Round Knob: 95 MSHA citations Coal
Round Knob has $53K in proposed MSHA penalties and $51K outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
Watch this mine
Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Round Knob.
- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 0
- Years on record
- —
- Latest incident
- —
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2003
95
citations
35
significant & substantial
$53,327
proposed penalties
$2,717
paid to date
5% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $50,610 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2003
36
inspections on record
885
inspection hours
n/a
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: 885 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Round Knob has $53K in proposed MSHA penalties and $51K 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.$53K
proposed penalties
$53K
current assessed
$3K
paid to date
$51K
outstanding
88 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $3K in penalties contested before the Commission, $3K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-11-18.
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.39.8%
significant & substantial
34.1%
high negligence or reckless
39.8%
reasonably likely or greater
28.4%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 6.8% low, 59.1% moderate, 28.4% high, 5.7% 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.
4
citations taken to the federal commission · 4% of citations on record
- Settled 4 · 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 3 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$3K proposed, $3K 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 2012-04-12.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PENN 2012-240 | Settlement | Harner | 2012 | $3K → $3K |
| PENN 2004-123 | Settlement | Zielinski | 2004 | $60 → $60 |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Round Knob 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: 2014-05-14, 12 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.100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
23
samples
0.32
dust max (mg/m3)
17 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 6 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR10
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER9
- BACKHOE OPERATOR2
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2010-06-07, 16 years ago22.4
silica avg (%)
2
samples
29.1
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR2
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: 2014-05-14, 12 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.10%
over PEL
10
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER7
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR2
- COAL TRUCK DRIVER1
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 100% | 1 |
| 2013 | 100% | 1 |
| 2012 | 100% | 1 |
| 2010 | 100% | 1 |
| 2009 | 100% | 8 |
| 2008 | 100% | 3 |
| 2007 | 100% | 2 |
| 2004 | 100% | 4 |
| 2003 | 100% | 2 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 29.1 | 1 |
| 2008 | 15.6 | 1 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 0% | 1 |
| 2013 | 0% | 1 |
| 2012 | 100% | 1 |
| 2009 | 0% | 1 |
| 2008 | 0% | 1 |
| 2007 | 0% | 2 |
| 2004 | 0% | 1 |
| 2003 | 0% | 2 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Ownership history
- Ferlitch & Sons 1983 to 2003
- Ferlitch Construction Inc 2003 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 1 | 3,730 |
| 2013 | 1 | 2,918 |
| 2012 | 2 | 3,452 |
| 2011 | 2 | 2,417 |
| 2010 | 2 | 6,390 |
| 2009 | 2 | 8,314 |
| 2008 | 2 | 11,100 |
| 2007 | 2 | 4,404 |
| 2006 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 3 | 2,600 |
| 2003 | 2 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Round Knob sits in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 0.5% 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.Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania · Population 43,844
0.5%
Mining share of county employment
$65,429
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 Q4 | 30 | 2 | 0 | 66666.7 |
| 2014 Q3 | 300 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q2 | 360 | 18 | 7 | 50000.0 |
| 2014 Q1 | 120 | 2 | 0 | 16666.7 |
| 2013 Q4 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q3 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q2 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Show 35 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Q1 | 120 | 6 | 3 | 50000.0 |
| 2012 Q4 | 960 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q3 | 960 | 10 | 4 | 10416.7 |
| 2012 Q2 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q1 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q4 | 160 | 10 | 3 | 62500.0 |
| 2011 Q3 | 480 | 8 | 2 | 16666.7 |
| 2011 Q2 | 960 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q1 | 960 | 17 | 8 | 17708.3 |
| 2010 Q3 | 960 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q2 | 960 | 7 | 4 | 7291.7 |
| 2010 Q1 | 960 | 1 | 0 | 1041.7 |
| 2009 Q4 | 1,920 | 2 | 0 | 1041.7 |
| 2009 Q3 | 960 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q2 | 960 | 2 | 2 | 2083.3 |
| 2009 Q1 | 960 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q4 | 1,350 | 2 | 2 | 1481.5 |
| 2008 Q3 | 1,000 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q2 | 960 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q1 | 480 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q4 | 960 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q3 | 640 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q2 | 250 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2005 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2005 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2005 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2005 Q1 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q4 | 400 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q3 | 2,400 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q2 | 1,200 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q1 | 1,920 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q4 | 1,200 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
No reportable incidents on file.
MSHA has no recorded reportable accidents for this mine in the current dataset. New reports appear here within a week of being filed.