B & K Coal Inc · Struck against stationary object
Operating Drill and hit head on roof bolt causing a laceration to head. Stitches required.
Red Bird Coal #1: 528 MSHA citations Coal
Red Bird Coal LLC
· Underground
Controlled by
Stewart H Ashton III
Topmost,
Knott County,
KY
·
Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 1518595
Red Bird Coal #1 has $107K in proposed MSHA penalties and $72K outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 8
- Years on record
- 2003–2010
- Latest incident
- Mar 2010
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2003
528
citations
163
significant & substantial
$107,262
proposed penalties
$35,625
paid to date
33% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $71,637 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2002
58
inspections on record
3,141
inspection hours
16.8
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.528 citations across 3,141 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Red Bird Coal #1 has $107K in proposed MSHA penalties and $72K outstanding across 2 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.$107K
proposed penalties
$107K
current assessed
$36K
paid to date
$72K
outstanding
518 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $1K in penalties contested before the Commission, $1K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2012-05-03.
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.31.4%
significant & substantial
2.1%
high negligence or reckless
32.2%
reasonably likely or greater
7.3%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 3.1% low, 94.8% moderate, 2.1% high, 0.0% reckless.
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.
11
citations taken to the federal commission · 2% of citations on record
- Stood as issued 11 · 100%
100%
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 4 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$1K proposed, $1K 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 2005-09-13.
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.
| Docket | Decision | Judge | Year | Proposed / upheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KENT 2005-303 | Default | Lesnick | 2005 | $607 → $607 |
| KENT 2005-415 | Default | Lesnick | 2006 | $555 → $555 |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Red Bird Coal #1 shows 95% of 373 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: 2010-05-12, 16 years ago
ⓘ
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.95%
within 1.5 mg/m3
373
samples
2.65
dust max (mg/m3)
200 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 173 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- CUTTING MACHINE OPERATOR174
- ROOF BOLTER (SINGLE HEAD)45
- SCOOP CAR OPERATOR44
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2010-05-19, 16 years ago3.8
silica avg (%)
17
samples
13.9
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- CUTTING MACHINE OPERATOR13
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.
Last sampled: 2009-05-13, 17 years ago
ⓘ
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.0%
over PEL
39
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- SCOOP CAR OPERATOR10
- ROOF BOLTER (SINGLE HEAD)8
- CUTTING MACHINE OPERATOR7
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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.| Year | within 1.5 mg/m3 | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 81% | 31 |
| 2009 | 92% | 49 |
| 2008 | 100% | 5 |
| 2007 | 100% | 12 |
| 2006 | 100% | 60 |
| 2005 | 99% | 69 |
| 2004 | 94% | 85 |
| 2003 | 98% | 62 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2.2 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2.3 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1.3 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3.3 | 3 |
| 2005 | 6.8 | 3 |
| 2004 | 5.4 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2.6 | 2 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0% | 12 |
| 2007 | 0% | 5 |
| 2006 | 0% | 6 |
| 2004 | 0% | 10 |
| 2003 | 0% | 6 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Red Bird Coal #1 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006.
Injury rate, 2006
ⓘ
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.0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US coal mining average was 4.87 and the all-US-mining average was 3.91 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 5.96 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2005 * | 8.10 | 8.10 | 0.000 |
| 2004 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2003 * | 13.28 | 13.28 | 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.
Ownership history
- COAL RIDGE MINING, LLC 2002 to 2008
- Black Spade Mining Inc 2008 to 2009
- B & K Coal Inc 2009 to 2010
- Red Bird Coal LLC 2010 to present
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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 34 | 67,191 |
| 2009 | 25 | 57,957 |
| 2008 | 6 | 23,982 |
| 2007 | 12 | 10,740 |
| 2006 | 17 | 55,747 |
| 2005 | 15 | 65,937 |
| 2004 | 22 | 97,092 |
| 2003 | 25 | 101,791 |
| 2002 | 13 | 2,573 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Red Bird Coal #1 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
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Q2 | 11,275 | 26 | 9 | 2306.0 |
| 2010 Q1 | 19,127 | 70 | 20 | 3659.7 |
| 2009 Q4 | 8,033 | 53 | 14 | 6597.8 |
| 2009 Q2 | 9,837 | 32 | 7 | 3253.0 |
| 2009 Q1 | 7,263 | 41 | 12 | 5645.1 |
| 2008 Q4 | 4,240 | 41 | 23 | 9669.8 |
| 2008 Q3 | 0 | 48 | 12 | |
| 2008 Q2 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
Show 18 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 Q1 | 5,898 | 5 | 2 | 847.7 |
| 2006 Q4 | 6,986 | 3 | 0 | 429.4 |
| 2006 Q3 | 5,540 | 5 | 1 | 902.5 |
| 2006 Q2 | 7,366 | 8 | 2 | 1086.1 |
| 2006 Q1 | 7,506 | 36 | 17 | 4796.2 |
| 2005 Q4 | 5,972 | 5 | 1 | 837.2 |
| 2005 Q3 | 7,768 | 4 | 0 | 514.9 |
| 2005 Q2 | 6,000 | 4 | 3 | 666.7 |
| 2005 Q1 | 4,937 | 7 | 1 | 1417.9 |
| 2004 Q4 | 7,684 | 7 | 1 | 911.0 |
| 2004 Q3 | 9,492 | 16 | 5 | 1685.6 |
| 2004 Q2 | 8,922 | 27 | 11 | 3026.2 |
| 2004 Q1 | 13,349 | 6 | 1 | 449.5 |
| 2003 Q4 | 11,197 | 14 | 5 | 1250.3 |
| 2003 Q3 | 11,563 | 8 | 1 | 691.9 |
| 2003 Q2 | 12,806 | 9 | 1 | 702.8 |
| 2003 Q1 | 9,621 | 6 | 4 | 623.6 |
| 2002 Q4 | 2,014 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
8 on file2010 · 2 incidents
January 4, 2010
KY · Coal
laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
B & K Coal Inc · Struck against stationary object
Picking up a piece of rock to toss and struck thumb on roof bolt.
2009 · 1 incident
December 19, 2009
KY · Coal
blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey
FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
B & K Coal Inc · Struck by falling object
Rock (2'wide x 2-3" thick) fell from top between bolts and struck employee on left shoulder.
2005 · 1 incident
May 16, 2005
KY · Coal
laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
POWERED HAULAGE
COAL RIDGE MINING, LLC · Struck against a moving object
Employee was loading truck. As he started downgrade, the front of endloader engine stalled and the employee applied the emergency brake. The endloader ran into a large rock and fractured employee's left leg.
2004 · 1 incident
February 10, 2004
KY · Coal
laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
COAL RIDGE MINING, LLC · Struck by falling object
INJURED WAS EXITING THE PERSONNEL CARRIER WHEN A KETTLEBOTTOM FELL FROM THE ROOF ONTO HIS LEFT ARM.
2003 · 3 incidents
September 4, 2003
KY · Coal
EMPLOYEE WAS PULLING ON TAMP WAGON BETWEEN THE #2 AND #3 ENTRIES WHEN HE STRAINED HIS BACK.
EE WAS BOLTING TOP & HANDLING CABLE WHEN REEL CAME OUT AND HE TWISTED HIS BACK.
March 19, 2003
KY · Coal
EE WAS BOLTING A BREAK IN #5 ENTRY WHEN A ROCK FELL OUT BETWEEN BOLTS AND HIT HIM IN THE BACK, INJURING HIS BACK AND RIBS.