Sapphire Prep Plant has $72K in proposed MSHA penalties and $8K outstanding across 12 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
Watch this mine
Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Sapphire Prep Plant.
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
79
Years on record
1984–2023
Latest incident
Sep 2023
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
517
citations
163
significant & substantial
$72,131
proposed penalties
$58,696
paid to date
81% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $13,435 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
236
inspections on record
5,552
inspection hours
9.3
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.
517 citations across 5,552 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Sapphire Prep Plant has $72K in proposed MSHA penalties and $8K outstanding across 12 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.
$72K
proposed penalties
$67K
current assessed
$59K
paid to date
$8K
outstanding
513 assessments are final orders; 12 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-11-19.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Sapphire Prep Plant shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.39 mg/m3 (99% compliant) across 215 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.
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 Q1
0
0
0
2024 Q4
0
0
0
2024 Q2
0
0
0
2024 Q1
131
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
2,262
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
3,037
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
6,066
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
4,873
0
0
0.0
Show 91 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2022 Q4
3,919
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
4,154
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
4,051
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
4,041
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
3,056
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
1,281
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
1,408
0
0
0.0
2021 Q1
1,440
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
1,384
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
1,384
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
1,602
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
1,456
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
1,416
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
1,344
1
0
744.0
2019 Q2
1,328
0
0
0.0
2019 Q1
1,328
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
1,400
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
1,366
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
1,312
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
1,432
1
0
698.3
2017 Q4
1,336
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
1,420
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
1,967
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
1,472
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
1,392
0
0
0.0
2016 Q3
1,392
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
1,504
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
836
1
0
1196.2
2015 Q4
1,772
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
1,588
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
1,552
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
1,544
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
2,050
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
2,180
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
1,591
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
1,096
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
152
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
304
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
160
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
248
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
457
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
2,287
7
1
3060.8
2012 Q2
5,636
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
11,872
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
17,093
9
4
526.5
2011 Q3
17,291
21
3
1214.5
2011 Q2
15,518
6
1
386.6
2011 Q1
16,305
10
3
613.3
2010 Q4
15,815
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
20,306
15
4
738.7
2010 Q2
23,099
24
8
1039.0
2010 Q1
23,235
19
5
817.7
2009 Q4
20,689
6
2
290.0
2009 Q3
18,468
5
3
270.7
2009 Q2
20,243
33
7
1630.2
2009 Q1
21,115
14
3
663.0
2008 Q4
21,812
4
1
183.4
2008 Q3
21,020
12
1
570.9
2008 Q2
20,643
32
10
1550.2
2008 Q1
22,808
14
3
613.8
2007 Q4
17,522
1
0
57.1
2007 Q3
18,116
6
2
331.2
2007 Q2
17,535
12
4
684.3
2007 Q1
16,831
4
0
237.7
2006 Q4
19,351
3
0
155.0
2006 Q3
19,036
17
6
893.0
2006 Q2
16,359
7
2
427.9
2006 Q1
16,373
9
3
549.7
2005 Q4
16,163
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
16,099
7
0
434.8
2005 Q2
14,546
5
1
343.7
2005 Q1
15,925
7
1
439.6
2004 Q4
14,417
2
1
138.7
2004 Q3
14,969
8
3
534.4
2004 Q2
14,836
5
1
337.0
2004 Q1
16,374
12
5
732.9
2003 Q4
17,073
10
6
585.7
2003 Q3
17,800
12
6
674.2
2003 Q2
10,889
10
5
918.4
2003 Q1
19,777
16
4
809.0
2002 Q4
17,517
3
2
171.3
2002 Q3
17,670
31
15
1754.4
2002 Q2
15,405
1
1
64.9
2002 Q1
18,213
34
12
1866.8
2001 Q4
18,140
3
2
165.4
2001 Q3
16,838
23
11
1366.0
2001 Q2
16,631
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
14,501
12
3
827.5
2000 Q4
9,010
18
7
1997.8
2000 Q3
520
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
520
1
1
1923.1
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
79 on file
2023 · 1 incident
September 19, 2023KY · Coalrotary bucket excavator operatorMACHINERY
Injured was tramming excavator across the impoundment dam and went across a windrow of dirt and it "jarred" them. Pain started in lower back and pain and numbness traveled down EE's left leg.
2009 · 1 incident
October 20, 2009KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderPOWERED HAULAGE
The employee was trying to unstop a blockage in the tertiary cutter box and the bar being used slid into the box as the coal gave way. this pulled the employees hand toward the cutter. Employees hand caught the top roller of the teritary cutting the tip of the fifth digit on the left hand. The cutter was in operation at the time of the incident.
WHILE INSTALLING A NEW SNUB ROLLER ON UTH 104 PLANT REFUSE BELT THE NYLON STRAP BEING USED TO LIFT THE ROLLER SLIPPED LETTING THE ROLLER FALL STRIKING HIM ON THE RIGHT SHIN AND FOOT.
2003 · 3 incidents
September 20, 2003KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techPOWERED HAULAGE
EMPLOYEE WAS BEATING ON #1 RAW COAL SILO WITH A #10LB SLEDGE TRYING TO BREAK LOOSE STUCK COAL. HE NOTICED A BURNING ON HIS RIGHT SIDE, LOWER STOMACH. IT GOT WORSE AS THE NIGHT WENT BY. HE HAD TO HAVE HERNIA SURGERY & WENT OFF WORK 9-8-03.
2002 · 1 incident
May 7, 2002KY · Coalbackhoe operator, trackhoe operator, crane operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE STRUCK BY HANDLE OF 2 WHEEL CART(HAND) IN STOMACH AREA. WENT TO DR. 6-30-97, RELEASED TO RETURN TO WORK.
January 17, 1997KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
EMPLOYEE WAS CLEANING ROCK FROM UNIT #25 A&B GRIZZLY SYSTEM WHEN ANOTHER ROCK SLID DOWN THE GRIZZLY STRIKING HIM ON THE LEFT HAND RESULTED IN A CUT APPROX 3IN LONG DOWN THE (L) FOREFINGER
1993 · 10 incidents
December 4, 1993KY · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPL CUT A GUY WIRE WITH A TORCH WHICH WAS ATTACHED TO THE TOP PORTION OF THE TELEPHONE POLE UPON CUTTING THE WIRE THE SLACK CONTACTED ONE OF THE POWER PHASEES AND TRANSFORMER THEREFORE DIRECT ING THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT TO THE EMPLS L HAND
1988 · 7 incidents
December 3, 1988KY · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE STEPPED INTO A FLOOR DRAIN, THEREFORE CAUSING HIS FOOT TO SLIP INTO THE HOLE AND BRUISING HIS LEG NEAR THE SHIN AREA. THIS EMPLOYEE HAD VACATION SCHEDULED PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT, TH EREFORE HE DID NOT MISS ANY SCHEDULED WORK DAYS.
June 25, 1988KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS TRANSFERING A BONNET ON A DOLLY IN THE PREP PLANT THE BOMMET ROLLED OFF THE DOLLY EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE BONNET THEREFORE CATCHING HIS FINGERS BETWEEN THE BONNET AND CONCR ETE FLOOR.
1987 · 2 incidents
November 6, 1987KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
ACCIDENT VICTIM WAS HELPING CHANGE OIL IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE AND HAD A 55 GALLON DRUM OF OIL RAISED IN A LOADER BUCKET WHEN DRUM DRAINED HALF EMPTY THE DRUM FELL OUT OF THE BUCKET WHICH HIT TH E VICTIM IN BACK OF HEAD WHEN HE WAS JUMPING CLEAR
For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants
The full compliance file on Sapphire Prep 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.