Mining Incidents

RFI Strip & Tipple Coal

RFI Energy Inc · Surface
Controlled by Daniel A Fescemyer
Sligo, Clarion County, PA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 3608763

RFI Strip & Tipple has $12K in proposed MSHA penalties and $100 outstanding across 4 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at RFI Strip & Tipple.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
29
Years on record
1999–2012
Latest incident
Dec 2012
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
43
citations
15
significant & substantial
$12,263
proposed penalties
$11,236
paid to date
92% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,027 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
83
inspections on record
2,816
inspection hours
1.5
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.
43 citations across 2,816 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

RFI Strip & Tipple has $12K in proposed MSHA penalties and $100 outstanding across 4 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.
$12K
proposed penalties
$11K
current assessed
$11K
paid to date
$100
outstanding
42 assessments are final orders; 4 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-12-17.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at RFI Strip & Tipple shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.22 mg/m3 (99% compliant) across 399 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.
0.22
dust avg (mg/m3)
2.61
dust max (mg/m3)
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
399
samples
Most recent sample: 2014-09-09.
Silica (quartz)
5.3
silica avg (%)
31.6
silica max (%)
16
samples
Most recent sample: 2014-02-07.
Noise
2%
over PEL
174
samples
Most recent sample: 2014-09-15.
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
2015 Q4 0 0 0
2015 Q3 0 0 0
2015 Q2 0 0 0
2015 Q1 0 0 0
2014 Q4 4,313 1 1 231.9
2014 Q3 16,546 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 19,554 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 22,982 1 0 43.5
Show 56 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2013 Q4 23,311 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 23,548 1 0 42.5
2013 Q2 24,820 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 25,313 1 1 39.5
2012 Q4 24,121 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 24,399 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 25,347 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 27,355 1 0 36.6
2011 Q4 26,651 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 28,911 1 0 34.6
2011 Q2 30,911 1 0 32.4
2011 Q1 29,764 2 2 67.2
2010 Q4 25,741 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 26,404 1 1 37.9
2010 Q2 26,353 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 27,659 4 2 144.6
2009 Q4 25,715 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 28,557 4 0 140.1
2009 Q2 27,935 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 28,895 1 1 34.6
2008 Q4 28,835 2 0 69.4
2008 Q3 30,274 1 0 33.0
2008 Q2 30,198 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 30,687 2 1 65.2
2007 Q4 33,061 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 32,290 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 33,106 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 32,457 4 2 123.2
2006 Q4 30,436 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 28,758 1 0 34.8
2006 Q2 31,641 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 33,815 1 0 29.6
2005 Q4 29,785 2 2 67.1
2005 Q3 34,531 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 34,232 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 31,757 1 0 31.5
2004 Q4 31,208 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 28,415 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 29,627 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 28,889 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 27,598 1 0 36.2
2003 Q3 27,812 1 0 36.0
2003 Q2 28,727 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 28,453 1 1 35.1
2002 Q4 26,259 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 27,840 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 26,260 3 0 114.2
2002 Q1 27,522 1 0 36.3
2001 Q4 28,817 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 31,828 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 30,486 1 0 32.8
2001 Q1 29,909 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 27,738 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 29,148 2 1 68.6
2000 Q2 27,706 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 27,099 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

29 on file

2012 · 1 incident

December 17, 2012 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
RFI Energy Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Right thumb pinched in looped cable hooked to house crane as it was lifting cable.

2011 · 2 incidents

December 3, 2011 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
RFI Energy Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Lifting piece of used cutting out of service truck with crane, accidentally boomed up with crane causing edge to swing, striking employee on forehead, above left eye. Went on days off, started having concussion symptoms.

August 19, 2011 PA · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
RFI Energy Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

Welder gouging steel on blade, spark caught his coveralls on fire, burned through coveralls and jeans on left leg, middle of leg between knee and foot.

2010 · 1 incident

April 10, 2010 PA · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
RFI Energy Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was removing a bearing race from a yoke. Yoke was clamped in a vice & employee was knocking out race with a hammer and chisel. His hammer glanced off the chisel, striking the tip of his middle finger on left hand, smashing the finger. Employee was wearing gloves & safety glasses.

2009 · 2 incidents

August 17, 2009 PA · Coal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
RFI Energy Inc · Struck against stationary object

Worker changing bearing on the press roller. While removing the seal, the inside was very sharp and cut his right thumb when the seal came loose.

June 18, 2009 PA · Coal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger OTHER
RFI Energy Inc · Unclassified, insufficient data

Employee is complaining about back pain. Cause of back pain unknown at this time.

2008 · 3 incidents

November 26, 2008 PA · Coal tipple/top lander/skip dumper operator, binman, topman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
RFI Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE shut off the electric heater breaker, was in route to take the heater out of the primary crusher when he slipped on the snow on the conveyor belting that is on the ground in front of the panel box. He twisted his left leg when he fell.(aggravating an existing problem with his left wrist,needed surgery (3/17/09) by 220090980024)

July 1, 2008 PA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
RFI Energy Inc · Struck against a moving object

This was a condition that accelerated over time, the seat on the scraper was not absorbing all of the shock loading due to a bladder problem on the seat and the cushion hitch was too tight. The operator has been diagnosed with a herniated disk in his neck and will need surgery.

April 26, 2008 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
RFI Energy Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Mechanic was supporting dragline fan guard while bolts were being removed. Did not realize the fan shaft was broken, so the weight of the pulley forced the fan guard down against his forearm. Expanded metal in the fan guard punctured his right forearm and broke off.

2007 · 2 incidents

March 11, 2007 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
RFI Energy Inc · Fall onto or against objects

Mechanic, changing belt on 777D rock truck, using 6' ladder against frame, was using wrench on ac compressor adjustment bolt. Bolt broke loose, jarring ladder which kicked out at bottom. Mechanic fell against lifting eye on truck frame. Ladder stopped by truck tire.

February 5, 2007 PA · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
RFI Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE, blaster helper, was pulling a 4" discharge hose, at Pit 548, over right shoulder to get the slack out of the hose & slipped on a rock. His right knee twisted and made a crunch noise. Was able to walk on knee but hurts. There was snow on the ground.

2006 · 1 incident

February 11, 2006 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
RFI Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was installing the parking brake on a 988B CAT hilift. He had to manually maneuver it around the steering cylinder. In doing so, he strained a muscle in his back. There was no loss work time.

2005 · 4 incidents

December 15, 2005 PA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
RFI Energy Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was helping move dragline trail cable & was pulling on rope holding cable to attach to hilift when he felt a pain/tear in right side groin. Stated he already had a hernia condition before this injury. This accident was not reportable until surgery was required by a doctor on a visit on 1/3/06. Surgery scheduled for 1/20/06, will result in loss time.

November 22, 2005 PA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
RFI Energy Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee climbed ladder to start his machine (hilift) then stepped across his machine on a 3 foot platform (in between machines) grabbed handrail, got shocked causing him to fall backwards between machines getting his left leg/ankle caught in ladder.

September 28, 2005 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
RFI Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Ongoing problem with pain in both hands, due to repetitive motion of running equipment controls over years, causing nerve damage to both hands.

June 16, 2005 PA · Coal FIRE
RFI Energy Inc · Accident type, without injuries

Fire on CAT D11 dozer discovered by operator reporting for his shift. Fire fought with fire extinguisher & Perry Twp. fire dept. Cause remains under investigation, but appears to have started near the wiring to the starters. Damage extensive to engine, torque, hydraulic pumps & valves. Operator cab completely burned out. There were no injuries.

2004 · 1 incident

April 20, 2004 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
RFI Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was exiting off of grader, when he felt a pain in his back.

2003 · 3 incidents

December 4, 2003 PA · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
RFI Energy Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS SWINGING A SLEDGE HAMMER ON A PIPE, THE SLEDGE HAMMER HIT THE EDGE OF THE PIPE AND BOUNCED OFF CAUSING THE WEIGHT OF THE SLEDGE TO GO AGAINST THE PIPE CATCHING HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER BET WEEN THE HANDLE AND PIPE.

January 21, 2003 PA · Coal shopman repair cars, mechanic MACHINERY
RFI Energy Inc · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

EMPLOYEE WAS USING MAGNETIC DRILL & BORING BAR, HE WAS CLEANING CUTTINGS OUT OF HOLE WITH HIS LEFT HAND WHEN HE REACHED OVER TO SHUT OFF MACHINE WITH RIGHT HAND AND SLEEVE GOT CAUGHT ON DRIVE COUPLER PIN PULLING HIS HAND INTO MACHINE CAUSING LACERATION AND POSSIBLE FRACTURE OF RIGHT HAND.

January 15, 2003 PA · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner HANDLING OF MATERIALS
RFI Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS TWISTING AND LIFTING IN A CONFINED SPACE RESULTING IN A MUSCLE PULL IN LOWER BACK. HE REPORTED THIS INJURY 01/15/03 AND HAS CONTINUED TO WORK UNTIL 06/12/03.

2002 · 2 incidents

May 13, 2002 PA · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner POWERED HAULAGE
RFI Energy Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS STANDING ON TRAIN ENGINE BY AIR HORN WHEN TRAIN OPERATOR BLEW THE HORN RESULTING IN SEVERE RINGING AND PAIN IN EARS.

April 18, 2002 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
RFI Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE TWISTED RIGHT KNEE STEPPING TO THE GROUND FROM PUSH ARM OF DOZER.

2001 · 4 incidents

November 7, 2001 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
RFI Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS STEPPING DOWN ON PUSH ARM OF DOZER WHEN HE TWISTED AND FELT HIS RIGHT KNEE POP.

October 16, 2001 PA · Coal welder (shop) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
RFI Energy Inc · Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS HAMMERING A BEARING OUT OF HOIST SWIVEL LINK WHEN THE HAMMER GLANCED OFF BUSHING CAUSING FINGER TO HIT AGAINST BEARING EDGE.

August 5, 2001 PA · Coal welder (shop) DISORDERS (PHYSICAL AGENTS)
RFI Energy Inc · Contact with heat

WELDING ON JOB SITE INSIDE THE MACHINE. THE EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY CAUSED HIM TO BECOME FAINT, ILL AND DISORIENTED.

February 6, 2001 PA · Coal backhoe operator, trackhoe operator, crane operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
RFI Energy Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING DRAGLINE WHEN HE NOTICED A WEDGE COMING OUT OF SHANK ADAPTOR, HE STOPPED THE MACHINE AND TOOK A 20 LB SLEDGE HAMMER AND DROVE WEDGE BACK IN, THIS IS WHEN HE FELT A PULL IN HIS RIGHT GROIN AREA.

1999 · 3 incidents

November 1, 1999 PA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
RFI Energy Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS REMOVING SEGMENTS ON D-11 DOZER WHEN SEGMENT BAR WENT SIDEWAYS CATCHING HIS FINGER BETWEEN SEGMENT BAR AND DRIVE CASE.

October 10, 1999 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
RFI Energy Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE STRUCK A BREAKER BAR WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER, BREAKER BAR FLEW UPWARD AND STRUCK HIS LEFT HAND.

June 11, 1999 PA · Coal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
RFI Energy Inc · Struck by flying object

EE WAS REMOVING SHANK ADAPTOR WEAR PLATE USING A SLEDGE HAMMER TO LOOSEN IT, WHEN A SPALE CAME OFF AND HIT HIM IN THE LEFT FOREARM.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on RFI Strip & Tipple

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.