Mining Incidents

ROCKSPRING PLANT Coal

East Lynn, Wayne County, WV  ·  NonProducing
MSHA Mine ID: 4608030

ROCKSPRING PLANT has $71K in proposed MSHA penalties and $19K outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
45
Years on record
1992–2018
Latest incident
Dec 2018
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
358
citations
91
significant & substantial
$71,208
proposed penalties
$48,736
paid to date
68% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $22,472 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
224
inspections on record
5,957
inspection hours
6.0
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.
358 citations across 5,957 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

ROCKSPRING PLANT has $71K in proposed MSHA penalties and $19K outstanding across 5 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.
$71K
proposed penalties
$67K
current assessed
$49K
paid to date
$19K
outstanding
337 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-03-18.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at ROCKSPRING PLANT shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.58 mg/m3 (98% compliant) across 391 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.
0.58
dust avg (mg/m3)
3.48
dust max (mg/m3)
98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
391
samples
Most recent sample: 2023-03-28.
Silica (quartz)
1.5
silica avg (%)
8.2
silica max (%)
44
samples
Most recent sample: 2021-06-01.
Noise
11%
over PEL
81
samples
Most recent sample: 2023-02-14.
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 0 4 0
2025 Q3 42 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 0 4 0
2025 Q1 0 0 0
2024 Q4 594 1 0 1683.5
2024 Q3 0 0 0
2024 Q2 0 0 0
2024 Q1 195 1 0 5128.2
Show 95 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 195 10 0 51282.1
2023 Q3 2,540 13 0 5118.1
2023 Q2 2,570 7 0 2723.7
2023 Q1 2,174 1 0 460.0
2022 Q4 2,946 3 0 1018.3
2022 Q3 2,072 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 2,072 3 0 1447.9
2022 Q1 2,080 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 3,078 3 0 974.7
2021 Q3 2,058 6 0 2915.5
2021 Q2 2,184 8 0 3663.0
2021 Q1 1,374 6 0 4366.8
2020 Q4 0 0 0
2020 Q3 0 0 0
2020 Q2 0 5 0
2020 Q1 0 1 0
2019 Q4 0 0 0
2019 Q3 0 0 0
2019 Q2 0 0 0
2019 Q1 0 0 0
2018 Q4 1,166 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 1,508 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 1,552 1 0 644.3
2018 Q1 1,596 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 774 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 3,036 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 2,984 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 3,292 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 2,782 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 2,883 2 0 693.7
2016 Q2 3,001 1 0 333.2
2016 Q1 953 3 0 3148.0
2015 Q4 2,790 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 8,119 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 28,349 8 2 282.2
2015 Q1 29,171 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 27,990 18 6 643.1
2014 Q3 30,226 1 0 33.1
2014 Q2 30,681 7 0 228.2
2014 Q1 31,304 11 4 351.4
2013 Q4 26,523 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 29,592 1 0 33.8
2013 Q2 28,224 11 3 389.7
2013 Q1 27,684 8 3 289.0
2012 Q4 21,426 11 4 513.4
2012 Q3 25,210 5 0 198.3
2012 Q2 22,249 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 25,067 9 2 359.0
2011 Q4 23,894 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 26,699 2 0 74.9
2011 Q2 25,153 8 6 318.1
2011 Q1 27,158 12 3 441.9
2010 Q4 25,893 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 25,437 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 26,560 14 2 527.1
2010 Q1 27,091 2 0 73.8
2009 Q4 23,815 10 4 419.9
2009 Q3 23,920 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 26,902 36 16 1338.2
2009 Q1 28,441 8 6 281.3
2008 Q4 25,684 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 26,008 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 23,611 16 4 677.7
2008 Q1 19,403 7 5 360.8
2007 Q4 17,629 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 17,906 4 2 223.4
2007 Q2 16,549 4 1 241.7
2007 Q1 16,673 9 4 539.8
2006 Q4 15,453 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 15,400 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 14,291 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 16,486 1 1 60.7
2005 Q4 15,526 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 16,447 3 0 182.4
2005 Q2 18,718 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 16,784 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 17,443 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 17,137 1 1 58.4
2004 Q2 13,704 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 15,906 4 0 251.5
2003 Q4 40,795 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 29,790 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 40,645 2 2 49.2
2002 Q4 38,974 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 39,771 4 1 100.6
2002 Q2 26,533 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 26,019 3 0 115.3
2001 Q4 26,111 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 26,309 5 2 190.0
2001 Q2 26,479 1 1 37.8
2001 Q1 27,371 4 0 146.1
2000 Q4 25,531 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 24,713 8 5 323.7
2000 Q2 14,612 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 24,943 2 0 80.2
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

45 on file

2018 · 1 incident

December 7, 2018 WV · Coal electrician, lineman DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Lexington Coal Company, LLC · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

On 12-7-2018, this mine was notified that this employee was diagnosed with Pneumoconiosis. Last day worked was 7/21/2015.

2016 · 1 incident

April 19, 2016 WV · Coal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Rockspring Development Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Occupational hearing loss filed 1/7/2016. I received the e-mail on 4/19/2016. The employee worked up to when the plant closed down 11/11/15.

2015 · 2 incidents

November 10, 2015 WV · Coal electrician, lineman DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Rockspring Development Inc · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was diagnoised with pneumoconiosis by a board certified doctor in internal medicine on 11-10-2015 we recieverd the Email on 06-10-2016.

March 9, 2015 WV · Coal utility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rockspring Development Inc · Fall from machine

Employee was working on 53 screen changing out head board rubber. As he went to step up on the screen his foot slipped and he fell to the floor hitting his head and right elbow on a piece of pipe. Employee received 4 stitches to the head and 3 on the right elbow.

2014 · 2 incidents

October 24, 2014 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockspring Development Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was removing 3" waterline that was hooked to the hydroseeding truck. Pump that was hooked to truck was on automatic. When the employee unhooked the line the pumped kicked on and the hose struck the employee in the neck causing a laceration requiring stitches.

March 2, 2014 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockspring Development Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

He was changing out a spring on a vibrator and he got his finger in between the spring and pedestal cutting it and he received stitches.

2013 · 2 incidents

November 22, 2013 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockspring Development Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was grabbing cable spinning hoist and his little finger -(RH) got stuck in hoist.

October 7, 2013 WV · Coal coal sampler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockspring Development Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE was closing the elevator door in the prep plant when he pulled the strap to close the door. The door caught his finger in the door channel causing the injury

2012 · 2 incidents

April 5, 2012 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman OTHER
Rockspring Development Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was getting off elevator and caught his right hand between the doors. The employee continued working until April 12, 2012 when he went to the doctor to get it checked.

January 3, 2012 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Rockspring Development Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was conducting Maintenance on a D6R Catterpillar and during the removal of the belly pan the come a long chain broke and the pan hit his right forearm. Also, the pry bar being used struck his right ring finger causing a cut.

2011 · 1 incident

December 20, 2011 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Rockspring Development Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Using wrench, wrench slipped off and employee hit right hand on frame of machine.

2010 · 1 incident

January 5, 2010 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rockspring Development Inc · Fall from machine

EE was stepping down from a endloader onto the ground and his right foot turned sideway and he sprain his ankle. EE when to the doctors about two weeks later and had a simple fracture to the foot. (This was over look and not turn in until now).

2009 · 3 incidents

November 20, 2009 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rockspring Development Inc · Fall down stairs

The EE was going up a set of steps and the tread broke cause him to fell backward and landing on the floor.

November 6, 2009 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rockspring Development Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE stated he was changing screens in shaker, got finished & put left leg over front of shaker. He got boot caught on bolt causing other foot to slip, resulting in him hanging by boot on left foot fot 2-3 seconds until he got boot loosened.

June 27, 2009 WV · Coal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rockspring Development Inc · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

Washing down sump with a water hose while standing on a platform. Slipped and fell approx 18" striking back on a crib block and handrail.

2008 · 1 incident

December 15, 2008 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Rockspring Development Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was trying to unstop a 4" valve. While hitting it with a handle, he hit his right index finger, cutting it. They put 7 stitches in it.

2006 · 3 incidents

November 25, 2006 WV · Coal miner, prospector, nec HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockspring Development Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Swinging plates removed from washer area to outside, turned to swing plate and twsited right knee.

July 3, 2006 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rockspring Development Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE was on top of beam, pipe fitting, stepped off of beam onto round tube with wire mesh on tube. Wire mesh caught on boot, when he tried to step off, it caused him to fall and wire mesh stuck into left leg.

April 26, 2006 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rockspring Development Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee while reaching screen up to change out on #3 screen on 115 pre-wet floor, slipped and fell backward injuring his neck. Although this accident happened on 4/26, employee never started missing work until 5/19/06.

2005 · 4 incidents

September 12, 2005 WV · Coal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant HOISTING
Rockspring Development Inc · Struck by falling object

Three employees were moving a pallet jack from the first floor to the second floor in the prep plant elevator. As our employee and one of the contractors was closing the first set of verticle doors on the elevator, the bottom door caught the edge of the pallet jack lifting it up and sliding off striking the employee's left foot.

September 6, 2005 WV · Coal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockspring Development Inc · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

While working on #51 sump on the first floor, the employee had to shut down the #64 sump and forgot to shut down the sulfuric acid pump. Employee went to the second floor to drop a water hose to the first floor and the fumes from the acid took his breath.

February 20, 2005 WV · Coal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor STRIKING OR BUMPING
Rockspring Development Inc · Struck against stationary object

The employee was working in an area with low overhead room. The steel struture was low. The employee repeatedly raised striking his head on the low overhead steel throughout the shift. The employee reported the injury and sought medical attention on Friday, Fenruary 25, 2005.

2004 · 5 incidents

September 29, 2004 WV · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Rockspring Development Inc · Struck by flying object

Working on 1st floor of prep plant running a grinder and something went into left eye, had safety glasses on but still blew a foreign object into eye. he didn't think it was serious until the eye didn't get any better.

September 3, 2004 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Rockspring Development Inc · Struck against stationary object

EE WAS REPAIRING RAW COAL SCREEN. HE STEPPED ON A PIECE OF COAL BESIDE SCREEN AND TWISTED ANKLE.

April 5, 2004 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Rockspring Development Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

GRINDING ON A PIPE, SOMETHINE FLEW UP AND WENT UNDER SAFETY GLASSES INTO RIGHT EYE.

March 7, 2004 WV · Coal assayer, geologist, metallurgist, engineer, engineer management HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockspring Development Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Putting motor sheave on pump and pinched fingers between sheave and belt resulting in 2 cut fingers.

January 25, 2004 WV · Coal welder (shop) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockspring Development Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INSTALLING 400 LB. PIECE OF METAL WHEN IT CAUGHT, CAME LOOSE WHILE MY HAND WAS BEHIND IT CRUSHING MY FINGER.

2003 · 3 incidents

May 9, 2003 WV · Coal cleanup man, cleanup worker SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rockspring Development Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

THE EE SLIPPED AND FELL WHILE WORKING AROUND THE UNIT 736 DRYER. HE CONTINUED WORK TILL THE END OF HIS SHIFT. THE EE TOOK A WEEK OF SCHEDULED VACATION AND BEGAN MISSING TIME ON 5-19-03 DUE TO THIS ACCIDENT.

March 31, 2003 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Rockspring Development Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

CHANGING ELBOW ON COAL PIPE, ELBOW SHIFTED AND PINCHED RIGHT HAND AGAINST PIPE.

2001 · 3 incidents

November 8, 2001 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockspring Development Inc · Rubbed or abraded

CUTTING METAL WITH TORCH ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER HE RUBBED HIS EYE AND STILL HAD HIS GLOVES ON. EYE STARTED BURNING AND IT SWELLED. APPEARS WHEN HE RUBBED HIS EYES SOMETHING OFF OF THE GLOVE GO T IN HIS EYE.

1998 · 3 incidents

June 13, 1998 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockspring Development Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

REMOVING BARREL FROM HOUSING ON SLURRY PUMP. CAUGHT LITTLE FINGER BETWEEN BARREL AND CUT POSSIBLE BROKE.

February 23, 1998 WV · Coal SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rockspring Development Inc · Fall onto or against objects

EMPLOYEE WAS EXITING THE SECURITY BUILDING WHEN HE SLOPPED STRIKING HIS BACK ON THE CONCRETE BLOCKS. THE CONCRETE BLOCKS WERE USED AS STEPS AND WERE NOT SECURED. RAIN AND MUD WERE A POSSIBLE C ONTRIBUTING FACTOR, ALONG WITH POOR HOUSEKEEPING

1997 · 4 incidents

May 3, 1997 WV · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Rockspring Development Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

WHILE LOWERING DISCHARGE LIP INTO POSITION THE INJURED'S FINGER WAS PINCHED BETWEEN IT AND AN ANGLE IRON STIFFENER ON TOP OF DISCHARGE CHUTE. RING FINGER ON LEFT HAND WAS MASHED AND PARTIALLY SERVERED AT 1ST KNUCKLE BACK FROM FINGERNAIL.

April 11, 1997 WV · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Rockspring Development Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

EMPLOYEE WAS CUTTING BOLTS OFF THE DISCHARGE LIP ON THE #101 VIBRATOR IN THE BELLY PAN. THE OXYGEN LINE BLEW OFF NEXT TO THE TORCH FILLING THE EMPLOYEE'S GLOVE IGNITING IT. A SPARK HIT THE G LOV EGNITY IT.

April 9, 1997 WV · Coal electrician, lineman ELECTRICAL
Rockspring Development Inc · Flash burns (electric)

EE WAS USING A METER TESTER ON A POWER CIRCUIT SUPPLYING 86CC VIBRATOR WHEN HE GOT A FLASH BURN TO HIS EYES

1995 · 1 incident

October 21, 1995 WV · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockspring Development Inc · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE STATED THAT WHILE SERVICING MACHINE, HEWAS WALKING ON CATWALK AND DUE TO MUD ON HIS SHOES, HE SLIPPED AND FELL AND STRUCK HIS LEFT SIDEON EDGE OF CATWALK.

1993 · 1 incident

September 14, 1993 WV · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Char-Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE ALLEGEDLY PULLED A MUSCLE IN HIS BACK WHILE MOVING A TRASH CAN.

1992 · 2 incidents

October 7, 1992 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Char-Coal Company Inc · Struck by falling object

WHILE REACHING CONVEYOR ROLLER HE DROPPED A CABLE HOIST ON HIS FINGER

April 3, 1992 WV · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
Char-Coal Company Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

3" PIPE X 6' LONG DROPPED ON ARM AND PINCHED IT.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on ROCKSPRING 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.