Mining Incidents

Superior Surface Mine Coal

Coal Mac, LLC · Surface
Controlled by John Mitch Potter
Stirrat, Logan County, WV  ·  NonProducing
MSHA Mine ID: 4608838

Superior Surface Mine has $399K in proposed MSHA penalties and $29K outstanding across 15 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
35
Years on record
2004–2021
Latest incident
Oct 2021
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2004
390
citations
160
significant & substantial
$399,132
proposed penalties
$362,339
paid to date
91% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $36,793 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2004
119
inspections on record
3,440
inspection hours
11.3
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.
390 citations across 3,440 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Superior Surface Mine has $399K in proposed MSHA penalties and $29K 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.
$399K
proposed penalties
$391K
current assessed
$362K
paid to date
$29K
outstanding
385 assessments are final orders; 15 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-04-23.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Superior Surface Mine shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.14 mg/m3 (99% compliant) across 194 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.
0.14
dust avg (mg/m3)
1.81
dust max (mg/m3)
99%
within 1.5 mg/m3
194
samples
Most recent sample: 2021-09-15.
Silica (quartz)
29.2
silica avg (%)
51.2
silica max (%)
13
samples
Most recent sample: 2020-11-24.
Noise
2%
over PEL
52
samples
Most recent sample: 2021-07-08.
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 Q4 0 5 0
2025 Q3 90 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 10 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 0 0 0
2024 Q4 0 0 0
2024 Q3 0 0 0
2024 Q2 0 0 0
2024 Q1 195 0 0 0.0
Show 81 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 0 0 0
2023 Q3 0 0 0
2023 Q2 0 0 0
2023 Q1 625 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 1,288 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 0 0 0
2022 Q2 120 8 0 66666.7
2022 Q1 1,066 5 0 4690.4
2021 Q4 17,322 6 0 346.4
2021 Q3 16,697 5 2 299.5
2021 Q2 17,183 6 4 349.2
2021 Q1 15,616 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 11,439 15 2 1311.3
2020 Q3 6,808 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 1,579 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 16,556 16 3 966.4
2019 Q4 22,111 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 29,448 21 1 713.1
2019 Q2 33,604 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 31,803 18 2 566.0
2018 Q4 32,914 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 30,873 4 3 129.6
2018 Q2 26,435 64 19 2421.0
2018 Q1 10,651 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 1,426 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 3,035 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 2,406 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 2,658 1 0 376.2
2016 Q4 4,914 1 0 203.5
2016 Q3 4,730 1 1 211.4
2016 Q2 6,136 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 8,241 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 7,983 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 7,375 1 0 135.6
2015 Q2 8,588 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 23,254 3 3 129.0
2014 Q4 46,837 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 50,140 19 10 378.9
2014 Q2 47,219 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 49,046 12 5 244.7
2013 Q4 10,801 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 5,928 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 5,836 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 6,185 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 7,248 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 9,777 3 2 306.8
2012 Q2 36,153 3 3 83.0
2012 Q1 35,901 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 4,629 6 5 1296.2
2011 Q3 0 0 0
2011 Q2 0 8 4
2011 Q1 0 0 0
2010 Q4 0 0 0
2010 Q3 0 0 0
2010 Q2 0 0 0
2010 Q1 0 5 5
2009 Q4 0 0 0
2009 Q3 2,057 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 22,994 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 60,274 1 0 16.6
2008 Q4 59,933 43 22 717.5
2008 Q3 63,411 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 62,783 37 15 589.3
2008 Q1 61,069 6 5 98.2
2007 Q4 57,476 10 5 174.0
2007 Q3 57,697 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 60,059 11 9 183.2
2007 Q1 62,953 21 17 333.6
2006 Q4 48,242 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 50,979 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 55,342 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 49,672 7 6 140.9
2005 Q4 16,843 3 2 178.1
2005 Q3 50,348 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 52,501 1 0 19.0
2005 Q1 64,124 2 1 31.2
2004 Q4 44,864 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 41,201 4 3 97.1
2004 Q2 31,611 6 1 189.8
2004 Q1 2,867 1 0 348.8
2000 Q3 0 0 0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

35 on file

2021 · 1 incident

2019 · 4 incidents

November 21, 2019 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Lexington Coal Company, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing down ladder of Cat 785 Rock Truck. When they stepped down foot landed on lump of coal twisting left ankle.

June 27, 2019 WV · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Lexington Coal Company, LLC · Struck against a moving object

Employee was removing laminated coal to expose coal seam with end loader bucket when they hit rock slinging them and injuring neck.

June 3, 2019 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Lexington Coal Company, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing off of Rock Truck and when employee touched the ground felt something pull in the left side of back.

April 30, 2019 WV · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Lexington Coal Company, LLC · Struck against a moving object

Employee was operating endloader when the machine jerked causing pain in neck and shoulder. Employee visited family chiropractor who ordered x-rays which revealed mild degenerative disk disease with mild levoscoliosis.

2018 · 1 incident

August 27, 2018 WV · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Lexington Coal Company, LLC · Struck by flying object

Employee stated EE heard one of the back dual tires blow out. EE stopped to check and found a rock was in between the tires and had blown the outside tire. As EE got closer to the tires to inspect, the inner tire blew out and blew dust into EE's eyes.

2016 · 1 incident

August 22, 2016 WV · Coal outside foreman, leadman DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Highland Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

In May of 2015 this employee retired from work. On 08/22/2016 this mine was notified that this employee had been diagnosed with Occupational Pneumoconiosis.

2015 · 1 incident

December 18, 2015 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Highland Mining Company · Fall from machine

Employee was fueling excavator and when EE turned to dismount EE slipped on tracks and fell to ground catching self with left hand and hurt left shoulder. EE continued to work until June 20th, 2016 where EE had surgery on shoulder.

2014 · 4 incidents

December 29, 2014 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech OTHER
Highland Mining Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was getting into his service truck. When he grabbed his hand rail the wind blew his door shut and caught his right hand middle finger causing a laceration that required 5 stitches.

October 29, 2014 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Highland Mining Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was diagnosed with pneumoconiosis after 50 years of mining employment. Employee is still currently working as of 10/31/2014. Safety department was notified of this diagnosis on 10/29/2014.

August 12, 2014 WV · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Highland Mining Company · Struck against a moving object

Employee was operating a 789 CAT truck when his load shifted causing the front of the truck to lift off the ground. The load slid out of the bed of the truck and the front of the truck came back down, jarring the operator. Employee sought medical attention that evening and was referred to a specialist. On 8/20/2014 the employee was taken off work by the specialist.

February 14, 2014 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Highland Mining Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee slipped while stepping out on the deck of a D-10R dozer. When he caught himself with the handrail, he felt pain in his right shoulder. He sought treatment to his shoulder on 3/12/2014 and was prescribed physical therapy 3x a week.

2009 · 2 incidents

January 25, 2009 WV · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Alex Energy Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee had just dinished loading a train. He raised up the freeze-proof bar and was holding the spindle crank to lock the wheel in place. He let go of the wheel and the lock slipped out causing the crank to spin and strike his left hand

January 2, 2009 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Alex Energy Inc · Struck against stationary object

Removing tooling from minor bogie pin. While setting down ram, cut right palm on metal on ram.

2008 · 2 incidents

November 23, 2008 WV · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Alex Energy Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was using a cutting torch to cut the wear bars off the 5500 excavator bucket. The wear bar kicked back and hit him in the jaw and chin, cutting his face.

September 17, 2008 WV · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Alex Energy Inc · Fall from machine

EE mounted the coal loader on the operator side rear ladder steps. While attempting to walk around the rear of the loader to check oil on the offside, he lost his footing which caused him to fall to the ground.

2007 · 5 incidents

September 8, 2007 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Alex Energy Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Picked up blocks and positioned them on the ground and lowered pump onto blocks from boom.

September 4, 2007 WV · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey OTHER
Alex Energy Inc · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee opened the lid on the power box at the fuel containment pump. He stuck his right hand in the box to turn the switch on and was bitten twice on the arm.

June 10, 2007 WV · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Alex Energy Inc · Struck against stationary object

Member was in process of removing hose from hose reel at containment area & struck his right arm against tine covering the container causing a laceration.

March 18, 2007 WV · Coal welder (shop) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Alex Energy Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Member was using a pocket knife to cut a rag when he accidently cut his middle finger on his left hand.

March 8, 2007 WV · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey STRIKING OR BUMPING
Alex Energy Inc · Struck against stationary object

Blaster helper was climbing into bulk truck, swung right leg up, struck top of knee on lower corner of step. Injury resulted in dislocating knee and deep abrasion.

2006 · 6 incidents

December 14, 2006 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Alex Energy Inc · Fall from machine

Member was dismounting a D10 dozer, when he slipped and fell.

October 19, 2006 WV · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Alex Energy Inc · Fall from machine

Member was dismounting a D10 N dozer when he slipped and fell.

September 11, 2006 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Alex Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Member was dismounting a 777 D Rock Truck, when his knee popped.

September 8, 2006 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
Alex Energy Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was under truck watching mechanic adjust brakes. Truck began to roll forward and ran over the block. Employee moved from under truck but foot was run over. Treated at local ER - prescribed RX meds - restricted duty.

June 7, 2006 WV · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Alex Energy Inc · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was climbing down steps. His foot slipped and he fell against fuel tank. Complained of pain to right knee and neck. Saw ER on 6/7/06. Returned to full duty.

March 10, 2006 WV · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Alex Energy Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

Member was using cutting torches when a pinhole developed in the oxygen hose. This caused oxygen to build up under his shirt. The oxygen ignited and a flame flashed out of the collar of his shirt, burning his face. He received benadryl and steroid shots-one each.

2005 · 3 incidents

August 22, 2005 WV · Coal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Alex Energy Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

MIMEBER WAS PUTTING GREASE IN RIGHT SIDE TANK. HE SLIPPED AND FELL WHEN HE WAS CROSSING OVER TO THE LEFT SIDE TANK. HE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED UNTIL 9/8/05

June 13, 2005 WV · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Alex Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was working loading holes. He stepped in a hole and complained of back pain.

January 4, 2005 WV · Coal welder (shop) STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Alex Energy Inc · Struck against stationary object

Employee stepped on a mud-covered board that had a nail in it. The nail penetrated his boot, puncturing his left foot. He went to the hospital and received a tetnus shot and an antibiotic shot.

2004 · 5 incidents

October 7, 2004 WV · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Alex Energy Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE WAS SURVEYING & SLID OFF HILL & FELL.

July 14, 2004 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Alex Energy Inc · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS INSTALLING A SHORT DRIVESHAFT IN A 769 ROCK TRUCK WHEN THE DRIVESHAFT FELL STRIKING HIM ON THE LEFT HAND.

July 2, 2004 WV · Coal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Alex Energy Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Member was using a 4" hand grinder when it became fouled and kicked back causing a laceration to his lower left chin area.

May 24, 2004 WV · Coal electrician, lineman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Alex Energy Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE CUTTING TWINE WITH POCKET KNIFE, A DEAD END SHOE WAS DROPPED FROM A POWER POLE. THE SHOE HIT THE TWINE AND THE POCKET KNIFE WAS PROPELLED INTO THE LINEMAN'S FOREARM.

April 22, 2004 WV · Coal miner, prospector, nec SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Alex Energy Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS LEVELING SHEETING GIRTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF A HANDRAILED AREA, AND WAS UTILIZING 100% FALL PROTECTION. HE STRADDLED THE HANDRAIL TO CROSS BACK OVER TO THE CONCRETE FLOOR OF THE CRUSHER BUILDING. HE HOPPED TO THE FLOOR AND TWISTED HIS RIGHT ANKLE. THIS INJURY IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Superior Surface 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.