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.
169 citations across 1,757 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Simpson Branch has $29K in proposed MSHA penalties and $280 outstanding across 0 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.
$29K
proposed penalties
$29K
current assessed
$28K
paid to date
$280
outstanding
163 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2009-02-04.
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.
MSHA sampling at Simpson Branch shows 90% of 222 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: 2009-02-14, 17 years ago
90%
within 1.5 mg/m3
222
samples
7.46
dust max (mg/m3)
101 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 121 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.
Simpson Branch recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2008.
Injury rate, 2008
ⓘ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 4.41 and the all-US-mining average was 3.61 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.87 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
2008 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2007 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2006 *
8.18
0.00
0.000
2005 *
9.72
9.72
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)
2009
8
18,352
2008
19
90,361
2007
26
104,236
2006
27
131,229
2005
23
159,900
2004
7
7,148
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Simpson Branch sits in Floyd County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 4.4% 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.
Floyd County, Kentucky · Population 35,342
4.4%
Mining share of county employment
$41,582
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
2009 Q2
0
0
0
2009 Q1
7,957
2
0
251.4
2008 Q4
9,014
7
1
776.6
2008 Q3
8,512
11
5
1292.3
2008 Q2
10,893
8
2
734.4
2008 Q1
8,941
9
2
1006.6
2007 Q4
14,128
6
1
424.7
2007 Q3
12,611
18
5
1427.3
Show 11 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2007 Q2
12,771
10
3
783.0
2007 Q1
13,353
10
6
748.9
2006 Q4
13,628
14
4
1027.3
2006 Q3
12,300
14
5
1138.2
2006 Q2
11,467
4
2
348.8
2006 Q1
11,519
8
3
694.5
2005 Q4
12,941
14
6
1081.8
2005 Q3
9,271
4
1
431.5
2005 Q2
11,695
6
2
513.0
2005 Q1
7,252
21
6
2895.8
2004 Q4
2,445
2
1
818.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
13 on file
2009 · 1 incident
February 12, 2009KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
The arm was mined in march 06. We had a fall in June 06. Soft top and water in a drainage contributed. This was a continuation of the fall. It blocked travel beyond this pain. The area will be sealed.
Mining was stopped in the area 45 days before the fall occurred because of weight problems. There is a coal seam elevation in the area. It occurred inby spad #874 & 882. It is examined weekly.
A horseback fault runs across the section. It had been cut down when it was seen. The intersection in #1 entry failed. 18' x 30' x 7'. The area was cribbed and dangered off.
This fall was a continuation of earlier fall on 6/29/06. Water in the top weakened the intersection in #1 & #2. Foreman heard the fall. It blocked the main return for travel but not ventilation. The men were brought below the area until investigation by MSHA. Spad 418.
The area of the fall between #3 & #4 entry in the #4 belt outby had several cribs built. The roof became wet and fell between the cribs. The fall is near spad #407. More cribs were built and 10' rope bolts installed before face work began.
A non-injury bottom fall occurred. The bottom or floor of the #5 entry sagged down. The local MSHA office was informed. A seal over the bottom "floor" was erected.
2005 · 2 incidents
December 13, 2005KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY