Mega Highwall Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was pulling pins to release beams, miner operator pulled beams back, beam caught pin and jerked pin forward causing employee to strain rt. shoulder
SHM System-81: 146 MSHA citations Coal
Mega Highwall Mining LLC
· Surface
Controlled by
Daniel W Bunn
Wharncliffe,
Mingo County,
WV
·
Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4407313
SHM System-81 has $55K in proposed MSHA penalties and $100 outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 4
- Years on record
- 2015–2024
- Latest incident
- Aug 2024
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2013
146
citations
42
significant & substantial
$55,285
proposed penalties
$53,506
paid to date
97% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,779 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2013
46
inspections on record
1,544
inspection hours
9.5
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.146 citations across 1,544 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
SHM System-81 has $55K in proposed MSHA penalties and $100 outstanding across 3 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.$55K
proposed penalties
$54K
current assessed
$54K
paid to date
$100
outstanding
140 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $7K in penalties contested before the Commission, $5K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-03-23.
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.30.0%
significant & substantial
6.4%
high negligence or reckless
30.0%
reasonably likely or greater
17.9%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 27.1% low, 66.4% moderate, 6.4% 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 · 3% of citations on record
- Settled 4 · 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 4 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
26%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$7K proposed, $5K 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 2016-08-30.
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.
| Docket | Decision | Judge | Year | Proposed / upheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA 2016-0088 | Settlement | Steele | 2017 | $3K → $2K |
| VA 2016-0100 | Settlement | Steele | 2017 | $3K → $2K |
| VA 2016-0215 | Settlement | Lewis | 2018 | $760 → $532 |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at SHM System-81 shows 100% of 83 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: 2026-03-10
ⓘ
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.100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
83
samples
1.47
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.83 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- AUGER OPERATOR17
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER17
- FORKLIFT OPERATOR15
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: 2026-03-10
ⓘ
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
69
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- AUGER OPERATOR15
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER14
- FORKLIFT OPERATOR13
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% | 4 |
| 2025 | 100% | 5 |
| 2024 | 100% | 7 |
| 2023 | 100% | 8 |
| 2022 | 100% | 3 |
| 2019 | 100% | 5 |
| 2018 | 100% | 4 |
| 2017 | 100% | 15 |
| 2016 | 100% | 9 |
| 2015 | 100% | 5 |
| 2014 | 100% | 14 |
| 2013 | 100% | 4 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0% | 4 |
| 2024 | 0% | 8 |
| 2023 | 0% | 4 |
| 2022 | 0% | 3 |
| 2019 | 0% | 5 |
| 2018 | 0% | 4 |
| 2017 | 10% | 10 |
| 2016 | 0% | 8 |
| 2015 | 0% | 4 |
| 2014 | 0% | 14 |
| 2013 | 0% | 5 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
SHM System-81 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.
Injury rate, 2025
ⓘ
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 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 3.89 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2017 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2015 * | 13.27 | 6.64 | 0.000 |
| 2014 * | 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.
Ownership history
- Omega Highwall Mining II, LLC 2013 to 2018
- Omega Surface Mining, LLC 2018 to 2020
- Mega Highwall Mining LLC 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 | 11 | 121,531 |
| 2025 | 11 | 287,156 |
| 2024 | 9 | 115,415 |
| 2023 | 5 | 190,616 |
| 2022 | 6 | 113,761 |
| 2020 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 10 | 96,731 |
| 2018 | 9 | 191,768 |
| 2017 | 9 | 250,799 |
| 2016 | 7 | 179,268 |
| 2015 | 16 | 132,141 |
| 2014 | 12 | 280,081 |
| 2013 | 10 | 89,623 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
SHM System-81 sits in Mingo County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 15.0% 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.Mingo County, West Virginia · Population 22,979
15.0%
Mining share of county employment
$39,527
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 | 5,809 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2026 Q1 | 7,029 | 15 | 4 | 2134.0 |
| 2025 Q4 | 4,224 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q3 | 5,958 | 1 | 0 | 167.8 |
| 2025 Q2 | 7,395 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q1 | 4,579 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q4 | 4,721 | 3 | 1 | 635.5 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,748 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Show 34 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Q2 | 3,308 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q1 | 3,220 | 14 | 8 | 4347.8 |
| 2023 Q4 | 2,125 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q3 | 1,511 | 13 | 3 | 8603.6 |
| 2023 Q2 | 3,126 | 2 | 0 | 639.8 |
| 2023 Q1 | 4,370 | 4 | 0 | 915.3 |
| 2022 Q4 | 4,501 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q3 | 2,940 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q2 | 992 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2019 Q2 | 4,715 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q1 | 5,895 | 12 | 2 | 2035.6 |
| 2018 Q4 | 3,186 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q3 | 4,692 | 1 | 1 | 213.1 |
| 2018 Q2 | 4,257 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q1 | 6,121 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q4 | 4,403 | 2 | 2 | 454.2 |
| 2017 Q3 | 5,819 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q2 | 5,858 | 8 | 0 | 1365.7 |
| 2017 Q1 | 6,511 | 2 | 0 | 307.2 |
| 2016 Q4 | 3,196 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q3 | 3,445 | 4 | 2 | 1161.1 |
| 2016 Q2 | 3,676 | 16 | 1 | 4352.6 |
| 2016 Q1 | 3,969 | 2 | 0 | 503.9 |
| 2015 Q4 | 5,139 | 5 | 5 | 973.0 |
| 2015 Q3 | 5,267 | 5 | 2 | 949.3 |
| 2015 Q2 | 4,904 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q1 | 14,822 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q4 | 8,492 | 3 | 1 | 353.3 |
| 2014 Q3 | 7,306 | 1 | 0 | 136.9 |
| 2014 Q2 | 8,412 | 4 | 1 | 475.5 |
| 2014 Q1 | 9,861 | 5 | 3 | 507.0 |
| 2013 Q4 | 9,471 | 1 | 0 | 105.6 |
| 2013 Q3 | 2,775 | 8 | 3 | 2882.9 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
4 on file2024 · 1 incident
2023 · 1 incident
September 25, 2023
WV · Coal
maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech
HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mega Highwall Mining LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects
EE was checking the fluids in the miner head, while turning the wrench EE felt something give in EE's back.
2015 · 2 incidents
June 22, 2015
WV · Coal
haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver
HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Omega Highwall Mining II, LLC · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects
Employee was swinging a sledge hammer when it slipped out of his hand causing him to twist his back
January 31, 2015
WV · Coal
bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer
HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Omega Highwall Mining II, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was working on the highwall miner hose chain using a metal bar and strap to lift the chain. The strap slid down causing the pressure to release on the bar. The bar came loose and hit the employee on the forehead above the right eye.