Jewell Ridge, Tazewell County,
VA
·
Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4406895
Silver Creek Mine has $15K 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
35
Years on record
1998–2002
Latest incident
Jun 2002
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
143
citations
55
significant & substantial
$14,880
proposed penalties
$14,880
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 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.
143 citations across 2,926 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Silver Creek Mine has $15K 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.
$15K
proposed penalties
$15K
current assessed
$15K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
141 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $2K in penalties contested before the Commission, $150 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2003-02-27.
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.
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 Silver Creek Mine shows 90% of 418 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: 2002-06-14, 24 years ago
90%
within 1.5 mg/m3
418
samples
7.37
dust max (mg/m3)
163 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 255 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.
Silver Creek Mine recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2002.
Injury rate, 2002
ⓘ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 6.89 and the all-US-mining average was 5.05 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 6.43 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
2002 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2001
4.63
3.47
0.000
2000
14.65
8.54
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)
2003
2
2002
44
251,867
2001
79
583,345
2000
80
588,476
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Silver Creek Mine sits in Tazewell County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 3.1% 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.
Tazewell County, Virginia · Population 39,933
3.1%
Mining share of county employment
$45,788
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
THE RIPPER HEAD ON THE CONTINUOUS MINER WAS CAUGHT BY A SANDSTONE "HORSE-BACK" SLIP THAT STARTED FALLING FROM THE PREVIOUS BLOCK THAT HAD BEEN PILLARED BACK IN THE PILLAR LINE. SIZE OF ROCK UN EQUIPMENT DAMAGE; NO BLOCKAGE OF VENTILATION ORESCAPEWAY. FALL NOT CLEANED UP: TIMBERED OFF AND DANGERED.
FALL WAS APPROX.0-5'THICK-20'LONG-30'WIDE-CAUGHTBELTLINE-NO INJURIES-NO BLOCKAGE OF VENTILATION OR ESCAPEWAY. FALL WAS CLEANED UP AND AREA RE- PINNED, CRIBS SET IN CROSSCUT.
EE WAS TAKING A SPRING OUT FROM UNDER A 3WHEELERCATCHING HIS FINGER BETWEEN THE U-BOLT AND REAR HOUSING OF MACHINE, CUTTING INDEX FINGER OFF AT THE BASE OF HIS FINGER NAIL.
THE CONTINUOUS MINER WAS CAUGHT IN A PILLAR LINEFALL, THE FALL ORIGINATED TO THE RIGHT OF THE PILLAR BLOCK BEING MINED AND FELL ACROSS THE TOP OF THE PILLAR LINE TOWARD THE BLOCK THE MINER WA S WORKING IN. NO EQUIP DAMAGE, NO BLOCKAGE OF VENTILATION OR ESCAPEWAY. NO INJURIES, WILL NOT BE CLEANED UP, BREAKERED AND DANGERED OFF.
SOME ROCK FELL ON THE RIPPER HEAD OF JOY CONTINUOUS MINER, THE ROCK THAT FELL WAS NOT ABOVE THE ANCHORAGE OF BOLTS AND THEREFORE MANAGEMENT FEELS THIS WAS NOT A REPORTABLE OCCURANCE. MANAG EMENT REPORTED IT, BUT WILL PROTEST IT.
April 1, 2001VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
FIREBOSS WAS DOING REHAB. WORK IN AN ABANDONED AREA WHEN HE FOUND FALL ENTRY RETURN AIRWAY NO EQUIP. INVOLVED NO BLOCKAGE OF VENTILATION NO INJURIES WILL NOT BE CLEANED UP BREAKED OFF AND DANG ER.
EE STATED HE WAS HANGING HIGH VOLTAGE CABLE. CABLE HUNG ON HIGH VOLTAGE SLED CAUSING EE TO STRAIN MUSCLES IN HIS SHOULDER. HE WENT TO DR & CONTINUED TO WORK UP UNTIL 4/27/01. HAD SURGERY ON SH OULDER, STARTED RESTRICTED DUTY 4/30/01.
October 1, 2000VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
INTERSECTION HAD FALL IN ABANDONED AREA OF THE MINE. THE FALL WAS DISCOVERED ON WEEKLY EXAMINATION OF AIR COURSE. MSHA INSP PRESENT. NO INJURESNO BLOCKAGE OF VENTILATION, NO BLOCKAGE OF ESCAP EWAY, NO EQUIPMENT INVOLVED WILL NOT BE CLEANED UP TIMBERED OFF & DANGERED
September 11, 2000VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)OTHER
EE WAS GETTING ON MANTRIP OUTSIDE IN GARAGE AREA WHEN HE DID NOT PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT HE WAS DOING & BUMPED HIS HEAD ON A STEEL BEAMM NO EXTERNAL INJURY, COMPLAINT WAS NECK & HEADACHE WENT TO DR 9/15/00 STARTED REST DUTY ON 9/16/00
MINER OPERATOR WAS CUTTING THROUGH INTO EXISTING BLEEDER PANEL, WHEN HALED THROUGH, TOP STARTED WORKING IN PREVIOUSLY BOLTED INTERSECTION. NO EQUIPMENT DAMAGE, NO BLOCKAGE OF VENT OR ESCAPEWAY , NO INJURIES, WILL NOT BE CLEANED UP. FALL IS 20' WIDE, 30' LONG APP 7' THICK.
June 6, 2000VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
EMPLOYEE STATED HE WAS MOVING BUGGY ANCHOR UP, HE LAID THE ROOF JACK WHICH WAS BEING USED FOR BUGGY ANCHOR- ON THE FENDER OF THE BUGGY, STARTED TO MOVE AND ROOF JACK STRUCK THE TOP AND FELL IN TO THE BUGGY DECK STRIKING THE EMPLOYEE.
May 6, 2000VA · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorMACHINERY
FALL LOCATION: #1 HD. INTERSECTION SPAD #2069. FOREMAN FOUND FALL. NO INJURIES, NO EQUIPMENT INVOLVED. NO BLOCKAGE OF ESCAPEWAY. FALL APPROX 24'LONG, APPROX 20'WIDE, APPROX 6' TO 10' THICK. CR IBBED OFF AND TIMBERED. DANGERED OFF. WILL NOT BE CLEANED UP.
EE STATED HE WAS SCOOPING ENTRY--ROCK FELL OUT BETWEEN BOLTS STRIKING HIM ON NECK & SHOULDERS. (WENT TO DR. ON 5-23-00)(STARTED LOSING TIME ON 5-24-00)
March 16, 2000VA · Coalsection foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift bossSTRIKING OR BUMPING
FALL OCCURED IN THE #8 ENTRY PILLAR BLOCK THE 14CM10 CONT MINER MACHINE WAS CAUGHT UNDER THE FALL NO DAMAGE TO MINER, NO BLOCKAGE OF VENTILATIONNO BLOCKAGE OF ESCAPEWAY NO INJURIES. FALL TIMBE RED OFF. SIZE OF FALL 45'L,20'W & 0-6' THICK
December 15, 1999VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS BOLTING TOP IN MUDDY CONDITIONS ANDLOW TOP, WHEN HIS KNEE BECAME STUCK IN THE MUD. HE STARTED TO MOVE AND TWISTED HIS LEFT KNEE. WENT TO DOCTOR ON 11/08/99. STARTED RESTRICTED DUT Y ON 11/13/99.
June 2, 1999VA · Coalutility man, errand boy, service truck operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
EE ALLEGES HE WAS OPERATING SHUTTLE CAR, WENT UNDER CBLE HANGING FROM ROOF. STRUCK HIS HEAD AGAINST CABLE - FEELING PAIN IN NECK, SHOULDER AND ARM. REPORTED EARLIER HE HAD NOT RECEIVED A WORK RELATED INJURY.
January 7, 1999VA · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
THE CONTINUOUS MINER CUT INTO AN AREA NEAR A BOREHOLE ON 001-0 (#1 UNIT) WHICH WAS SHOWN TO HAVE BEEN GROUTED. APPARENTLY THE GROUT DIDN'T EXTEND OR TAKE BETWEEN THE SEABOARD SEAM AND THE GRE ASY CREEK SEAM AS SHOWN. THE WATER IS BEING PUMPED OUT OF THE MINE. NO INJURIES, NO EQUIPMENT DAMAGE, NO BLOCKAGE OF ESCAPEWAYS.