Superior Preparation Plant has $132K in proposed MSHA penalties and $11K outstanding across 15 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
Watch this mine
Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Superior Preparation Plant.
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
40
Years on record
1984–2006
Latest incident
Jan 2006
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
305
citations
125
significant & substantial
$132,229
proposed penalties
$106,826
paid to date
81% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $25,403 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.
305 citations across 2,925 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Superior Preparation Plant has $132K in proposed MSHA penalties and $11K outstanding across 15 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.
$132K
proposed penalties
$118K
current assessed
$107K
paid to date
$11K
outstanding
302 assessments are final orders; 15 contested dockets.
Of $65K in penalties contested before the Commission, $50K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2020-10-29.
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.
77citations taken to the federal commission · 25% of citations on record
Settled
55 · 71%
Stood as issued
20 · 26%
Vacated or withdrawn
2 · 3%
61%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 72 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
24%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$65K proposed, $50K 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 2013-09-04.
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 Superior Preparation Plant shows 100% of 98 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: 2013-02-27, 13 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
98
samples
0.81
dust max (mg/m3)
95 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 3 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.
Superior Preparation Plant recorded 0.00 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.
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 3.20 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.50 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 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2009 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2007 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2006 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2002 *
9.73
0.00
0.000
2001 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2000 *
0.00
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
Year
Employees
2026
1
2025
1
2024
0
2023
2
2022
1
2021
1
2020
1
2019
2
2018
2
2017
0
2016
2
2015
2
2014
4
2013
3
2012
9
2011
14
2010
25
2009
20
2008
16
2007
11
2006
10
2005
1
2004
0
2003
2
2002
9
2001
8
2000
8
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Superior Preparation Plant sits in Logan County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 6.6% 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.
Logan County, West Virginia · Population 31,826
6.6%
Mining share of county employment
$47,237
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
Over course of day, employee was exposed to welder's arc. He was assisting another employee who was welding from an aerial lift he was also working from. Did not go to physician till 1/3/06, and returned to work 1/4/06.
THIS REPORT IS TO DENOTE THAT EE HAS RECEIVED A 5% AWARD FRO OCCUPATIONAL PNEUMOCONIOSIS BASED ON THE BOARDS DECISION OF JAN 31ST, 2003 AND WAS CHARGED TO THE ABOVE MENTIONED STIRRAT COAL CO.
2002 · 1 incident
September 17, 2002WV · Coalmine manager, mine foreman, mine ownerDUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
ON 9/17/2002, EE WAS AWARDED 5% PPD FOR OCCUPATIONAL PNEUMONO ULTRA MICROSCOPIC SILICOVOLCANOCONIOSIS. THIS WAS CHARGED TO STIRRAT COAL COMPANY OF WEST VIRGINIA, LOGAN COUNTY.
2000 · 1 incident
September 28, 2000WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE HAD JUST COMPLETED CLEANING THE SPILLAGE HOPPERS AND WAS CLIMBING DOWN A LADDER TO THE GROUND WHEN HE LOST HIS FOOTING AND FELL OFF THELADDER. HE LANDED ON A PILE OF SLATE ON THE GROU ND AND CUT HIS KNEE.
1998 · 1 incident
June 16, 1998WV · Coalmaster electricianPOISONING (TOXIC MATERIALS)
EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING DOWN STAIRS ON 3RD FLOOR & THOUGHT HE WAS STEPPING TO BOTTOM STEP BUT MISSED ONE STEP CAUSING HIM TO STEP AN EXCESSIVE DISTANCE TO THE FLOOR. MAN PULLED BACK WHEN HE IMPAC TED THE FLOOR. *MAN DID NOT GO TO DOCTOR UNTIL LATER (ORIGINALLY AT NO LOST TIME ACCIDENT).
1992 · 5 incidents
November 9, 1992WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING TO INSTALL SPEED REDUCER ON CLEAN COAL FILTER. THE TURN BUCKLE ON THE SPPED REDUCER WAS NOT SECURED PROPERLY ALLOWING THE SPPED REDUCER TO SWING DOWN WARD HITTING MAN ON R T. SHOULDER BLADE.
MAN WAS BRINGING IN CARS TO LOADOUT WHEN LOADOUT OPERATOR OPENED THE COAL BIN DOOR TOO SOON (ABOUT 6") ALLOWING COAL TO FALL ONTO EMPLOYEE ON CAR.EMPLOYEE JUMPED OFF OF DRAWHEAD AND FELL ON GR OUND.CAUSING HIS NECK AND SHOULDER TO BE STOVED UP.
July 30, 1992WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
WAS WALKING DOWN STAIRS AT LOADOUT FACILITY WHEN I STEPPED OFF BOTTOM STEP TO THE GROUND MY RT FOOT SLIPPED CAUSING ME TO TWIST MY RT LEG AND LOWER BACK.
EMPLOYEE WAS GETTING SAMPLE WITH DIRT SHOVEL FROM BACK OF COAL TRUCK WHILE TRUCK WAS DUMPING ITS LOAD. THE IMPACT OF THE COAL HITTING THE SHOVEL CAUSED A STRAIN TO THE MAN'S RT. HAND CAUSING S WELLING AND PAN TO THE TOP OF HIS RT. HAND.
March 14, 1991WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
W-P Coal Company · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
EMPL WAS REGULAR JOB STATION AS TRAM OPR/MECH WHILE POURING FREEZE PROOFING TANNER GAS INTO AIR LINES AIR PRESSURE BLEW BUT SOLUTION INTO EMPLS EYES. AMN IMMEDIATELY FLUSHED OWN EYES WITH WAT ER SOLUTION AVAILABLE AT SITE MAN WAS NOT WEARING SAFETY GLASSES.
March 8, 1991WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
I WAS LIFTING 50LBS OF GRASS SEED FROM BACK OF PICK UP TRUCK AND CARRYING THEM TO THE STORE ROOM BLDG APPROX. 20 FT FROM TRUCK I FELT A DULL PAIN IN MY LEFT LOWER BACK A FEW TIMES BUT DID NOT PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO IT BECAUSE THERE WAS NO REAL PAIN INVOLVED AT THE TIME.
EMPLOYEE STEPPED OFF OF BACKSTOP (TRUCK) WHERE HE WAS SAMPLING COAL TRUCK. HIS FOOT SLID OUT FROM UNDER HIM CAUSING HIM TO FALL BACKWARDS AND DOWN HITTING HIS BACK ON BACKSTOP.
November 13, 1990WV · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
2ND FLOOR OF PLANT MAN WAS DRAGGING PIECE OF PIPE TO BE FITTED TO FEED BOX TO DE-SLIME VIBRATOR. MAN INJURED BACK ON 4/30/90 AT HOME WHILE MOVING FREEZER.
I NAME WAS HOLDING A KNOCK WRENCH IN RT HAND WHILE I NAME WAS HITTING IT WITH A 61B HAMMER TIGHTENING BOLTS ON A VIBRATOR MECHANISM THE HAMMER MISSED THE WRENCH HITTING I NAME ON THE RT INDEX FINGER & KNUCKLE CAUSING THE FLESH TO BE TORN AWAY