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: 346 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Purco Strip has $884 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.
$884
proposed penalties
$884
current assessed
$884
paid to date
$0
outstanding
6 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2007-05-07.
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 Purco Strip shows 100% of 23 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: 2006-02-15, 20 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
23
samples
1.15
dust max (mg/m3)
23 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
BACKHOE OPERATOR8
BULLDOZER OPERATOR5
COAL TRUCK DRIVER4
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.
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)
2008
3
1,294
2007
5
8,894
2006
6
36,541
2005
6
34,320
2004
6
29,093
2003
5
23,494
2002
3
13,563
2001
3
8,807
2000
3
26,801
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Purco Strip sits in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, 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.
Fayette County, Pennsylvania · Population 126,967
2.8%
Mining share of county employment
$56,093
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
2008 Q4
27
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
200
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
1,313
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
160
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
1,536
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
2,677
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
2,742
3
2
1094.1
2007 Q1
3,034
0
0
0.0
Show 28 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2006 Q4
2,793
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
2,750
0
0
0.0
2006 Q2
3,051
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
3,393
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
2,936
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
3,598
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
3,011
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
2,428
1
1
411.9
2004 Q4
2,980
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
2,267
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
3,671
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
3,273
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
3,119
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
2,948
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
2,861
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
1,994
1
0
501.5
2002 Q4
2,104
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
1,563
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
1,605
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
1,842
0
0
0.0
2001 Q4
1,671
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
1,396
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
1,796
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
1,287
1
0
777.0
2000 Q4
1,882
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
1,598
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
2,078
0
0
0.0
2000 Q1
1,563
0
0
0.0
Fatalities at this mine
2 recorded
July 25, 1995PA · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerFatality · MACHINERY
MINER WAS INVOLVED IN CLEARING OPERATIONS. LOGS WERE CONNECTED BY A CHOKER CHAIN TO A CAT D9-G DOZER WHICH THEN DRAGGED THE LOGS TO A COLLECTION AREA. A LOG WAS BEING DRAGGED WHEN THE END CLOS EST TO THE CHOKER CHAIN WEDGED UP AGAINST A TREE STUMP. THE FREE END OF THE LOG WHIPPED AROUND AND STRUCK THE MINER IN THE BACK AS HE WAS WALKING IN THE WORK AREA.
October 6, 1986PA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanFatality · FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Purco Coal Inc · Caught in, under or between collapsing material or buildings
I NAME, A LABOR9R WAS CLEANING COAL WITH HAND SHOVEL ALONG SPOIL PILE PICKING UP LOOSE MATERIAL FOLLOWING THE LOADER THAT WAS CLEANING UP LARGER MATERIAL. A SMALL P PORTION OF THE3SPOIL PILE SLID AND ENTRAPPED I NAME
THE OPERATOR OF LOADED INTERNATIONAL ROCK TRUCK PROCEDED DOWN A 45 DEGREE SLOPED HAUL ROAD AND PASSED AN EMPTY EUCLID R-50 ROCK TRUCK COMING UP THE HAUL ROAD. THE OPERATOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL ROCK TRUCK LOST CONTROL OF HIS VEHICLE AND WENTTHRU THE EARTHEN BERM THE INTERNATION ROCK TRUCK THEN SLIDE AND OR ROLLED DOWN THE HILL 125 FT COMING TO REST ON IT S SIDE.
1989 · 1 incident
August 25, 1989PA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Purco Coal Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EMPLOYEE WAS CHANGING TIRE ON DUMP TRUCK WHEN HE CAUGHT HIS FINGER BETWEEN TIRE RIM AND AXLE HUB.