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.
571 citations across 4,129 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Sandlick has $150K in proposed MSHA penalties and $80K outstanding across 13 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.
$150K
proposed penalties
$148K
current assessed
$68K
paid to date
$80K
outstanding
566 assessments are final orders; 13 contested dockets.
Of $17K in penalties contested before the Commission, $15K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2005-12-27.
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.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
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.
MSHA sampling at Sandlick shows 95% of 379 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: 2005-08-26, 21 years ago
95%
within 1.5 mg/m3
379
samples
3.62
dust max (mg/m3)
184 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 195 by the operator.
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.
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.
Sandlick recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2005.
Injury rate, 2005
ⓘ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 5.11 and the all-US-mining average was 4.21 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 5.46 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
2005 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2004
16.49
13.19
0.000
2003
12.81
10.98
0.000
2002
9.29
9.29
0.000
2001
10.49
10.49
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.
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)
2005
21
123,294
2004
49
219,365
2003
48
338,906
2002
48
322,031
2001
44
367,880
2000
17
84,518
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Sandlick sits in Letcher County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 3.5% 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.
Letcher County, Kentucky · Population 21,146
3.5%
Mining share of county employment
$40,501
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
Found an unintentinal roof fall behind #2 driver in return. above anchorage but no impeding travel or air passage. fall was approx. 5' high 20' wide 120' long. fall was int he no. 2 and 3 entry and extended up #3 entry to face.
2004 · 12 incidents
November 30, 2004KY · Coalbull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift bossHANDLING OF MATERIALS
INJURED AND CO-WORKER WERE WORKING ON THE MINER. THE GREASER GOT ON THE SCOOP TO GET OXYGEN TANKS & TORCHES. WHEN HE GOT TO THE MINER, THE SCOOP KICKED INTO HIGH GEAR AND HIT MINER AND CAUGHT INJURED'S RIGHT LEG.
ROOF FALL IN #3 ENTRY INBY SPAD 3855 TO THE FACE THE CALL WAS ABOUT 75' LONG 6' TO 8' THICK THE AREA WAS CRIB OFF AND DANGERED OFF. ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS WERE ADDED TO THE AREA AROUND THE ROCK F ALL.
ROOF FALL 1 X-CUT INBY SPAD 3839 IN THE INTERSECTION OF #2 ENTRY, FALL WAS APPROX. 10'W C 5' THICK AND 35' LONG. THE AREA WAS CRIBBED OFF AND DANGERED OFF ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS WERE ADDED TO THE AREA AROUND THE ROCK FALL.
July 29, 2003KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
EMPLOYEE WAS LIFTING A TIMBER AND FELT PAIN IN LOWER BACK.
March 11, 2003KY · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorDUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Cook & Sons Mining Inc · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
PNEUMOCONIOSIS (BLACK LUNG) PART 90 TRANSFER TO A AREA WHERE THE CONCENTRATION OF RESPIRABLE DUST IS NOT MORE THAN 1.0 MILLIGRAM PER CUBIC METER OF AIR.
EE HURT LOWER BACK ON 3-11-02 BUT DID NOT TELL US HE WAS SEEING A DR. UNTIL 3-28-02. HE HAD MISSED SOME WORK FROM 3-11-02 UNTIL 3-28-02 BUT WOULD BRING A DR EXCUSE FOR MISSING WORK. HE CAME TO MY OFFICE 3-28-02 AND EXPLAINS THAT HE DID NOT KNOW THAT HE SHOULD HAVE TOLD SOMEONE AT WORK ABOUT THIS AND WAS SEEING A DR.
ROCK FALL OUTBY #001-SECTION IN ENTRY. DID NOT AFFECT VENTILATION, BUT FALL MUST BE CLEANED UP BEFORE AREA CAN BE TRAVELED. AREA CRIBBED AND TIMBERED OFF.
HE WAS DRILLING A HOLE INTO THE MINE ROOF. THE DRILL STEEL BECAME LOGGED, CAUSING STEEL TO BOW. THE STEEL CAME OUT OF THE HOLE AND STRUCK HIM ONTHE LEFT FOREARM.
June 23, 1999KY · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorDUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
A ROOF FALL OCCURRED IN OLD PANEL WHERE MINING WAS STOPPED THE DAY BEFORE. FALL WAS APPROX. 9 TO11 BREAKS UP IN 3 RIGHT PANEL OFF OF 1RT. SPAD; LOCATION NEAR 2072. AREA IS INACTIVE. AREA HAS B EEN CORDONED OFF.
ROCK FALL OCCURRED AT BREAK 83 NEAR SPAD #1337 IN THE #2 RETURN ENTRY. AREA WILL BE CRIBBED . AREA BOLTED WOTH 5 RESIN BOLTS. SIZE OF FALL 20X20X ABOVE ANCHORAGE.
1998 · 34 incidents
December 23, 1998KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
FALL OCCURED IN THE PANEL ADJACENT TO SPAD 1374.FALL MEASURED 100'X20'X10'. AREA WAS BOLTED WITH6' ROOF BOLTS (RESIN) AREA HAS BEEN DANGERED OFF. FALL IS OUTBY ACTIVE 002 SECTION
October 7, 1998KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
INJURED WAS JACKING A MANTRIP BACK ONTO THE TRACK. DUE TO STRAINING, HE FELT PAINS IN HIS SHOULDER AND NECK AREA. HE HAS CONTINUED HIS NORMAL WORK ACTIVITYS. HOWEVER ON 6-19-99 HE MISSED THIS WORK DAY, UNDER A DR'S CARE.
THIS FALL IS A CONTINUATION OF THE FALL REPORTED ON 8-27-98. THE FALL IS LOCATED 75' INBY SPAD #250. ADDITIONAL ROCK FELL ONTO CANOPY SUPPORTS CVAUSING STOPPAGE OF THE #3 BELT. APPROX 20 X 18 X 2' LAYERED ROCK FALL.
THE FALL WAS INBY SPAD #250. THE #4 ENTRY & 4RT ENTRY WAS AFFECTED. THE FALL WAS BOLTED WITNB 5' RESIN BOLTS. AT APPROX 0930 ON THROUGH THE #5 ENTRY & 5RT XCUT. TOTAL LENGTH OF 70' X 20' X 7' THICK.
A ROCK FALL OCURRED IN THE #5 ENTRY APPROX 80FT INBY SPAD 1177. THE FALL MEASURED 15X20X5 THICK AREA HAS BEEN CRIBBED AREA WAS BOLTED WITH 5 & 6' FULL GROUT RESIN BOLTS.
August 5, 1998KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techRESPIRATORY CONDITIONS (TOXIC AGENTS)
EE WAS STRUCK BY A RIB ROLL CAUSING HIM TO HIT KNEE ON BOTTOM CAUSING PAIN. EE CONTD TO WORK TIL 8/12/98 SAW DR RELEASED TO RETURN TO WORK 8/13/98. BEGAN TO MISS AGAIN 8/14/98
A CUT THROUGH OCCURRED IN THE #3 ENTRY FACE INBY SPAD #1140. SECTION WAS INUNDATED WITH WATER FROM AN OLD TRUCK MINE. MINING WAS STOPPED. AN INVESTIGATION WAS STARTED BY MSHA AND STATE OFFICIA LS.
ROCKFALL OCCURED APPROX 2200 FT OUTBY 022 SECTION SPAD LOCATION WAS APPROX 35 FT INBY SPAD #677 FALL WAS BOLTED WITH 48 FULL GROUT RESIN REBAR AREA MEASURED 55X20'X7' AREA HAS BEEN CRIBBED AND DANGERED OFF.
THE ROCKFALL OCCURED AT 75' INBY SPAD #648 (#7 ENTRY). THE FALL MEASURED 100X20X6 (APPROX). THEFALL WAS NOT IN ACTIVE SECTION. THE AREA WAS BOLTED WITH 48" RESIN BOLTS. AREA HAS BEEN CRIBBED AND WARNING SIGNS POSTED. (DO NOT ENTER)
April 16, 1998KY · Coalbelt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisorELECTRICAL
THE FALL OCCURRED APPROX. 150' INBY SPAD #654. JUST ADJACENT TO 002 SECTION, IN THE #4 ENTRY. THE FALL HAS BEEN DANGERED OFF.
February 22, 1998KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
THE CUT THROUGH INTO OLD WORKS OCCURRED IN THE #2 ENTRY AT THE FACE APPROX. 125 INBY SPAD #80. WATER INUNDATED THE FACE AND WAS PUMPED TO THE SURFACE. A SEAL WAS BUILT. NO INJURIES REPORTED.