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.
768 citations across 6,213 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Sandlick II has $845K in proposed MSHA penalties and $100 outstanding across 31 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.
$845K
proposed penalties
$654K
current assessed
$654K
paid to date
$100
outstanding
762 assessments are final orders; 31 contested dockets.
Of $678K in penalties contested before the Commission, $487K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2011-02-22.
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.
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.
108citations taken to the federal commission · 14% of citations on record
Settled
105 · 97%
Stood as issued
3 · 3%
98%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 97 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
28%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$678K proposed, $487K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2010-11-30.
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.
MSHA sampling at Sandlick II shows 93% of 586 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: 2010-07-21, 16 years ago
93%
within 1.5 mg/m3
586
samples
15.87
dust max (mg/m3)
278 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 308 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 II recorded 6.46 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2010.
Injury rate, 2010
ⓘ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.
6.46
total case rate
2.15
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 3.20 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.85 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
2010 *
6.46
2.15
0.000
2009
7.44
2.13
1.063
2008
4.29
0.00
0.000
2007
8.57
0.00
0.000
2006
10.54
3.01
0.000
2005
4.81
1.60
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)
2013
0
2012
0
2011
0
2010
31
159,032
2009
79
488,047
2008
66
456,636
2007
50
334,110
2006
48
285,380
2005
52
248,752
2004
11
13,161
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Sandlick II 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
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2013 Q1
0
0
0
2012 Q4
0
0
0
2012 Q3
0
0
0
2012 Q2
0
0
0
2012 Q1
0
0
0
2011 Q4
0
0
0
2011 Q3
0
0
0
2011 Q2
0
0
0
Show 27 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2011 Q1
0
2
0
2010 Q4
0
1
0
2010 Q3
17,912
7
0
390.8
2010 Q2
37,200
68
23
1828.0
2010 Q1
37,747
50
13
1324.6
2009 Q4
37,968
35
11
921.8
2009 Q3
35,622
36
14
1010.6
2009 Q2
52,719
22
8
417.3
2009 Q1
61,868
24
8
387.9
2008 Q4
58,040
26
10
448.0
2008 Q3
49,125
87
29
1771.0
2008 Q2
38,949
24
4
616.2
2008 Q1
40,171
16
7
398.3
2007 Q4
42,519
42
13
987.8
2007 Q3
36,445
95
16
2606.7
2007 Q2
30,633
39
7
1273.1
2007 Q1
30,502
16
4
524.6
2006 Q4
32,546
31
15
952.5
2006 Q3
36,293
28
16
771.5
2006 Q2
33,123
12
4
362.3
2006 Q1
30,919
20
6
646.9
2005 Q4
30,823
16
5
519.1
2005 Q3
31,311
13
7
415.2
2005 Q2
26,480
7
1
264.4
2005 Q1
36,051
7
1
194.2
2004 Q4
4,437
4
2
901.5
2004 Q3
5,186
1
0
192.8
Fatalities at this mine
1 recorded
December 16, 2009KY · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorFatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
THE EMPLOYEE WAS PULLING A CHAIN ON AN AIRLOCK DOOR WHEN HIS HAND SLIPPED AND HE HIT HIMSELF IN THE STOMACH. THIS EMPLOYEE DID NOT START MISSING WORK UNTIL 08/24/2010.
EE was lifting pump motor and it slipped landing on his pinky finger on his right hand which required stitches. (220093310045-pump motor slipped from a chain ratchet and fell on his little finger of the right hand.)
August 17, 2009KY · Coalbull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift bossMACHINERY
An unmapped mine was cut into while mining was being performed on the 001-0 MMU. A small amount of water was released into the active section. No Methane or low Oxygen was released from the old works and no hazards were noted. All Persons were withdrawn and production was immediately stopped.
December 11, 2008KY · Coalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee reported he had hurt his lower back and did not know how. He had been lifting heavy objects on 2/17/07 but felt no pain or injury. He was diagnosed as having a degenerative disc disease in the area of the pain L5 to S1.
January 5, 2007KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was cleaning out dust box and cut his hand on the coal rib, requiring stitches to close the wound.
2006 · 7 incidents
November 21, 2006KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sapphire Coal Company · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
Employee was plastering a brattice when plaster was splashed onto his face and glasses. When he wiped off his face he wiped some materials into his eye and had to have the eye washed out. This is a medical reportable injury.
October 27, 2006KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorOTHER
Employee began missing work because of an injury that occurred on 10/27/2006, when he was squatting on the mine floor and raised up and suffered damage to his knee.
October 21, 2006KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Employee was diagnosed by a doctor as having bursitus in his right knee. I am protesting this reporting because there is clear evidence that he was treating before he reported the event on 10/21/06 and that this is not mine related.