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.
77 citations across 1,075 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Strip #14 has $67K in proposed MSHA penalties and $4K outstanding across 9 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.
$67K
proposed penalties
$59K
current assessed
$55K
paid to date
$4K
outstanding
73 assessments are final orders; 9 contested dockets.
Of $39K in penalties contested before the Commission, $31K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-08-27.
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.
33citations taken to the federal commission · 43% of citations on record
Settled
32 · 97%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 3%
94%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 17 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
22%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$39K proposed, $31K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2016-09-06.
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 Strip #14 shows 100% of 56 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: 2012-02-27, 14 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
56
samples
0.88
dust max (mg/m3)
56 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 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.
Strip #14 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2014.
Injury rate, 2014
ⓘ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 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 2.93 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 5.11 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
2014 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2013 *
5.98
5.98
0.000
2012 *
4.41
4.41
0.000
2011
1.35
1.35
0.000
2010
0.00
0.00
0.000
2009
5.45
3.64
0.000
2002 *
12.16
12.16
0.000
2001 *
6.85
6.85
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)
2026
0
2025
0
2024
0
2023
0
2022
1
2021
0
2020
0
2018
0
2017
0
2016
2
2015
4
2,373
2014
11
9,341
2013
29
68,750
2012
25
82,868
2011
59
259,341
2010
49
347,329
2009
42
306,479
2008
32
48,267
2003
7
26,626
2002
30
299,111
2001
13
132,183
2000
21
93,589
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Strip #14 sits in Wise County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 5.9% 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.
Wise County, Virginia · Population 35,727
5.9%
Mining share of county employment
$50,740
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
Employee was operating a D10 T Dozer, when smoke started coming into the cab of the Caterpillar Dozer. He turned his key switch off, got his fire ext. & exited the dozer. He used 3 fire ext. trying to put fire out, but could not ext. the fire. After an investigation of the incident it appears to be an electrical fire, that has destroyed the D10T Cat. Dozer.
November 4, 2013VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee was breaking a track on a D-10 T Dozer, striking the Cat with a hammer with one hand & had his other hand resting on track, Track moved, catching his finger and mashing it. Received 4 stitches and tore fingernail off.
Removing radiator cap, antifreeze came out burning employee's hands, he then jumped away from the area landing awkwardly on both feet. He sustained a fracture to his left foot and bruised his right ankle, also received burns to both hands.
Employee was operating a D-11 Cat dozer ,developed a hydraulic leak , called for maintenance, traveled 200' the dozer had caught fire. Tried to put out the fire could not. The foreman called the fire department, the fire was out at 8:25 p.m. .
2009 · 3 incidents
November 19, 2009VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was helping remove a cab from a loader. Was stepping down a 6 foot ladder, pulled a 3/4" drive impact wrench off of the tire of the loader, hitting himself in the face as he stepped to the ground. Causing a cut to the mouth requiring eight stitches and chipped tooth.
Employee was operating a drill and had opened the door. When he closed the door he caught his left index finger and thumb in the door. Left thumb was amputated from the lack of his fingernail (tip)
2002 · 4 incidents
November 24, 2002VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
A & G Coal Corporation · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
EE WAS FUELING A CAT LOADER, HE HAD TAKEN THE FUEL HOSE OFF THE LOADER... THE FUEL VALVE ON THE LOADER STUCK OPEN, DUMPING FUEL INTO EE'S FACE &UPPER BODY.
EE BENT DOWN TO PICK UP A CUTTING EDGE (APPROX. 50 LBS.), PICKED UP WAIS HIGH, AND TURNED TO SET THE CUTTING EDGE DOWN. HE FELT PAIN IN HIS LWOER BACK.