Mining Incidents

Sandlick II Coal

Smoky Quartz · Underground
Controlled by John T Quintrell
Sandlick, Letcher County, KY  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 1518782

Sandlick II has $845K in proposed MSHA penalties and $100 outstanding across 31 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
37
Years on record
2004–2010
Latest incident
Jul 2010
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2004
768
citations
238
significant & substantial
$845,216
proposed penalties
$654,361
paid to date
77% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $190,855 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2004
77
inspections on record
6,213
inspection hours
12.4
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.
As of the most recent assessment on 2011-02-22.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Sandlick II shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.63 mg/m3 (93% compliant) across 586 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.
0.63
dust avg (mg/m3)
15.87
dust max (mg/m3)
93%
within 1.5 mg/m3
586
samples
Most recent sample: 2010-07-21.
Silica (quartz)
5.9
silica avg (%)
23.4
silica max (%)
75
samples
Most recent sample: 2010-04-27.
Noise
25%
over PEL
80
samples
Most recent sample: 2010-02-09.
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
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 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 73 23 1962.4
2010 Q1 37,747 65 20 1722.0
2009 Q4 37,968 35 11 921.8
2009 Q3 35,622 37 14 1038.7
2009 Q2 52,719 23 9 436.3
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 44 14 1034.8
2007 Q3 36,445 97 16 2661.5
2007 Q2 30,633 40 8 1305.8
2007 Q1 30,502 16 4 524.6
2006 Q4 32,546 36 16 1106.1
2006 Q3 36,293 28 16 771.5
2006 Q2 33,123 15 6 452.9
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 9 2 339.9
2005 Q1 36,051 9 1 249.6
2004 Q4 4,437 4 2 901.5
2004 Q3 5,186 1 0 192.8

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
December 16, 2009 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by falling object

Employee was operating a remote control continuous miner. He was struck by a rock. He did not survive the injuries.

Reportable incidents

36 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2010 · 3 incidents

July 22, 2010 KY · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

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.

May 21, 2010 KY · Coal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The Injured was removing a guard off of a Head Drive, when the pick hammer he was using, slipped and hit him in the face.

January 28, 2010 KY · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator POWERED HAULAGE
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck against stationary object

EE was operating a battery scoop when a nylon rope hanger which was hanging from a roof bolt plate lacerated the EE's nose requiring sutures.

2009 · 9 incidents

November 11, 2009 KY · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by falling object

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, 2009 KY · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss MACHINERY
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee began missing work on 12/18/09 from an injury that occurred on 8/17/09. He was moving a miner when he was struck by the conveyor boom.

July 6, 2009 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES
Sapphire Coal Company · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was diagnosed as having a degenerative disease from an MRI. He began missing work because of this on 7/6/09.

June 16, 2009 KY · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Victim was struck over the right eye by piece of steel requiring stitches.

April 22, 2009 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Sapphire Coal Company · Accident type, without injuries

Unintentional roof fall 50' long x 20' wide x 3' to 5' in thickness. The fall is located on 8 left panel #14 crosscut and #8 entry.

February 26, 2009 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was putting a feeder flight in the feeder when the flight struck his left ring finger. He suffered a fracture to this finger.

February 4, 2009 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Sapphire Coal Company · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Walking to mine office, slipped and fell on ice.

January 17, 2009 KY · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was working on a V-scraper when he cut his hand. Stitches were required when treating the cut.

2008 · 7 incidents

December 22, 2008 KY · Coal INUNDATION
Sapphire Coal Company · Accident type, without injuries

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, 2008 KY · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck against stationary object

Employee was cleaning scrubber on miner when he received a laceration on his head that required stitches.

November 12, 2008 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sapphire Coal Company · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was pulling a jumper cable and injured his shoulder. It was dislocated and out of place. Dr repaired and he returned to work.

November 5, 2008 KY · Coal driver, jeep driver, tractor operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Victim was cutting plastic band on bucket of plaster when utility knife slipped and cut right leg requiring staples to close the wound.

June 26, 2008 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck against stationary object

Hand slipped on ratchet cutting left forearm, requiring 6 stitches.

May 21, 2008 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Sapphire Coal Company · Accident type, without injuries

An unintentional roof fall was found during the weekly examination of 002 Bleeder panel. The area has been cribbed off to prevent access to the area.

2007 · 6 incidents

October 9, 2007 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was removing a head motor guard on Miner when it slipped and cut finger on left hand requiring stitches.

October 3, 2007 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Cutting tape off a hose and cut thumb with a knife. Injury required stitches.

August 21, 2007 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

He was helping repair a Miner cable when as he was holding the cable he suffered a laceration to his right hand, requireing stitches.

May 25, 2007 KY · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss STRIKING OR BUMPING
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck against stationary object

Employee turned to go to a mine phone and bumped into a chain connected to a belt tailpiece.

February 19, 2007 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES
Sapphire Coal Company · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

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, 2007 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck against stationary object

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, 2006 KY · Coal roof 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, 2006 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator OTHER
Sapphire Coal Company · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

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, 2006 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Sapphire Coal Company · Rubbed or abraded

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.

September 15, 2006 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Sapphire Coal Company · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was moving miner cable when he fell on wet mine floor and landed on his back.

September 1, 2006 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cutting a piece of conveyor belt when he cut his right leg with a utility knife. The wound required stitches to close.

May 2, 2006 KY · Coal roof 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 into his left eye.

2005 · 3 incidents

August 22, 2005 KY · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS SETTING BITS AND A SMALL PIECE OF METAL STRUCK HIM ON THE LEFT HAND. METAL WAS REMOVED AND STITCHES WERE USED TO CLOSE THE WOUND

April 8, 2005 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by falling object

STARTED DRILLING A PIECE OF DRAW ROCK FEEL AND HIT RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER. CUTTING THE FINGER HAD TO GET 3 STAPLES.

2004 · 1 incident

October 14, 2004 KY · Coal electrician, lineman POWERED HAULAGE
Coal Extraction, LLC · Struck by falling object

An I-beam fell off the forklift hitting EE in the left leg and right foot.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Sandlick II

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.