Mining Incidents

Smokey Preparation Plant Coal

Huntsville, Scott County, TN  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 4001248

Smokey Preparation Plant has $26K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K outstanding across 4 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
25
Years on record
1989–2010
Latest incident
Aug 2010
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
229
citations
68
significant & substantial
$25,790
proposed penalties
$22,722
paid to date
88% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $3,068 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
102
inspections on record
2,466
inspection hours
9.3
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.
229 citations across 2,466 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Smokey Preparation Plant has $26K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K outstanding across 4 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.
$26K
proposed penalties
$25K
current assessed
$23K
paid to date
$2K
outstanding
208 assessments are final orders; 4 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-12-15.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Smokey Preparation Plant shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.15 mg/m3 (100% compliant) across 147 samples.

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.
0.15
dust avg (mg/m3)
0.69
dust max (mg/m3)
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
147
samples
Most recent sample: 2013-06-27.
Silica (quartz)
12.3
silica avg (%)
12.3
silica max (%)
1
samples
Most recent sample: 2000-02-15.
Noise
10%
over PEL
61
samples
Most recent sample: 2013-06-27.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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
2014 Q4 32 1 0 31250.0
2014 Q3 720 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 1,070 2 1 1869.2
2014 Q1 1,005 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 645 2 0 3100.8
2013 Q3 527 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 656 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 451 0 0 0.0
Show 51 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2012 Q4 2,212 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 2,463 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 2,143 6 1 2799.8
2012 Q1 636 46 4 72327.0
2011 Q4 2,391 1 0 418.2
2011 Q3 4,471 16 6 3578.6
2011 Q2 3,414 8 3 2343.3
2010 Q4 15,753 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 11,874 6 0 505.3
2010 Q2 6,275 3 1 478.1
2010 Q1 11,724 5 3 426.5
2009 Q4 10,059 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 11,078 7 7 631.9
2009 Q2 9,107 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 10,410 9 2 864.6
2008 Q4 9,165 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 10,477 4 2 381.8
2008 Q2 9,476 10 6 1055.3
2008 Q1 12,045 28 8 2324.6
2007 Q4 9,359 4 0 427.4
2007 Q3 11,523 11 5 954.6
2007 Q2 9,840 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 6,889 4 1 580.6
2006 Q4 7,478 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 8,907 2 2 224.5
2006 Q2 9,051 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 13,645 3 2 219.9
2005 Q4 15,177 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 21,412 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 16,902 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 15,322 2 1 130.5
2004 Q4 22,498 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 10,879 5 3 459.6
2004 Q2 11,122 2 0 179.8
2004 Q1 11,154 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 15,453 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 16,749 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 16,030 1 0 62.4
2003 Q1 18,256 5 1 273.9
2002 Q4 17,927 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 19,572 7 0 357.7
2002 Q2 15,737 3 3 190.6
2002 Q1 15,324 5 0 326.3
2001 Q4 8,342 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 8,951 1 0 111.7
2001 Q2 11,731 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 10,185 9 3 883.7
2000 Q4 8,225 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 10,788 5 1 463.5
2000 Q2 12,917 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 14,664 4 1 272.8
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

25 on file

2010 · 3 incidents

August 22, 2010 TN · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
National Coal Corporation · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was taking a pipe apart above clean coal screen on 3rd Floor. Twisted left knee stepping down off screen. Knee swelled up over night and he couldn't put much weight on it the next day.

March 17, 2010 TN · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
National Coal Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Inner fender of truck came loose - used zipties to secure fender back, knife slipped cutting old tie off and cut wrist

February 15, 2010 TN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
National Coal Corporation · Struck by flying object

Putting safety glasses on, something went in eye. Either came off glasses or could have come off cap.

2007 · 2 incidents

September 7, 2007 TN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
National Coal Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Cut his left knee with a utility knife.

August 20, 2007 TN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
National Coal Corporation · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Stepped off back of mechanic's truck and turned body before picking foot up and twisting knee.

2006 · 1 incident

January 7, 2006 TN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
National Coal Corporation · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Pulled muscle in lower back while repairing Mack truck drive line.

2004 · 1 incident

July 1, 2004 TN · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
National Coal Corporation · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE TWISTED HIS RT. KNEE WHILE CLEANING HYDRO-CYCLONE IN PREP. PLANT. ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON 7/01/04, EE SOUGHT TREATMENT IN AUGUST.

2003 · 1 incident

May 12, 2003 TN · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
U S Coal Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TIGHTEN HAND WHEEL TYPE BRAKE ON RAIL CAR. STRAINING TO TIGHTEN BRAKE, EE PULLED A MUSCLE IN HIS BACK.

2002 · 1 incident

January 8, 2002 TN · Coal truck driver HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
U S Coal Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

USING HAMMER TO DRIVE BEARING OUT OF A GEAR. STRUCK LEFT THUMB WITH HAMMER.

2001 · 1 incident

July 16, 2001 TN · Coal truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
U S Coal Inc · Fall onto or against objects

EE WAS HELPING INSTALL A 20 HP MOTOR ON RAW COAL SCREEN, LOST HIS FOOTING, SLIPPED AND FELL STRIKING HANDRAIL.

2000 · 2 incidents

November 11, 2000 TN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Unknown operator · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE CHANGING BRAKE PADS ON A CAT 43B BACKHOE EE WAS TURNING REAR END UP ON HIS SIDE IN OREDERTO GET DISK LINED UP HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HISRIGHT LOWER BACK

March 2, 2000 TN · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Unknown operator · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WAS PULLING ON CABLE FOR TRAIN CARS AND FELT A SHARP PAIN IN LEFT KNEE. THIS WAS A NO LOST TIME ACCIDENT UNTIL 4/3/00. EMPLOYEE WORKED 4/4/00 AND HAS BEEN OFF SINCE.

1999 · 3 incidents

September 15, 1999 TN · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
U S Coal Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS REPLACING TAIL GATE SEAL ON REFUSE TRUCK, USING 6"X6" CRIB BLOCK TO HOLD TAIL GATE OPEN. CRIB BLOCK SLID OUT FROM BETWEEN THE BED AND TAILGATE AND HIT HIM ON THE LEFT FOOT BRUISING HIS BIG TOE.

June 25, 1999 TN · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
U S Coal Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE HAD A UTILITY KNIFE TAPED TO AN ALL THREAD END USING IT TO CUT A PIECE OF BELTING OUT OF A PUMP SUCTION PIPE. HE TRIED TO TAKE THE ALL THREAD & UTILITY KNIFE LOSE BY PULLING THEM APART WHEN HAND SLIPPED ACROSS KNIFE & CUT FINGER.

April 7, 1999 TN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
U S Coal Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS INSTALLING A PLANITARY GEAR HOUSING ON A CAT 980C HIGHLIFT WHEN HE FELT A PAIN IN HIS LOWER BACK ON RIGHT SIDE. HE FINISED THE SHIFT AND WORKED THE NEXT SCHEDULED SHIFT, SO THERE WAS O IMMEDIATE LOST TIME. HE TOOK A PERSONNEL DAY ON MAY 11,1999, THAT WAS THE ONLY DAY HE HAD MISSED UNTIL TODAY. HE HAD A DISPUT WITH HIS SUPERVISOR ON 6-11-99 & THEN DECIDED TO SEE A DR.

1997 · 2 incidents

May 14, 1997 TN · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver OTHER
U S Coal Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A NEW INJURY - TRIED TO ATTACHED TO PREVIOUS INJURY.

February 20, 1997 TN · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
U S Coal Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WAS USING A SHOVEL TO CLEAN OUT SUMP HOLE. HE TWISTED SIDEWAYS TO EMPTY SHOVEL AND STRAINED A MUSCLE.

1996 · 1 incident

March 8, 1996 TN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
U S Coal Inc · Struck by flying object

ANOTHER WORKER WAS USING A GRINDER AND IT BOUNCED SOMETHING OFF WALL AND INTO HIS EYE. HE HAD HIS BACK TURNED TO THE GRINDER.

1995 · 3 incidents

August 22, 1995 TN · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
U S Coal Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

SHOVELING COAL FROM UNDER A BELTLINE (LOOSE COALINTO A BACKHOE BUCKET HE FELT A PULL IN HIS LOWER BACK.

July 10, 1995 TN · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
U S Coal Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WELDING A PIECE OR FOREGIN OBJECT GOT INTO EYE.

July 5, 1995 TN · Coal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor MACHINERY
U S Coal Inc · Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS USING A GRINDER, A FOREIGN OBJECT GOT INTO EYE UNDER SAFETY GLASSES.

1994 · 1 incident

December 14, 1994 TN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
U S Coal Inc · Fall from ladders

WORKING ON HEAVY MEDIA PUMP ON A STEP LADDER. FELL OFF THE STEP LADDER, AND HURT BACK.

1993 · 1 incident

August 31, 1993 TN · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
U S Coal Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HE WAS USING A CHAIN SAW TO CLEAR HIGH OF WAY CUT INTO A 3 INCH FREE. WHEN THE TREE KICKED THROWING THE SAW AGAINST HIS LEG HIS PANTS LEG KEEP PULLING THE SAW INTO HIS ELG REPETEDLY.

1992 · 1 incident

April 15, 1992 TN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
U S Coal Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WORKING ON UNDERFLOW PUMP APPARENTLY STRIANED BACK.

1989 · 1 incident

January 11, 1989 TN · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
U S Coal Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

PLACED HAND ON AIR JACK, IT RECOILED AND CAUGHT THE END OF FINGER ON LEFT HAND.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Smokey Preparation Plant

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.