Mining Incidents
Search Operators Mines Alerts Research Controllers Fatalgrams About
English Español
← Back to search

Smith Br: 1 recorded fatality Coal

Banner Blue Coal Company · Underground
Controlled by Metinvest B V
BIG ROCK, Buchanan County, VA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 4406812

Smith Br has $77K in proposed MSHA penalties and $25K outstanding across 8 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Smith Br.

Fatalities
1
Total incidents
33
Years on record
1996–2007
Latest incident
Jun 2007
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
540
citations
207
significant & substantial
$77,445
proposed penalties
$46,692
paid to date
60% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $30,753 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Banner Blue Coal Company's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
125
inspections on record
3,921
inspection hours
13.8
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.
540 citations across 3,921 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Smith Br has $77K in proposed MSHA penalties and $25K outstanding across 8 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.
$77K
proposed penalties
$72K
current assessed
$47K
paid to date
$25K
outstanding
528 assessments are final orders; 8 contested dockets.
Of $17K in penalties contested before the Commission, $11K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2008-02-19.
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.
38.9%
significant & substantial
0.9%
high negligence or reckless
39.1%
reasonably likely or greater
3.2%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.2% none, 3.9% low, 94.9% moderate, 0.9% 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.
3 citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
  • Settled 3 · 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 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
38%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$10K proposed, $6K 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 2007-11-27.
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 2008-40 Settlement Bulluck 2008 $10K → $6K
VA 20000046 Settlement Weisberger 2001 $2K → $2K
VA 20000045 Settlement Weisberger 2001 $1K → $1K
VA 20030008 Settlement Barbour 2002 $1K → $911
VA 20010019 Dismissal 2001 $1K → $0
VA 20010041 Settlement Barbour 2001 $1K → $927
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Smith Br shows 90% of 464 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: 2008-01-23, 18 years ago
90%
within 1.5 mg/m3
464
samples
8.49
dust max (mg/m3)
160 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 304 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR201
  • MOBILE BRIDGE OPERATOR27
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)17

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2007-12-19, 18 years ago
6.0
silica avg (%)
55
samples
22.5
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR27
See US coal mines ranked by silica in their dust samples.

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: 2007-07-23, 19 years ago
21%
over PEL
43
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR10
  • MOBILE BRIDGE OPERATOR7
  • ROOF BOLTER (SINGLE HEAD)7
See US mines ranked by noise samples over the legal limit.
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
2008 100% 5
2007 94% 72
2006 94% 64
2005 90% 90
2003 90% 21
2002 76% 33
2001 87% 98
2000 90% 81
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2007 5.4 5
2006 5.9 9
2005 5.9 19
2003 2.0 2
2002 4.4 5
2001 8.2 8
2000 7.0 7
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2007 20% 10
2006 20% 5
2005 17% 6
2002 0% 1
2001 9% 11
2000 40% 10
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Smith Br recorded 9.32 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2007.

Injury rate, 2007
ⓘ 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.
9.32
total case rate
9.32
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 4.71 and the all-US-mining average was 3.77 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.66 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
2007 * 9.32 9.32 0.000
2006 * 8.21 8.21 0.000
2005 * 8.62 8.62 0.000
2001 * 24.83 17.73 0.000
2000 * 11.90 11.90 3.966
* 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
  1. Buchanan Production Company 1995 to 2001
  2. S & B Coal Corp 2001 to 2002
  3. Nufac Mining, Inc. 2002 to 2003
  4. S & B Coal Corporation 2003 to 2003
  5. Black Canyon Mining Company 2003 to 2004
  6. Cat Bird Mining, Inc. 2004 to 2006
  7. Banner Blue Coal Company 2006 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)
2008 6 10,238
2007 30 85,760
2006 15 73,757
2005 13 58,131
2004 0
2003 8 8,454
2002 9 18,927
2001 27 87,277
2000 25 85,953
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Smith Br sits in Buchanan County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 11.2% 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.
Buchanan County, Virginia · Population 19,857
11.2%
Mining share of county employment
$42,216
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
2008 Q2 0 0 0
2008 Q1 6,227 6 3 963.5
2007 Q4 14,496 23 6 1586.6
2007 Q3 15,188 22 3 1448.5
2007 Q2 17,302 26 15 1502.7
2007 Q1 17,380 41 16 2359.0
2006 Q4 8,476 17 6 2005.7
2006 Q3 4,821 21 6 4355.9
Show 24 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2006 Q2 5,255 21 8 3996.2
2006 Q1 5,808 32 20 5509.6
2005 Q4 5,733 30 11 5232.9
2005 Q3 6,176 22 6 3562.2
2005 Q2 5,952 44 15 7392.5
2005 Q1 5,340 28 12 5243.4
2004 Q4 0 6 3
2004 Q3 0 0 0
2004 Q2 0 0 0
2004 Q1 0 0 0
2003 Q4 0 0 0
2003 Q1 4,954 9 1 1816.7
2002 Q4 8,628 6 1 695.4
2002 Q3 0 0 0
2002 Q2 0 0 0
2002 Q1 8,246 10 6 1212.7
2001 Q4 15,670 20 10 1276.3
2001 Q3 12,947 22 8 1699.2
2001 Q2 16,196 10 2 617.4
2001 Q1 11,573 23 14 1987.4
2000 Q4 16,455 21 4 1276.2
2000 Q3 14,858 8 2 538.4
2000 Q2 16,422 47 16 2862.0
2000 Q1 2,699 11 5 4075.6

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
May 12, 2000 VA · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator Fatality · MACHINERY
Buchanan Production Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS BACKING THE MINER OUT OF THE #3 HEADING LEFT BREAK WHEN HE GOT PINNED BETWEEN THE MINER AND THE RIB.

Reportable incidents

32 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2007 · 3 incidents

June 29, 2007 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck by falling object

Employee left the mantrip and was walking toward the face when a piece of rock (3'X 3'X 6") fell from the roof and hit him in the back. (Misc Mail 7/16/07 #38-add narrative-Due to complication started missing work on 7/9/07)

May 31, 2007 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech POWERED HAULAGE
Banner Blue Coal Company · Struck by powered moving object

A loader ran into the deck of a three wheeled personnel carrier as it was being trammed through the stockpile area.

April 23, 2007 VA · Coal utility man, errand boy, service truck operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Banner Blue Coal Company · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was greasing and tripped and fell face first to the ground catching himself with his hands. Employee complaining of lower back pain.

2006 · 3 incidents

June 27, 2006 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Cat Bird Mining, Inc. · Accident type, without injuries

Roof fall in no. 1 entry 70 ft inby survey 2012. The fall was approx. 19 ft wide, 4 to 5 ft high and 30 ft long. The fall occurred just inby the break which had one cut taken out of it and fell all the way to face.

February 20, 2006 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Cat Bird Mining, Inc. · Accident type, without injuries

Had roof fall inby survey 179. Roof fall was approx. 18' wide x 30'long, thickness was 2.5' to 4.5'. There were 4' glue bolts used in this area of mines. This fall was found by EE on pre-shift exam.

January 10, 2006 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Cat Bird Mining, Inc. · Fall onto or against objects

The injured party was pinning top when a small piece of draw rock fell. He moved to get out of the way and hit his elbow on the side of the pinner. Just bruised and a very small cut. Two days later it was swollen because of infection. He had to spend time in the hospital.

2005 · 1 incident

February 11, 2005 VA · Coal discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator POWERED HAULAGE
Cat Bird Mining, Inc. · Struck by powered moving object

EMPLOYEE WAS RIDING A 3-WHEEL RIDE. EE STOPPED, WALKED AROUND THE FRONT OF THE RIDE AND WAS GOING TO UNLOAD SOME TANKS. WHEN EE UNLOADED ONE TANK, THE OTHER TANK ROLLED OVER ON THE PEDAL AND THE 3-WHEEL RIDE TOOK OFF AND KINDLY TWISTED HIS LEG, CAUSING THE INJURY (TWISTED KNEE).

2003 · 1 incident

February 17, 2003 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Nufac Mining, Inc. · Accident type, without injuries

DUE TO HEAVY RAIN. FREEZING WEATHER, AND THAWING A ROCK FALL OCCURRED IN THE DRIFT OF THE NUMBER 1 ENTRY. THE ROCK MEASURED APPROXIMATELY 30' WIDE, 10' LONG, AND 6' HIGH. THIS FALL WAS REPORTE D TO MSHA IMMEDIATELY.

2002 · 1 incident

October 12, 2002 VA · Coal continuous miner helper, coal mole helper, bridgeman OTHER
Nufac Mining, Inc. · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE'S ARM AND SIDE OF NECK STARTED HURTING. WHEN TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL HE WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK.

2001 · 8 incidents

November 15, 2001 VA · Coal continuous miner helper, coal mole helper, bridgeman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
S & B Coal Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS TAKING A PERMISSIBLE RIDE TO SECTION. WENT THROUGH AIR LOCK DOORS. HE WAS TRYING TO HOLD DOORS OPEN AND THE PERMISSIBLE RIDE CAUGHT DOOR AND BEST IT HYPERENTENTED 2 FINGERS ON RIGHT HAN D.

November 13, 2001 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
S & B Coal Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS BOLTING IN #1 HDG DRILLED A HOLE TO PUT BOLT IN TURNED AROUND TO REACH ON TOP OF BOLTER TO GET ROOF BOLT. TWISTED RIGHT KNEE.

July 16, 2001 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
S & B Coal Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE SAID HE WAS USING HAMMER AND CHISEL TO GET A GREASE FITTING OUT AND A PIECE OF METAL HIT HIM IN LEFT EYE AND LATER IN SHIFT A HYD. HOSE BUSTED AND IT SPRAYED HYD. OIL IN SAME EYE.

May 22, 2001 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
S & B Coal Corp · Accident type, without injuries

FALL IN #4 HEADING IN LAST OPEN LINE IN FACE. FELL IN INTERSECTION. THE FALL IS ABOUT 4 1/2 TO 5' THICK AND 24' LONG 21' WIDE. AT SPAD 1505. NO ONE WAS INJURED OR NO EQUIPMENT WAS INVOLVED.

May 7, 2001 VA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
S & B Coal Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE SAID HE WAS STEPPING DOWN LADDER ON 966 CAT LOADER WHEN HE FELT SHARP PAIN & A POPPING NOISEON RIGHT KNEE.

January 19, 2001 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Buchanan Production Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE SAID HE WAS PUTTING UP A ROOF BOLT; HE HAD TO BEND IT IN MIDDLE TO SET IT UP, WHILE STRAIGHTENING IT OUT PUTTING IT UP WRENCHED BACK.

January 11, 2001 VA · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider POWERED HAULAGE
Buchanan Production Company · Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE SAID HE WAS OPERATING MBC BRIDGE, TRAMMING BACKWARD, WHEN OVER A HUMP IN BOTTOM, RAISING HIM UP IN TOP. SAID HE HIT HIS HEAD AND SHOULDER IN ROOF.

January 10, 2001 VA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buchanan Production Company · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS CHANGING A MOTOR ON 3 WHEEL BUGGY. HE DROPPED MOTOR ON HIS FINGER.

2000 · 2 incidents

October 16, 2000 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buchanan Production Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE SAID HE WAS CHANGING A BOLT ON HEAD SCRAPER ON BELT DRIVE, WHEN HIS ARM & SHOULDER STARTED HURTING HIM.

August 9, 2000 VA · Coal scoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buchanan Production Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS WORKING WITH A CREW OF MEN MAKING A BELT SPLICE WHEN A METAL ROAD IN USE COME LOOSE AND STRUCK EE ON THE SIDE OF HIS HARD HAT.

1998 · 5 incidents

October 15, 1998 VA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) MACHINERY
Buchanan Production Company · Struck by powered moving object

EE WAS HANGING A LINE CURTAIN IN #2 HEADING AND HAD HIS BACK TURNED AWAY FROM MINER. MINER CAME AROUND CORNER GOING INTO #2 HEADING STRIKING EE IN BACK AND RT FOOT WITH MINER HEAD.

July 13, 1998 VA · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider POWERED HAULAGE
Buchanan Production Company · Struck against a moving object

RUN 3-WHEEL BUGGE OVER HILL ON SURFACE.

April 30, 1998 VA · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler POWERED HAULAGE
Buchanan Production Company · Struck by powered moving object

EE WAS SHOVELING OFF SIDE OF FACE BELT WITH HIS BCK TO EQUIPMENT, WHEN BRIDGE CARRIERS BACKED UP & #1 PIGGY BACK CONVEYOR HIT HIM IN BACK.

1997 · 7 incidents

December 4, 1997 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Buchanan Production Company · Accident type, without injuries

ROCK FALL FOUND ON WEEKLY INPSECTION FALL WAS IN 7 HD 13 BREAKS FROM OUTSIDE 1 BREAK OUTBY SPAD 158 FALL WAS 20'X20' 5' THICK AREA WAS BOLTED WITH 4' GLUE BOLTS.

August 6, 1997 VA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Buchanan Production Company · Accident type, without injuries

ROCK FALL 3000 FT OUT BY FACE AREA IN #1 HD AND INTERSECTION SPAD #242. FALL WAS ABOUT 4 FT. THICK AROUND 50 FT. LONG. THIS WAS A FAULTY AREA AND HAD BEEN CRIBBED OFF. FALL WAS BEHIND CRIBBED AREA.

March 5, 1997 VA · Coal scoop car operator POWERED HAULAGE
Buchanan Production Company · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS CLEANING RIGHT RIB IN #7 HEADING WHEN SCOOP DECK HIT RIB AND TORE DOWN DRAW ROCK HITTING OEPRATOR ON RIGHT SHOULDER.

March 5, 1997 VA · Coal scoop car operator POWERED HAULAGE
Buchanan Production Company · Struck by falling object

EE WAS CLEANING INTERSECTION IN #4 HD WHEN HE STRUCK RIGHT RIB WITH SCOOP DECK TURNING DRAW ROCKLOOSE HITTING HIS RIGHT SHOULDER.

January 29, 1997 VA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech POWERED HAULAGE
Buchanan Production Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

OUTSIDE MAN WAS BACKING MANTRIP TRAILER UP HILL WHEN TRAILER JACK KNIFED AND BROKE BAIL OFF TURNING TRAILER LOOSE THEN TRAILER HIT HIS LEFT LEG

1996 · 1 incident

April 26, 1996 VA · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Buchanan Production Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS HANDSETTING A POLE. HE LIFTED POLE TO HIS SHOULDER TO RAISE IT HIGH ENOUGH TO PUT ON AGAIN AND THATS HOW HE HURT HIS SHOULDER.