Mining Incidents

Straight Creek Mine Coal

Controlled by Keith E Thacker
Kettle Island, Bell County, KY  ·  NonProducing
MSHA Mine ID: 1519702

Straight Creek Mine has $187K in proposed MSHA penalties and $77K outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Straight Creek Mine.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
31
Years on record
2013–2024
Latest incident
Jan 2024
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2013
790
citations
216
significant & substantial
$186,908
proposed penalties
$110,120
paid to date
59% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $76,788 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2013
194
inspections on record
14,871
inspection hours
5.3
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.
790 citations across 14,871 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Straight Creek Mine has $187K in proposed MSHA penalties and $77K outstanding across 5 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.
$187K
proposed penalties
$187K
current assessed
$110K
paid to date
$77K
outstanding
758 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-04-28.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Straight Creek Mine shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.36 mg/m3 (100% compliant) across 2,710 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.
0.36
dust avg (mg/m3)
2.71
dust max (mg/m3)
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
2,710
samples
Most recent sample: 2024-11-19.
Silica (quartz)
6.5
silica avg (%)
28.7
silica max (%)
134
samples
Most recent sample: 2024-04-03.
Noise
8%
over PEL
333
samples
Most recent sample: 2024-11-19.
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
2025 Q2 2,080 3 1 1442.3
2025 Q1 2,080 1 0 480.8
2024 Q4 2,080 4 0 1923.1
2024 Q3 2,080 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 2,080 5 0 2403.8
2024 Q1 31,990 25 3 781.5
2023 Q4 33,680 23 2 682.9
2023 Q3 33,316 25 6 750.4
Show 36 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q2 42,591 37 10 868.7
2023 Q1 38,951 21 5 539.1
2022 Q4 49,700 33 9 664.0
2022 Q3 40,055 13 6 324.6
2022 Q2 50,457 17 3 336.9
2022 Q1 41,289 13 1 314.9
2021 Q4 37,471 13 4 346.9
2021 Q3 22,405 15 4 669.5
2021 Q2 22,025 7 4 317.8
2021 Q1 3,490 3 1 859.6
2020 Q4 2,200 1 0 454.5
2019 Q2 92,443 32 15 346.2
2019 Q1 79,881 25 8 313.0
2018 Q4 91,811 52 19 566.4
2018 Q3 79,887 27 5 338.0
2018 Q2 68,214 19 5 278.5
2018 Q1 73,966 18 2 243.4
2017 Q4 68,659 18 9 262.2
2017 Q3 63,809 30 3 470.2
2017 Q2 68,356 18 7 263.3
2017 Q1 58,808 18 6 306.1
2016 Q4 61,644 20 13 324.4
2016 Q3 54,230 11 6 202.8
2016 Q2 50,055 9 3 179.8
2016 Q1 41,366 18 5 435.1
2015 Q4 48,635 18 5 370.1
2015 Q3 43,422 5 0 115.1
2015 Q2 42,812 10 2 233.6
2015 Q1 42,833 29 7 677.0
2014 Q4 41,007 25 3 609.7
2014 Q3 40,599 24 5 591.1
2014 Q2 35,659 15 2 420.7
2014 Q1 13,882 5 1 360.2
2013 Q4 11,299 6 3 531.0
2013 Q3 0 16 5
2013 Q2 0 2 1
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

31 on file

2024 · 1 incident

January 24, 2024 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Covol Fuels No.3 LLC · Struck by falling object

At approximately 12 pm a rock fell from the top on the operator's side of the bolt machine and struck EE. EE was struck in the right leg resulting in a fractured lower leg. The rock measured 30 inches long 24 inches wide and 1 inch thick on both ends.

2023 · 1 incident

October 9, 2023 KY · Coal examiner, fire boss, pre-shift examiner, mine examiner HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Covol Fuels No.3 LLC · Struck by flying object

A 1000FT piece of belt was being retrieved from old works, the belt had gotten entangled with a section of water line. The water line sprung out and struck employee on the lower right leg. Employee was standing back on the corner from where the belt was being retrieved.

2022 · 4 incidents

September 19, 2022 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Covol Fuels No.3 LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE was bolting in the #6 Heading on 4 North Mains on the 001 MMU and was installing EE's last bolt and felt pain in EE's lower back.

April 14, 2022 KY · Coal bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss POWERED HAULAGE
Covol Fuels No.3 LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was traveling out of the mine, didn't notice the mine roadway irregularity, and fell off the personnel carrier

March 23, 2022 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Covol Fuels No.3 LLC · Struck by falling object

EE was bolting in the #3 entry on the 001 section and piece of rock fell striking EE on both feet.

2021 · 2 incidents

2019 · 4 incidents

July 13, 2019 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Accident type, without injuries

The MMU 003 section experienced an unplanned roof fall in the number two heading, at the face two breaks inby spad number 3047. Fell from the coal face approximately 60' to the intersection of crosscut 40. No persons and/or equipment were injured or involved. The fall was 60' long, 20' wide and 7' thick.

May 29, 2019 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING WORK ON A BROKE CONVEYOR CHAIN WHEN A CO-WORKER HIT THE CHAIN WITH A 4 POUND HAMMER. WHEN A PEICE OF STEEL CAME OFF THE CHAIN OR THE HAMMER HITTING THE EMPLOYEE IN EE'S RIGHT EYE. THE STEEL IS STILL IN THE EMPLOYEE EYE AS OF TODAY 06/04/2019

January 23, 2019 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was pulling cable off of the reel of the bolt machine with a yellow rope hanger when it came loose, striking the employee under left eye requiring three (3) stitches.

January 9, 2019 KY · Coal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE was working on the miner when ee took the rub rail off. It caught left index finger between the miner and the rub rail requiring 14 stitches.

2018 · 6 incidents

December 29, 2018 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee was putting oil in the miner pot when a piece of draw-rock fell and hit EE's right hand requiring nine (9) stitches. Employee had hand on top of the miner at the time the draw-rock hit EE's hand.

December 11, 2018 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator OTHER
Rockhampton Energy LLC · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was walking back to EE's shuttle car when EE had a heart attack EE's coworkers performed CPR on EE but it was unsuccessful

October 24, 2018 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cutting a piece of belt when the knife slipped and cut left leg requiring 4 stitches

September 26, 2018 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cutting a piece of belt when the knife slipped and cut left leg requiring 4 stitches

April 20, 2018 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck by falling object

Employee was pulling miner cable when draw rock fell out of the roof, hit ee on the right forearm cutting ee arm. Employee received 25 stitches, 11 on the inside and 14 on the outside. This occurred on the MMU 002 in the 2 right crosscuts.

February 13, 2018 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Outby crew was moving a roof bolter off of 002 section to the #2 mains, the crew had to re-hook the pull chain, employee stepped between the scoop and roof bolter when bolter rolled, pinning EE's left leg.

2017 · 4 incidents

November 17, 2017 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck by falling object

EE was bolting top in #1 heading when a piece of draw rock fell and struck EE's left arm, EE had 10 stitches in left arm.

September 7, 2017 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck by flying object

Employee was helping a coworker repair a broken conveyor chain on the miner using a sledge hammer. A piece of metal broke off of the chain or hammer, striking employee in left eye.

April 11, 2017 KY · Coal scoop car/scooptram operator, load/haul/dump (lhd) operator, teletram operator STRIKING OR BUMPING
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was hanging drill cable, turned around, hit a roof-bolt plate on the right side of their face requiring ten (10) stitches.

March 23, 2017 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was in the process of unrolling 1000' belt when a co-worker slid a steel bar through the belt, catching the employee's hand resulting in a laceration requiring four (4) stitches in the right hand.

2016 · 2 incidents

May 23, 2016 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator OTHER
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was stung by a bee (red wasp) behind the left ear while getting off of the mantrip on the section.

April 6, 2016 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck by falling object

A piece of draw rock fell off of the ATRS, striking the employee on the top of EE's right foot requiring three stitches but no loss work days.

2015 · 2 incidents

September 9, 2015 KY · Coal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler MACHINERY
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was putting up belt hangers in the number four entry on the one east mains. While installing his drill steel, his right ring finger got caught between the drill chuck and the drill steel, causing his right ring finger to be amputated just below the fingernail. Seven stiches were required.

April 20, 2015 KY · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck by falling object

Draw rock fell hitting employee on left arm, resulting in employee receiving ten(10)staples.

2014 · 4 incidents

November 25, 2014 KY · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech POWERED HAULAGE
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee flagged the car driver off and told him that his reel was not taken up. When employee looked over at the reel, the cable suddenly took up and hit the employee in the head, causing him to hit his head on the roof resulting in a laceration requiring two (2) staples.

August 15, 2014 KY · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Accident type, without injuries

A non-injury rock fall occurred on the 001 section outby the feeder in number 16 crosscut in the number three entry in the intersection; 15 X 15 X 8' thick.

January 13, 2014 KY · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck against a moving object

Dumping material on stockpile. Material caught and truck sunk down to one side causing driver to impact side door with his shoulder

2013 · 1 incident

October 25, 2013 KY · Coal driller operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rockhampton Energy LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was hanging panning in shaft. Rough edge on panning cut right hand. 6 stitches required.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Straight Creek Mine

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.