Searles Mine No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 has $106K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
12
Years on record
2004–2019
Latest incident
Jun 2019
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
250
citations
92
significant & substantial
$106,347
proposed penalties
$102,244
paid to date
96% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $4,103 gap.
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.
250 citations across 3,611 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Searles Mine No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 has $106K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$106K
proposed penalties
$102K
current assessed
$102K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
246 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $12K in penalties contested before the Commission, $8K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-03-11.
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.
2citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
Settled
2 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
33%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$12K proposed, $8K 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 2012-08-15.
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 Searles Mine No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 shows 99% of 616 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: 2026-06-25
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
616
samples
2.59
dust max (mg/m3)
2
over MSHA ECV
ⓘThe excessive concentration value (ECV) is MSHA's own per-sample enforcement threshold, which builds in measurement uncertainty; a sample over its ECV can trigger a citation. The count covers only samples MSHA assigned an ECV.
338 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 278 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.
Searles Mine No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2022.
Injury rate, 2022
ⓘ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 3.26 and the all-US-mining average was 2.12 cases per 100 workers.
In Alabama, coal mining averaged 2.66 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
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2020 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2019
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018
1.58
1.58
0.000
2017
1.90
1.90
0.000
2016 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2015 *
0.00
0.00
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)
2026
5
2025
5
2024
0
2023
0
2022
22
50,258
2021
30
115,337
2020
31
67,467
2019
70
208,028
2018
51
184,971
2017
43
178,083
2016
23
18,382
2015
27
57,751
2014
34
111,161
2013
53
258,078
2012
86
354,510
2011
83
382,887
2010
84
500,184
2009
82
426,736
2008
82
478,940
2007
63
383,752
2006
52
277,819
2005
56
308,551
2004
50
290,055
2003
28
177,419
2002
31
101,078
2001
32
113,832
2000
8
2,929
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Searles Mine No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9 sits in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, where the Census mining category is 0.9% 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.
Tuscaloosa County, Alabama · Population 234,036
0.9%
Mining share of county employment
$63,947
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
2026 Q2
50
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
50
0
0
0.0
2025 Q4
50
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
50
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
50
0
0
0.0
2025 Q1
50
1
0
20000.0
2024 Q4
0
0
0
2024 Q3
0
0
0
Show 94 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
0
0
0
2024 Q1
0
0
0
2023 Q4
0
0
0
2023 Q3
0
0
0
2023 Q2
0
1
1
2023 Q1
0
0
0
2022 Q4
0
0
0
2022 Q3
1,065
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
24,246
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
24,313
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
22,741
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
19,889
2
1
100.6
2021 Q2
17,696
0
0
0.0
2021 Q1
11,977
9
4
751.4
2020 Q4
12,336
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
12,456
1
0
80.3
2020 Q2
17,331
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
20,923
2
0
95.6
2019 Q4
23,954
5
1
208.7
2019 Q3
46,477
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
50,178
8
2
159.4
2019 Q1
44,244
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
39,332
7
4
178.0
2018 Q3
28,153
8
1
284.2
2018 Q2
28,241
1
0
35.4
2018 Q1
30,492
7
2
229.6
2017 Q4
30,873
2
1
64.8
2017 Q3
28,891
6
0
207.7
2017 Q2
25,915
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
19,662
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
13,733
2
0
145.6
2016 Q3
11,979
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
12,203
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
11,532
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
13,996
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
15,110
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
18,071
1
1
55.3
2015 Q1
17,451
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
18,736
3
0
160.1
2014 Q3
18,319
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
19,797
4
3
202.1
2014 Q1
24,711
3
1
121.4
2013 Q4
22,777
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
27,376
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
37,331
4
1
107.1
2013 Q1
32,058
4
0
124.8
2012 Q4
36,091
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
56,816
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
62,341
8
1
128.3
2012 Q1
60,980
4
2
65.6
2011 Q4
58,335
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
60,466
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
55,420
12
6
216.5
2011 Q1
49,065
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
62,027
10
2
161.2
2010 Q3
58,705
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
59,039
8
4
135.5
2010 Q1
49,026
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
56,187
11
2
195.8
2009 Q3
56,487
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
51,104
6
1
117.4
2009 Q1
55,579
8
6
143.9
2008 Q4
64,974
1
0
15.4
2008 Q3
59,103
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
52,371
5
0
95.5
2008 Q1
42,667
5
0
117.2
2007 Q4
39,649
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
38,244
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
33,870
1
1
29.5
2007 Q1
33,573
7
0
208.5
2006 Q4
31,186
2
0
64.1
2006 Q3
29,052
11
6
378.6
2006 Q2
30,667
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
23,888
4
1
167.4
2005 Q4
28,014
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
31,370
10
10
318.8
2005 Q2
36,329
6
6
165.2
2005 Q1
30,281
6
2
198.1
2004 Q4
30,865
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
22,550
2
1
88.7
2004 Q2
25,144
11
2
437.5
2004 Q1
19,553
2
1
102.3
2003 Q4
22,692
2
2
88.1
2003 Q3
0
0
0
2003 Q2
18,783
2
2
106.5
2003 Q1
17,596
7
6
397.8
2002 Q4
17,623
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
13,489
1
0
74.1
2002 Q1
12,895
1
0
77.5
2001 Q4
16,593
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
14,541
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
50,015
2
0
40.0
2001 Q1
7,382
3
0
406.4
2000 Q4
1,012
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
12 on file
2019 · 1 incident
June 10, 2019AL · Coalblaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkeySLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was driving water truck full of water down into the mine when EE wasn't able to get the truck into gear. The water truck was going too fast and the driver could not control it. The water truck flipped coming to rest at the bottom of the road inside the mine.
2017 · 1 incident
November 18, 2017AL · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanPOWERED HAULAGE
OPERATOR WAS BACKING UP EXCAVATOR PC400LC7 S/N: A87503, BACKED UP OVER TOP OF BERM AND LOST CONTROL OF EXCAVATOR, MACHINE LANDED ON ITS SIDE AND RIGHT SIDE OF CAB. EMPLOYEE WAS SENT FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO DCH REGIONAL MEDICAL TUSCALOOSA, AL VIA NORTHSTAR PARAMEDIC SERVICES.
2010 · 1 incident
May 18, 2010AL · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
WHILE USING A SLEDGE HAMMER; EMPLOYEE WAS REMOVING SPROCKET SEGMENTS ON AN UNDERCARRIAGE. A SECTION / PIECE OF THE SEGMENTS BROKE OFF AND PENETRATED EMPLOYEE'S LEG. (RIGHT) SHARD WENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH HIS LEG.
While driving on damp haul road, operator began to lose control and slid into berm going over embankment. Truck overturned and landed on top (cab). It had just started raining at the time of the accident. Truck rolled approx. 180 degrees and landed on top side of equipment.
May 19, 2008AL · Coalsecurity guard, watchmanOTHER
Security Guard was found dead inside the guard shack by service man for Southland Resources at 5:00 AM, Monday, 19. 2008. Death appears to be from natural causes but State Investigators are performing an autopsy.
Material broke loose, fell from highwall striking employee on his back & injuring his ribs & shoulder. This was a small amount of material consisting of loose dirt & rocks. Victim was about 16' away from walk when struck. Material clump fell around 45' above.
February 3, 2007AL · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON