Mining Incidents

Rob Fork Contour: 71 MSHA citations Coal

Dorton, Pike County, KY  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 1518977

Rob Fork Contour has $16K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
10
Years on record
2007–2018
Latest incident
Jul 2018
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2006
71
citations
23
significant & substantial
$15,658
proposed penalties
$13,675
paid to date
87% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,983 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2006
35
inspections on record
1,341
inspection hours
5.3
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.
71 citations across 1,341 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Rob Fork Contour has $16K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K 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.
$16K
proposed penalties
$16K
current assessed
$14K
paid to date
$2K
outstanding
71 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $1K in penalties contested before the Commission, $160 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-10-22.
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.
32.4%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
32.4%
reasonably likely or greater
28.2%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 9.9% low, 90.1% moderate, 0.0% 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.
5 citations taken to the federal commission · 7% of citations on record
  • Settled 2 · 40%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 3 · 60%
0%
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 3 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
88%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$1K proposed, $160 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 2018-12-30.
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.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
KENT 2019-0100 Withdrawal Paez 2019 $1K → $0
KENT 2007-519 Settlement Lesnick 2008 $200 → $160
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Rob Fork Contour shows 100% of 155 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: 2024-10-24
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
155
samples
0.76
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.
100 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 55 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR58
  • HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR45
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER19

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2024-11-05
16.4
silica avg (%)
11
samples
23.6
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR7
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR4

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: 2024-10-24
0%
over PEL
54
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR18
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER11
  • REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE11
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
2024 100% 12
2023 100% 4
2021 100% 3
2020 100% 10
2019 100% 32
2018 100% 28
2017 100% 26
2009 100% 7
2008 100% 7
2007 100% 20
2006 100% 6
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2024 14.3 2
2023 10.7 1
2019 18.4 4
2018 23.4 1
2017 10.2 2
2007 23.6 1
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2024 0% 2
2021 0% 2
2019 0% 11
2018 0% 8
2017 0% 7
2009 0% 5
2007 0% 13
2006 0% 6
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Rob Fork Contour recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2019.

Injury rate, 2019
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 3.39 and the all-US-mining average was 2.32 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.10 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
2019 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2018 * 2.60 2.60 0.000
2017 * 3.75 0.00 0.000
2009 * 19.84 19.84 0.000
2008 * 7.09 7.09 0.000
2007 * 8.70 8.70 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
  1. Twin Energy L. L. C. 2006 to 2007
  2. CAM Mining LLC 2007 to 2020
  3. ARC Kentucky Resources, LLC 2020 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)
2024 3 3,164
2023 1
2022 0
2021 1
2020 3
2019 24 121,810
2018 29 211,481
2017 22 210,566
2016 0
2012 0
2011 0
2010 2
2009 13 29,553
2008 23 160,477
2007 18 86,758
2006 10 39,622
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Rob Fork Contour sits in Pike County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 5.1% 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.
Pike County, Kentucky · Population 57,466
5.1%
Mining share of county employment
$42,179
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
2024 Q4 1,636 1 0 611.2
2024 Q3 1,955 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 2,007 2 0 996.5
2024 Q1 1,953 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 1,703 2 0 1174.4
2023 Q3 0 0 0
2023 Q2 0 0 0
2023 Q1 0 0 0
Show 48 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2022 Q4 0 0 0
2022 Q3 0 0 0
2022 Q2 0 0 0
2022 Q1 0 0 0
2021 Q4 45 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 0 0 0
2021 Q2 0 0 0
2021 Q1 944 1 0 1059.3
2020 Q4 1,140 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 1,836 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 1,510 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 2,060 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 3,799 1 1 263.2
2019 Q3 20,107 1 1 49.7
2019 Q2 29,971 8 1 266.9
2019 Q1 21,652 2 0 92.4
2018 Q4 19,983 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 19,974 3 2 150.2
2018 Q2 16,978 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 20,032 4 2 199.7
2017 Q4 17,127 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 17,361 7 1 403.2
2017 Q2 14,634 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 4,143 2 0 482.7
2016 Q4 0 0 0
2012 Q1 0 0 0
2011 Q4 0 0 0
2011 Q3 0 0 0
2011 Q2 0 0 0
2010 Q4 0 0 0
2010 Q3 363 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 1,700 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 1,243 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 5,850 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 5,909 8 1 1353.9
2009 Q2 7,484 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 10,998 5 4 454.6
2008 Q4 17,327 1 0 57.7
2008 Q3 5,366 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 16,857 5 3 296.6
2008 Q1 16,879 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 17,061 6 2 351.7
2007 Q3 15,810 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 5,275 2 0 379.1
2007 Q1 7,815 2 1 255.9
2006 Q4 7,602 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 4,901 1 0 204.0
2006 Q2 3,897 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

10 on file

2018 · 1 incident

July 24, 2018 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
CAM Mining LLC · Struck against a moving object

Employee was baking the dozer off the truck dump when the brakes set up on the dozer, causing the dozer to come to an abrupt stop. Employee's neck was hyper-extended, backward, and they sustained a strain to the neck muscles.

2017 · 1 incident

April 7, 2017 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
CAM Mining LLC · Struck by falling object

EE and a co-worker were changing a motor mount on a Chevy pickup. EE was underneath the truck and the co-worker was using a pry bar to remove the mount. The co-worker dropped the bar and it struck EE in the mouth. The impact chipped one of EE's front teeth and caused a small laceration to the underside of EE's tongue.

2009 · 4 incidents

November 15, 2009 KY · Coal security guard, watchman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
CAM Mining LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE TRIPPED OVER UNKNOWN OBJECT STATES HIT STOMACH. EMPLOYEE NOTIFIED COMPANY ON 12/18/09

February 25, 2009 KY · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
CAM Mining LLC · Struck against a moving object

Employee backed his loader into a rock truck who was positioned to be loaded resulting in a strain to his back.

February 25, 2009 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
CAM Mining LLC · Struck against a moving object

Employee was positioning his rock truck to be loaded when the loader backed into the side of the truck causing him to hit his head on the side door.

February 18, 2009 KY · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
CAM Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE felt a pull in his left shoulder while climbing a ladder of a rock truck. EE did not miss any work due to this accident until 3/2/09.

2008 · 2 incidents

March 5, 2008 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
CAM Mining LLC · Struck against a moving object

Moving excavator to lower level, when it started sliding to the left side. It came in contact with loose soil and sunk up, letting the machine roll over on its top.

January 31, 2008 KY · Coal grader operator, roadgrader operator MACHINERY
CAM Mining LLC · Struck against a moving object

Struck by a rock while grading road, throwing operator into armrest and steering wheel causing back pain.

2007 · 2 incidents

July 13, 2007 KY · Coal superintendent SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
CAM Mining LLC · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing up 10 ft berm. When he grabbed limb for support it gave way causing him to lose balance and fall injuring his back. He began missing work due to this injury on 7/14/07.

May 31, 2007 KY · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Twin Energy L. L. C. · Struck against a moving object

Ee was operating the dozer working in a shot. He was backing up, pushing shot material over the hill, & backed over in the hole against the high wall.