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.
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.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘA Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2012-02-14.
On record since 2012.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, 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.
Of $6K in penalties contested before the Commission, $5K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-12-15.
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.
30citations taken to the federal commission · 13% of citations on record
Settled
25 · 83%
Stood as issued
5 · 17%
92%
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 13 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
14%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$6K proposed, $5K 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 2012-04-26.
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 Smokey Preparation Plant shows 100% of 147 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: 2013-06-27, 13 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
147
samples
0.69
dust max (mg/m3)
129 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 18 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.
Smokey Preparation Plant recorded 13.15 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2010.
Injury rate, 2010
ⓘ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.
13.15
total case rate
8.77
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 3.20 cases per 100 workers.
In Tennessee, coal mining averaged 5.30 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
2010 *
13.15
8.77
0.000
2009 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2007 *
5.32
5.32
0.000
2006 *
5.12
5.12
0.000
2005 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2004 *
3.59
3.59
0.000
2003 *
3.01
3.01
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
Year
Employees
2014
3
2013
2
2012
4
2011
6
2010
21
2009
20
2008
19
2007
19
2006
17
2005
28
2004
25
2003
33
2002
28
2001
22
2000
24
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Smokey Preparation Plant sits in Scott County, Tennessee, where the Census mining category is 0.3% 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.
Scott County, Tennessee · Population 21,969
0.3%
Mining share of county employment
$42,679
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
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 quartersHide 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
4
2
894.7
2011 Q2
3,414
8
3
2343.3
2010 Q4
15,753
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
11,874
5
0
421.1
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
4
4
361.1
2009 Q2
9,107
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
10,410
7
2
672.4
2008 Q4
9,165
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
10,477
2
0
190.9
2008 Q2
9,476
8
5
844.2
2008 Q1
12,045
3
1
249.1
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
3
0
435.5
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
1
0
91.9
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
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
18,256
5
1
273.9
2002 Q4
17,927
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
19,572
3
0
153.3
2002 Q2
15,737
3
3
190.6
2002 Q1
15,324
4
0
261.0
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
1
0
98.2
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, 2010TN · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
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.
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
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, 1999TN · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverHANDLING 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, 1999TN · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (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, 1999TN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING 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.
WORKING ON HEAVY MEDIA PUMP ON A STEP LADDER. FELL OFF THE STEP LADDER, AND HURT BACK.
1993 · 1 incident
August 31, 1993TN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
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, 1992TN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
U S Coal Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
WORKING ON UNDERFLOW PUMP APPARENTLY STRIANED BACK.
1989 · 1 incident
January 11, 1989TN · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (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.