mining LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was changing a hose on the dozer. The fitting was tight. When EE tried to loosen the fitting, EE's hand slipped off the wrench causing EE to lose balance. EE fell and hit shoulder on the frame of the dozer, causing pain in right shoulder.

2022 · 1 incident

May 14, 2022 KY · Coal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
MC Mining LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was using a post driver to drive a copper ground rod in the ground. The driver slipped off the ground rod on the downward motion. Employees hand hit the top of the ground rod puncturing the skin causing a laceration the required stitches.

2021 · 1 incident

October 9, 2021 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
MC Mining LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee was shoveling rust from the floor. EE moved a ladder to clean around it and a piece of cue decking fell causing a laceration to EE's right hand.

2018 · 1 incident

November 1, 2018 KY · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
MC Mining LLC · Struck against stationary object

The injured miner was assisting a co-worker in throwing the flop gate at a head drive chute when the chain ratchet that was holding the gate came loose and allowed the gate to strike EE on the right side of the head. As the gate struck the injured miner, it knocked EE into an adjacent object causing EE to strike the left side of EE's head.

2017 · 1 incident

August 28, 2017 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
MC Mining LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was dismounting from compactor, stepped on a rock twisting their knee. Doctor removed employee from work pending MRI results.

2015 · 2 incidents

June 17, 2015 KY · Coal refuse truck driver, backfill truck driver, stock pile truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
MC Mining LLC · Fall from machine

Refuse haul truck driver (contractor) parked in truck parking lot at end of shift and was dismounting truck. He apparently fell from truck step, landing on left side. He was taken to ER due to pain in left leg and elevated vitals. Upon arrival at ER he was sent for an EKG and they told him he had a heart attack. Later told him his hip was fractured.

June 11, 2015 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
MC Mining LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was pulling on flop gate handle to close it to divert coal into screen chute. He had his hand upon the up on the side edge of chute and the gate caught and pinched his finger causing a laceration which required stitches.

2014 · 1 incident

October 24, 2014 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
MC Mining LLC · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee went into pump building near preparation plant to turn on water valve to wash down tail piece pad. Employee stated that he was standing on a pipe to turn the valve on. Employee stated that his foot slipped and he fell backward striking his right side and twisting his back and neck. Employee is waiting for MRI to determine necessary treatment.

2013 · 1 incident

July 10, 2013 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
MC Mining LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cleaning a spot to weld a plate inside a chute. As he was chipping rust and rock from chute a piece of debris got in behind his safety glasses and into his eye.

2010 · 3 incidents

September 28, 2010 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
MC Mining LLC · Contact with hot objects or substances

EE stated he was cutting pipe out of overhead when a piece of hot slag dropped inside car.

April 3, 2010 KY · Coal electrician, lineman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
MC Mining LLC · Fall onto or against objects

EE was assisting in repair work on thickener. A small piece of catwalk had been removed to gain access to the work area below. EE stated that he had forgot about the hole and stepped into it striking his elbow on the grating. This resulted in a laceration to his right elbow which required stitches to close.

February 10, 2010 KY · Coal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
MC Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE states that he was sitting on top of picnic table conducting weekly safety meeting. As he finished meeting he jumped down quickly while leaning forward and landed with most of his weight on his right leg. He states that he continued to have problems and went to doctor. Doctor has removed him from work as of 10/28/10. He was having surgery today 10/29/10

2009 · 1 incident

December 2, 2009 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
MC Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE had shoveled for a couple of days clearing up transfer building. Stated that he had some soreness and pain but never thought it was anything. He later went to the doctor, but did not say if was due to injury. 12/21/09 his doc took him off work & on 1/5/10 we received a letter stating that he had a strain to his left shoulder that was due to the work related injury.

2007 · 2 incidents

March 13, 2007 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES
MC Mining LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The above date of accident reflects the employee's first day away from work. Employee has been diagnosed with uncovertebral hyperthropy, right paracentral disc protrusion with stemosis of the cervical spine. Employee has been treated for his conditions for several years.

February 28, 2007 KY · Coal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant HANDLING OF MATERIALS
MC Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was lifting/loading 100 pound sample bags of coal into the the back of a pickup truck. As he was stepping with the bag he felt and heard a popping noise which turned out to be an injury to his right knee.

2005 · 2 incidents

March 21, 2005 KY · Coal electrician, lineman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
MC Mining LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE STATED THAT EE WAS CUTTING PLASTIC PIPE WHEN KNIFE SLIPPED CAUSING A LACERATION WHICH REQUIRED SUTURES TO CLOSE

February 28, 2005 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
MC Mining LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated he was cutting holes in a piece of rubber with a utility knife. Knife slipped out of rubber and cut his hand.

2003 · 4 incidents

December 29, 2003 KY · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman

EMPLOYEE WAS PERFORMING A PRE-OPERATIONAL CHECK PRIOR TO STARTING THE DOZER. HIS FOOT SLIPPED & HIS LEG WENT BETWEEN PUSH BAR & TRACK.

November 10, 2003 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
MC Mining LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE STATED HE WAS PULLING PIPE OUT OF PLANT & PULLED MUSCLE IN GROIN. EE DID NOT GO TO DOCTOR FOR COULE OF DAYS LATER & THEN WAS RECOMMENDED TO A SPECIALIST. WE HAVE BEEN AWAITING THE RESULTS O F TEST TO DETERMINE IF REPORTABLE. EE HAS NOT MISSED ANY WORK AS OF THIS DATE.

August 25, 2003 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
MC Mining LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

LOADING BUCKET ON TRUCK, WAS CHAINING AND BINDING DOWN BUCKET, STARTED TO STEP OFF BUCKET, MISSED STEP, FELL DOWN BETWEEN BUCKET AND SIDE OF TRUCK BED.

July 16, 2003 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech

EMPLOYEE WAS BENDING AND LIFTING FLYTES IN BOTTOM OF WASHBOX WHEN HIS BACK STARTED HURTING. HE DID NOT MISS ANY WORK UNTIL 2/20/04.

2002 · 1 incident

April 20, 2002 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
MC Mining LLC · Struck by falling object

WHILE CUTTING A PIECE OF BELTING TO INSTALL A SKIRT ON A COAL CHUTE HIS KNIFE SLIPPED AND CUT HIS RIGHT THUMB REQUIRING SIX STITCHES TO CLOSE.

2000 · 2 incidents

May 13, 2000 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
MC Mining LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS CHANGING IMPACT ROLLER. OLD BOLTS WERE RUSTY. EMPLOYEE WAS TRYING TO KNOCK BOLTS LOOSE AND RUST FROM BOLTS WENT INTO EYES AROUND SAFETY GLASSES.

March 24, 2000 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
MC Mining LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS HOLDING A KNOCKER WRENCH & ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WAS USING A #8 SLEDGE HAMMER TO SECURE THE HOUSING ON THE VESSEL MEDIA PUMP. INJURED THOUGHT HAMMERER WAS READY FOR WRENCH TO BE REPO SITIONED. WHEN HE MOVED HIS HAND TO THE HANDLE THE FINGER WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE WRENCH AND THEHAMMER.

1998 · 3 incidents

November 13, 1998 KY · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
D-Mac Enterprises Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE WAS WASHING DUST ACCUMLATIONS IN BASEMENT OF=PREP PLANT WHERE HE SLIPPED & FELL INJURING KNEE

August 8, 1998 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
D-Mac Enterprises Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS CUTTING METAL WITH A TORCH WHEN PIECE OF RUST POPPED IN EYE. EE WAS WEARING SAFETY GLASSES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT

June 12, 1998 KY · Coal FIRE
D-Mac Enterprises Inc · Accident type, without injuries

AN UNPLANNED FIRE HAPPENED IN THE SURFACE HIGH VOLTAGE SUBSTATION

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Preparation Plant

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.