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.
169 citations across 2,468 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Surface/HM-2 has $41K in proposed MSHA penalties and $180 outstanding across 12 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.
$41K
proposed penalties
$32K
current assessed
$32K
paid to date
$180
outstanding
168 assessments are final orders; 12 contested dockets.
Of $27K in penalties contested before the Commission, $17K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2009-11-16.
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.
23citations taken to the federal commission · 14% of citations on record
Settled
20 · 87%
Vacated or withdrawn
3 · 13%
70%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 20 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
37%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$26K proposed, $17K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2010-01-04.
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 Surface/HM-2 shows 100% of 243 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: 2009-11-17, 16 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
243
samples
5.98
dust max (mg/m3)
210 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.
Surface/HM-2 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 Tennessee, coal mining averaged 5.30 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 *
2.90
0.00
0.000
2008
0.00
0.00
0.000
2007
3.45
2.59
0.000
2006
6.47
3.23
0.000
2005
3.39
1.70
0.000
2004
1.63
1.63
0.000
2003
4.73
4.73
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)
2019
0
2018
1
2017
3
2016
7
2015
8
2014
6
2011
8
2010
8
2009
26
37,149
2008
44
293,957
2007
79
532,921
2006
76
442,624
2005
125
686,645
2004
89
615,606
2003
46
375,776
2002
39
384,319
2001
22
34,952
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Surface/HM-2 sits in Claiborne County, Tennessee, where the Census mining category is 1.0% 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.
Claiborne County, Tennessee · Population 32,221
1.0%
Mining share of county employment
$46,587
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
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2019 Q2
0
0
0
2019 Q1
0
0
0
2018 Q4
0
0
0
2018 Q3
0
0
0
2018 Q2
0
0
0
2018 Q1
1,131
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
1,131
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
1,131
0
0
0.0
Show 52 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2017 Q2
1,131
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
1,656
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
3,507
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
3,860
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
3,457
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
2,770
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
3,681
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
5,867
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
5,867
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
3,418
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
453
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
3,332
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
4,493
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
5,372
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
6,400
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
6,169
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
6,860
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
7,570
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
0
0
0
2009 Q4
15,676
8
0
510.3
2009 Q3
17,894
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
15,322
5
3
326.3
2009 Q1
20,145
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
18,487
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
16,694
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
29,690
5
3
168.4
2008 Q1
48,198
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
62,381
5
1
80.2
2007 Q3
54,036
16
10
296.1
2007 Q2
55,688
3
2
53.9
2007 Q1
59,450
13
3
218.7
2006 Q4
56,410
1
0
17.7
2006 Q3
48,142
11
1
228.5
2006 Q2
32,178
7
1
217.5
2006 Q1
48,752
4
0
82.0
2005 Q4
96,157
5
0
52.0
2005 Q3
87,492
7
1
80.0
2005 Q2
86,683
7
1
80.8
2005 Q1
83,344
14
2
168.0
2004 Q4
83,916
1
0
11.9
2004 Q3
68,623
7
2
102.0
2004 Q2
56,667
3
1
52.9
2004 Q1
35,597
5
0
140.5
2003 Q4
37,318
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
29,701
9
0
303.0
2003 Q2
30,484
2
1
65.6
2003 Q1
29,428
2
0
68.0
2002 Q4
31,595
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
26,943
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
27,072
5
0
184.7
2002 Q1
22,599
0
0
0.0
2001 Q4
10,717
5
0
466.5
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
26 on file
2009 · 1 incident
June 17, 2009TN · Coalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Bottom step broke when employee was descending causing him to fall to ground with a jolt. He went to dr. for ex rays-given pain pills- no/broken bones.
Employee was walking down miner beam toward the front of machine & it was raining/muddy - he lost his footing & slipped/fell to ground hitting left side & back. Went to Dr. for x-rays - possible bruising.
Appolo Fuels Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
Employee was lifting auger end and it slipped out of his hand and caught it between auger and auger beam. No broken bones. ER put on splint and glued laceraction together - no stitches. Tetnus shot.
Employee was using a winch type tool to pull cutter head together with highwall mine. It slipped rolling against his knee & highwall miner frame. X-rays - no broken bones.
Was cutting trees & tree split, man slipped on icy ground and fell. Then, tree jumpede off stump and onto man's left leg. This was a contract tree cutter.
2006 · 6 incidents
December 5, 2006TN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was climbing onto equipment by ladder. As he got to the top, he lost his footing and slipped down the ladder, catching his right hand on the handrail. Laceration to right middle finger and some scrapes on stomach.
Foreman was getting truck tickets out of cab of loader. He was descending ladder and misjudged the last step. He was still holding onto ladder and swung body into handles, bruising ribs, Went to ER on 4/15/06 for X-rays - only bruising.
April 6, 2006TN · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was getting onto dozer and twisted his back. He went to the Dr. on 4/8/2006. Dr. believes it to be a pulled muscle. EE came back to work on 4/7/2006, but is returning to Dr. for reoccuring pain.
February 23, 2006TN · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING DOWN STAIRS OF PARTS WAREHOUSE AND SLIPPED ON ICE AND MUD, TURNING RIGHT WRIST AND PUTTING LACERATION ON LEFT FOREARM. WENT TO ER FOR X-RAY (NO BROKEN BONES).
February 4, 2006TN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Man was walking in pit area and stepped into a hole full of water - twisted right ankle. Foreman took him to hospital for x-ray. Right ankle was sprained.
Employee was working inside back of welding truck. He slipped and fell on welder in back of truck hitting left side of ribs (snow and sleet conditions). He went to hospital for x-rays: only bruised ribs.
Employee #1 was driving service truck and met another truck on roadway. Employee #1 backed up to let the second truck pass and backed into a ditch, turning service truck partially on its side.
September 23, 2005TN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was using steam ginny to clean off highwall miner - slipped on wet surface injurying ribs & rt shoulder. Went to Dr. Has cracked ribs & pulled muscle in shoulder.
March 29, 2005TN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE had steamed off dozer. While stepping down off dozer he slipped and hit right shin bone (lower leg). Cut skin which did require 16 stitches. Leg was not broken.
2004 · 2 incidents
August 19, 2004TN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Appolo Fuels Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING HAUL MOTOR, HE WAS TRYING TO GUIDE CHAIN, MOTOR FLIPPED AND CHAIN CAUGHT EE'S 3 FINGERS: MIDDLE, RING & PINKY. MIDDLE FINGER REQUIRED SURGERY.
May 22, 2004TN · Coalassayer, geologist, metallurgist, engineer, engineer managementSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE STATED HE WAS PUTTING PIN IN A BRACE THAT HAD COME LOOSE ON HIGHWALL MINER CONVEYOR. LOST BALANCE AND FELL, LANDING ON RIGHT HIP & LOWER BACK. INJURY TO RIGHT HIP AREA & LOWER BACK - POSSIBLE FRACTURE.
2003 · 4 incidents
June 19, 2003TN · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech
EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING MOVE ROCK AWAY FROM MINER, ROCK CAME OFF BANK & HIT EMPLOYEE ON RIGHT LEG JUST ABOVE KNEE, CUT LEG REQUIRING 2 STITCHES, AND DAMAGED LIGMENTS & TENDONS. HOSPITAL STAY FOR X-RAYS, MRI, ETC & THERAPY.
January 31, 2003TN · Coalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE'S FOOT SLIPPED OFF BOTTOM STEP OF ROCK TRUCK & HE FELL INTO LADDER, STRIKING RIBS. APPROX. 11:00 P.M. WENT TO E.R. FOR X-RAY. IT WAS NEGATIVE. HE STAYED OFF WORK ON 2/1/03 BECAUSE OF SORENESS. RETURNED 2/3/03 FULL DUTY.
January 13, 2003TN · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS TAKING DOOR OFF ELECTRICAL COMPARTMENT, DOOR SLIPPED AND HE HELD ONTO IT, HURT BACK AND LEG. ER AT ARH MIDDLESBORO, KY TOOK X-RAY, NEGATIVE, TOLD TO SEE REGULAR DOCTOR. BELIEVED TO BE M USCLE STRAIN. WILL DO MRI TO CHECK DISC.
EE STATED HE WAS SITTING IN HIS PICKUP TRUCK WAITING TO PARK, EQUIPMENT WAS COMING OUT FROM WORK AREA, END LOADER BUCKET STRUCK RIGHT REAR CORNER OF HIS TRUCK AND MOVED IT, EE SAID HIS LOWER B ACK STARTED HURTING. X RAYS NEGATIVE.
EE WAS GOING TO MOVE A ROCK OFF OF A LANDING ON MINER. ROCK SLIPPED OUT OF HIS HAND & MASHED MIDDLE FINGER OF LEFT HAND. X-RAY NEGATIVE; INFLAMMATION MEDS.