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.
128 citations across 2,098 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Smith #2 has $29K in proposed MSHA penalties and $21K outstanding across 1 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
$8K
paid to date
$21K
outstanding
122 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $1K in penalties contested before the Commission, $900 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-01-06.
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.
1citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
Settled
1 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
20%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$1K proposed, $900 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2026-01-12.
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 Smith #2 shows 100% of 332 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: 2026-02-03
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
332
samples
2.30
dust max (mg/m3)
1
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.
79 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 253 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.
Smith #2 recorded 8.13 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.
8.13
total case rate
8.13
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.19 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.08 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 *
8.13
8.13
0.000
2024 *
8.64
8.64
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
16
6,359
2025
32
89,169
2024
32
77,749
2023
18
12,174
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Smith #2 sits in Harlan County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 4.3% 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.
Harlan County, Kentucky · Population 26,185
4.3%
Mining share of county employment
$37,198
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
1,549
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
8,763
1
0
114.1
2025 Q4
21,767
16
3
735.1
2025 Q3
11,780
9
1
764.0
2025 Q2
5,272
18
3
3414.3
2025 Q1
10,364
22
4
2122.7
2024 Q4
2,380
0
0
0.0
2024 Q3
16,289
13
4
798.1
Show 4 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
16,331
18
2
1102.2
2024 Q1
11,298
15
2
1327.7
2023 Q4
6,218
8
2
1286.6
2023 Q3
1,896
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
5 on file
2025 · 3 incidents
December 18, 2025KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorSTRIKING OR BUMPING
EE was walking back to Shuttle Car from the Continuous Miner, in the #3 Entry on 001 MMU, when EE struck a Roof Bolt strap hanging down from previous mining. EE complained of head and neck "jamming" together causing pain to neck and shoulder. EE seen family physician on 12-22-25, and was placed off work until additional testing/imaging is completed.
January 18, 2025KY · Coalshuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Had a reportable roof fall at XC #2, Entry #3, on East Mains. Rock Fall does not have escapeways or airways blocked, it's in a neutral entry. Fall doesn't affect any people or equipment. Area has been dangered off.
2024 · 2 incidents
May 23, 2024KY · Coalcontinuous miner operator, coal mole operatorMACHINERY
Continuous miner was cutting in #3 Entry, in crosscut #20. Had two pieces of rock on the continuous miner standoff, the bottom piece was the larger piece. EE was trying to remove the top piece of rock from the miner, when the top rock moved, both rocks came off together striking EE.
April 16, 2024KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
Installing roof bolts in the 3Left Cut, Break 12, Inby Spad #102. This was the first cut took out of 3Left, mined straight ahead. While drilling outside hole, in their first row, the corner on the operator's side fell off striking employee,on backside/left shoulder.