Spurlock #4 Surface Mine has $12K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 4 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
8
Years on record
2011–2017
Latest incident
Aug 2017
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2011
72
citations
13
significant & substantial
$12,078
proposed penalties
$11,155
paid to date
92% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $923 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.
72 citations across 1,267 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Spurlock #4 Surface Mine has $12K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$12K
proposed penalties
$11K
current assessed
$11K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
68 assessments are final orders; 4 contested dockets.
Of $4K in penalties contested before the Commission, $3K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2017-05-15.
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.
15citations taken to the federal commission · 21% of citations on record
Settled
10 · 67%
Stood as issued
5 · 33%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 9 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
21%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$4K proposed, $3K 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 2014-09-16.
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 Spurlock #4 Surface Mine shows 100% of 108 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: 2017-06-02, 9 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
108
samples
0.97
dust max (mg/m3)
0
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.
75 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 33 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.
Spurlock #4 Surface Mine recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2017.
Injury rate, 2017
ⓘ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 3.79 and the all-US-mining average was 2.48 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.33 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
2017 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2016 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2015 *
3.89
3.89
0.000
2014 *
2.88
2.88
0.000
2013 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2012 *
3.54
0.00
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)
2018
6
2017
13
158,756
2016
24
263,184
2015
27
272,169
2014
28
416,132
2013
18
191,181
2012
22
150,237
2011
16
53,278
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Spurlock #4 Surface Mine 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
CAT D11R was pushing material towards wall. Operator noticed smoke coming from engine compartment. EE shut down engine, exited cab, observed source of smoke and noticed flames. EE attempted to extinguish with a hand held extinguisher and was unsuccessful. EE safely dismounted equipment to a safe location and notified EE's supervisor.
Employee was operating 777-F rock truck and while being loaded by a 992K loader the loader bucket struck the back of the truck bed causing the employee to be bounced in his seat employee was complaining with back pain and was transported to McDowell ARH Hospital and was treated and released.
2014 · 1 incident
April 4, 2014KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techPOWERED HAULAGE
Operator lost engine control of fuel/lube truck on decent of haul road at the end of the shift. Operator veered the truck against a highwall to stop it. Operator struck his knees against the dash and forehead on the windshield. minor bruising incurred
2012 · 2 incidents
March 23, 2012KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
Fueler was attempting to dismount a Komatsu 300 excavator when he lost his footing and fell approx. 24" to the ground landing on his back. He was transported to the hospital and released with bruising.
October 15, 2011KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mechanic was striking the keeper pin on 992 tooth. A piece of the pin broke off of the pin and struck him in the forearm. Taken to hospital for sutures and returned to work.
October 7, 2011KY · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Mechanic was installing a new heater hose on a Cat D9R dozer. While moving the hose through a tight spot he received a laceration on the back of his left hand. He was taken to the hospital where it was glued back together.