Mountaintop Coal Mining Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances
Welder, cutting metal off loader bucket, metal spun loose and hit torch. Torch flew back and burned the side of his face and neck.
Sherman Mountain Coal Strip: 58 MSHA citations Coal
Sherman Mountain Coal Company Inc.
· Surface
Controlled by
Ricky K Bender; Rick E Bender
MSHA Mine ID: 3608034
Sherman Mountain Coal Strip has $8K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1 outstanding across 6 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 2
- Years on record
- 2004–2005
- Latest incident
- Jan 2005
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
58
citations
11
significant & substantial
$7,677
proposed penalties
$6,447
paid to date
84% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,230 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
101
inspections on record
2,403
inspection hours
2.4
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.58 citations across 2,403 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Sherman Mountain Coal Strip has $8K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1 outstanding across 6 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.$8K
proposed penalties
$6K
current assessed
$6K
paid to date
$1
outstanding
54 assessments are final orders; 6 contested dockets.
Of $3K in penalties contested before the Commission, $1K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-05-29.
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.19.3%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
19.3%
reasonably likely or greater
12.3%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 52.6% low, 47.4% moderate, 0.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
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.
4
citations taken to the federal commission · 7% of citations on record
- Settled 3 · 75%
- Stood as issued 1 · 25%
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 3 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
26%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$326 proposed, $242 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 2009-07-28.
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.
| Docket | Decision | Judge | Year | Proposed / upheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PENN 2004-212 | Settlement | Zielinski | 2005 | $2K → $1K |
| PENN 2007-18 | Settlement | Lesnick | 2007 | $144 → $90 |
| PENN 2009-656 | Default | Lesnick | 2010 | $127 → $127 |
| PENN 2003-139 | Settlement | Lesnick | 2003 | $55 → $25 |
| PENN20000155 | Settlement | Barbour | 2000 | $55 → $35 |
| PENN20000180 | Settlement | Barbour | 2000 | $55 → $30 |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Sherman Mountain Coal Strip shows 99% of 144 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: 2026-08-11
ⓘ
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.99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
144
samples
2.90
dust max (mg/m3)
0
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.129 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 15 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- CRANE OPER/DRAGLINE OPERATOR48
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR27
- MECHANIC13
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2026-08-1917.5
silica avg (%)
7
samples
32.8
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- BULLDOZER OPERATOR7
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.
Last sampled: 2026-08-11
ⓘ
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.1%
over PEL
97
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- CRANE OPER/DRAGLINE OPERATOR38
- MECHANIC11
- BACKHOE OPERATOR7
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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.| Year | within 1.5 mg/m3 | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 100% | 3 |
| 2025 | 100% | 12 |
| 2024 | 100% | 12 |
| 2023 | 100% | 4 |
| 2022 | 100% | 5 |
| 2021 | 100% | 7 |
| 2019 | 100% | 4 |
| 2018 | 100% | 4 |
| 2017 | 100% | 4 |
| 2016 | 100% | 4 |
| 2015 | 100% | 6 |
| 2014 | 100% | 4 |
| 2013 | 100% | 5 |
| 2012 | 100% | 4 |
| 2011 | 100% | 5 |
| 2010 | 100% | 5 |
| 2009 | 89% | 9 |
| 2008 | 100% | 6 |
| 2007 | 100% | 6 |
| 2006 | 100% | 9 |
| 2005 | 80% | 5 |
| 2004 | 100% | 5 |
| 2003 | 100% | 5 |
| 2002 | 100% | 6 |
| 2001 | 100% | 2 |
| 2000 | 100% | 3 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3.0 | 1 |
| 2024 | 9.9 | 1 |
| 2023 | 6.5 | 1 |
| 2007 | 10.4 | 1 |
| 2006 | 31.0 | 1 |
| 2004 | 28.6 | 1 |
| 2001 | 32.8 | 1 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0% | 3 |
| 2024 | 0% | 8 |
| 2023 | 0% | 3 |
| 2022 | 0% | 4 |
| 2021 | 0% | 2 |
| 2020 | 0% | 1 |
| 2019 | 0% | 4 |
| 2018 | 0% | 5 |
| 2017 | 0% | 4 |
| 2016 | 0% | 4 |
| 2015 | 0% | 4 |
| 2014 | 0% | 2 |
| 2013 | 0% | 6 |
| 2012 | 0% | 5 |
| 2011 | 0% | 6 |
| 2010 | 0% | 2 |
| 2009 | 25% | 4 |
| 2008 | 0% | 6 |
| 2007 | 0% | 3 |
| 2006 | 0% | 6 |
| 2005 | 0% | 2 |
| 2004 | 0% | 2 |
| 2003 | 0% | 4 |
| 2002 | 0% | 2 |
| 2001 | 0% | 2 |
| 2000 | 0% | 3 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Ownership history
- J & A Coal Company 1988 to 2001
- Mountaintop Coal Mining Inc 2001 to 2020
- Sherman Mountain Coal Company Inc. 2020 to present
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 | 8 | 2,784 |
| 2025 | 8 | 36,561 |
| 2024 | 9 | 26,868 |
| 2023 | 5 | 27,934 |
| 2022 | 2 | 12,233 |
| 2020 | 2 | 342 |
| 2019 | 2 | 1,735 |
| 2018 | 3 | 1,152 |
| 2017 | 2 | 1,397 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2,800 |
| 2015 | 2 | 2,068 |
| 2014 | 3 | 3,031 |
| 2013 | 3 | 4,097 |
| 2012 | 3 | 3,021 |
| 2011 | 3 | 2,945 |
| 2010 | 3 | 4,044 |
| 2009 | 3 | 6,751 |
| 2008 | 4 | 6,459 |
| 2007 | 4 | 6,997 |
| 2006 | 4 | 4,298 |
| 2005 | 5 | 8,213 |
| 2004 | 5 | 14,112 |
| 2003 | 4 | 14,271 |
| 2002 | 4 | 13,805 |
| 2001 | 2 | 3,749 |
| 2000 | 2 | 1,604 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Sherman Mountain Coal Strip sits in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 1.1% 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.Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania · Population 143,259
1.1%
Mining share of county employment
$66,901
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 | 3,624 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2026 Q1 | 3,624 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q4 | 3,624 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q3 | 3,624 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q2 | 3,334 | 1 | 0 | 299.9 |
| 2025 Q1 | 3,264 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q4 | 3,744 | 1 | 0 | 267.1 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,744 | 2 | 0 | 728.9 |
Show 91 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Q2 | 4,224 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q1 | 4,224 | 1 | 0 | 236.7 |
| 2023 Q4 | 2,880 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q3 | 2,400 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q2 | 2,400 | 1 | 1 | 416.7 |
| 2023 Q1 | 1,344 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q4 | 960 | 2 | 0 | 2083.3 |
| 2022 Q3 | 960 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q2 | 1,040 | 1 | 1 | 961.5 |
| 2022 Q1 | 480 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 Q3 | 1,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 Q2 | 1,040 | 1 | 0 | 961.5 |
| 2019 Q4 | 1,040 | 1 | 0 | 961.5 |
| 2019 Q3 | 1,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q2 | 1,040 | 1 | 0 | 961.5 |
| 2019 Q1 | 1,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q4 | 1,560 | 2 | 0 | 1282.1 |
| 2018 Q3 | 1,560 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q2 | 1,040 | 1 | 0 | 961.5 |
| 2018 Q1 | 1,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q3 | 1,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q2 | 1,040 | 2 | 1 | 1923.1 |
| 2017 Q1 | 1,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q4 | 1,040 | 1 | 0 | 961.5 |
| 2016 Q3 | 1,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q2 | 1,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q1 | 1,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q4 | 1,010 | 1 | 0 | 990.1 |
| 2015 Q3 | 1,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q2 | 1,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q1 | 1,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q4 | 1,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q3 | 1,560 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q2 | 1,560 | 1 | 0 | 641.0 |
| 2014 Q1 | 1,560 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q4 | 1,560 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q3 | 1,560 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q2 | 1,560 | 1 | 0 | 641.0 |
| 2013 Q1 | 1,560 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q4 | 1,560 | 1 | 0 | 641.0 |
| 2012 Q3 | 1,560 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q2 | 1,560 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q1 | 1,560 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q4 | 1,560 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q3 | 1,560 | 1 | 0 | 641.0 |
| 2011 Q2 | 1,560 | 3 | 1 | 1923.1 |
| 2011 Q1 | 1,440 | 2 | 0 | 1388.9 |
| 2010 Q4 | 1,560 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q3 | 1,440 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q2 | 1,920 | 2 | 0 | 1041.7 |
| 2010 Q1 | 1,440 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q4 | 1,440 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q3 | 1,440 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q2 | 1,760 | 2 | 1 | 1136.4 |
| 2009 Q1 | 2,080 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q4 | 2,080 | 1 | 0 | 480.8 |
| 2008 Q3 | 2,080 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q2 | 2,080 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q1 | 640 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q4 | 2,080 | 1 | 0 | 480.8 |
| 2007 Q3 | 2,080 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q2 | 2,080 | 1 | 0 | 480.8 |
| 2007 Q1 | 2,080 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q4 | 2,080 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q3 | 2,080 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q2 | 2,080 | 2 | 2 | 961.5 |
| 2006 Q1 | 2,600 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q4 | 2,320 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q3 | 2,320 | 1 | 0 | 431.0 |
| 2005 Q2 | 2,080 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q1 | 2,160 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q4 | 2,505 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q3 | 2,080 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q2 | 2,400 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q1 | 1,985 | 4 | 2 | 2015.1 |
| 2003 Q4 | 2,600 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q3 | 2,600 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q2 | 2,048 | 4 | 0 | 1953.1 |
| 2003 Q1 | 1,920 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q4 | 2,080 | 1 | 0 | 480.8 |
| 2002 Q3 | 2,080 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q2 | 2,080 | 2 | 1 | 961.5 |
| 2002 Q1 | 651 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q4 | 917 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q3 | 1,105 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q2 | 800 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q1 | 240 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q4 | 240 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q3 | 480 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q2 | 480 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q1 | 480 | 2 | 0 | 4166.7 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
2 on file2005 · 1 incident
2004 · 1 incident
January 6, 2004
PA · Coal
EE SLIPPED ON WET ROOF SURFACE OF DRAGLINE, FELL OFF ROOF, HIT RAILING AND LANDED ON TRACKS THEN FELL TO THE GROUND.