Mining Incidents

Surface/HM-2 Coal

Appolo Fuels Inc · Surface
Controlled by Gary Asher
Middlesboro, Ky, Claiborne County, TN  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 4003180

Surface/HM-2 has $41K in proposed MSHA penalties and $180 outstanding across 12 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
26
Years on record
2002–2009
Latest incident
Jun 2009
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
169
citations
35
significant & substantial
$40,953
proposed penalties
$32,047
paid to date
78% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $8,906 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2001
58
inspections on record
2,468
inspection hours
6.8
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.
As of the most recent assessment on 2009-11-16.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Surface/HM-2 shows respirable coal dust averaging 0.24 mg/m3 (100% compliant) across 243 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.
0.24
dust avg (mg/m3)
5.98
dust max (mg/m3)
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
243
samples
Most recent sample: 2009-11-17.
Silica (quartz)
17.0
silica avg (%)
52.0
silica max (%)
11
samples
Most recent sample: 2008-06-02.
Noise
4%
over PEL
155
samples
Most recent sample: 2009-11-17.
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
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 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 7 3 456.9
2009 Q1 20,145 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 18,487 1 1 54.1
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 10 1 310.8
2006 Q1 48,752 5 0 102.6
2005 Q4 96,157 6 0 62.4
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 6 0 168.6
2003 Q4 37,318 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 29,701 16 1 538.7
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 8 1 295.5
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, 2009 TN · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Appolo Fuels Inc · Fall from machine

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.

2007 · 6 incidents

December 15, 2007 TN · Coal driller, highwall helper, highwall drill helper SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Appolo Fuels Inc · Fall from machine

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.

October 10, 2007 TN · Coal welder (shop) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
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.

October 2, 2007 TN · Coal driller, highwall operator, highwall drill operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Appolo Fuels Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

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.

July 11, 2007 TN · Coal driller, highwall helper, highwall drill helper HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Appolo Fuels Inc · Struck by flying object

Employee was helping another man lift the miner jack and it slipped from his hand & fell on right hand causing fingers to get hurt.

February 9, 2007 TN · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman OTHER
Appolo Fuels Inc · Struck by falling object

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, 2006 TN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Appolo Fuels Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Changing oil filters on equipment (?) Will have operation after Christmas. Employee stated he didn't know how or when this happens.

June 5, 2006 TN · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Appolo Fuels Inc · Fall onto or against objects

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.

April 13, 2006 TN · Coal outside foreman, leadman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Appolo Fuels Inc · Struck against stationary object

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, 2006 TN · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Appolo Fuels Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

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, 2006 TN · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Appolo Fuels Inc · Fall down stairs

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, 2006 TN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Appolo Fuels Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

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.

2005 · 6 incidents

December 26, 2005 TN · Coal auger operator, auger crew supervisor SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Appolo Fuels Inc · Fall onto or against objects

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.

October 15, 2005 TN · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Appolo Fuels Inc · Struck against a moving object

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, 2005 TN · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Appolo Fuels Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

STEAMING HIGHWALL MINER, & SLIPPED TWISTING ANKLE

September 5, 2005 TN · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Appolo Fuels Inc · Struck against stationary object

Employee was getting dirt off loader tires and was going back upon the equipment-hit the top of his head on the mirror frame.

August 6, 2005 TN · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator MACHINERY
Appolo Fuels Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

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, 2005 TN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Appolo Fuels Inc · Fall onto or against objects

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, 2004 TN · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING 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, 2004 TN · Coal assayer, geologist, metallurgist, engineer, engineer management SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Appolo Fuels Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

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, 2003 TN · Coal maintenance 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, 2003 TN · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Appolo Fuels Inc · Fall onto or against objects

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, 2003 TN · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Appolo Fuels Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

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.

January 7, 2003 TN · Coal

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.

2002 · 1 incident

April 18, 2002 TN · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Appolo Fuels Inc · Struck by falling object

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.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Surface/HM-2

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.