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Surface Mine #1: 20 MSHA citations Coal

Jasper, Walker County, AL  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 0103019

Surface Mine #1 has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
12
Years on record
1995–2011
Latest incident
Oct 2011
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2008
20
citations
5
significant & substantial
$5,795
proposed penalties
$5,007
paid to date
86% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $788 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Drummond Company Inc's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2008
26
inspections on record
458
inspection hours
n/a
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.
Rate withheld: 458 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Surface Mine #1 has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 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.
$6K
proposed penalties
$5K
current assessed
$5K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
19 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $2K in penalties contested before the Commission, $1K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2010-05-10.
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.
26.3%
significant & substantial
5.3%
high negligence or reckless
26.3%
reasonably likely or greater
10.5%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 10.5% low, 84.2% moderate, 5.3% high, 0.0% reckless.
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.
4 citations taken to the federal commission · 20% of citations on record
  • Settled 2 · 50%
  • Stood as issued 2 · 50%
75%
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 4 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
35%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$2K proposed, $1K 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 2010-03-18.
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.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
SE 2009-810 Dismissal Lesnick 2011 $2K → $1K
SE 2010-574 Settlement Lesnick 2011 $585 → $392
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Surface Mine #1 shows 98% of 58 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: 2010-10-13, 15 years ago
98%
within 1.5 mg/m3
58
samples
2.91
dust max (mg/m3)
41 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 17 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR22
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR14
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER10

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2010-06-15, 16 years ago
7.6
silica avg (%)
5
samples
11.5
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR5
See US coal mines ranked by silica in their dust samples.

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.

Last sampled: 2010-10-13, 15 years ago
0%
over PEL
26
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR9
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER7
  • REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE5
See US mines ranked by noise samples over the legal limit.
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
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.
Year within 1.5 mg/m3 samples
2010 100% 25
2009 95% 19
2008 100% 14
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2010 6.9 3
2009 5.9 1
2008 11.5 1
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2010 0% 14
2009 0% 5
2008 0% 7
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Surface Mine #1 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 Alabama, coal mining averaged 4.78 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 3.04 3.04 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.
Ownership history
  1. Drummond Company Inc 1994 to present
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 0
2017 0
2016 0
2015 0
2014 0
2013 0
2012 0
2011 0
2010 30 207,612
2009 49 317,283
2008 31 168,835
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Surface Mine #1 sits in Walker County, Alabama, where the Census mining category is 3.3% 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.
Walker County, Alabama · Population 64,886
3.3%
Mining share of county employment
$54,509
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 Q3 0 0 0
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 0 0 0
2017 Q4 0 0 0
Show 38 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2017 Q3 0 0 0
2017 Q2 0 0 0
2017 Q1 0 0 0
2016 Q4 0 0 0
2016 Q3 0 0 0
2016 Q2 0 0 0
2016 Q1 0 0 0
2015 Q4 0 0 0
2015 Q3 0 0 0
2015 Q2 0 0 0
2015 Q1 0 0 0
2014 Q4 0 0 0
2014 Q3 0 0 0
2014 Q2 0 0 0
2014 Q1 0 0 0
2013 Q4 0 0 0
2013 Q3 0 0 0
2013 Q2 0 0 0
2013 Q1 0 0 0
2012 Q4 0 0 0
2012 Q3 0 0 0
2012 Q2 0 0 0
2012 Q1 0 0 0
2011 Q4 0 0 0
2011 Q3 0 0 0
2011 Q2 0 0 0
2011 Q1 0 0 0
2010 Q4 5,024 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 14,513 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 33,840 2 0 59.1
2010 Q1 32,318 1 1 30.9
2009 Q4 36,000 2 1 55.6
2009 Q3 29,543 1 0 33.8
2009 Q2 32,850 3 2 91.3
2009 Q1 33,365 1 0 30.0
2008 Q4 33,066 2 0 60.5
2008 Q3 15,752 7 1 444.4
2008 Q2 368 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

12 on file

2011 · 1 incident

2010 · 1 incident

February 13, 2010 AL · Coal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Drummond Company Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Pulling emulsion hose from bore-hole when employee experienced pain in low back.

2009 · 2 incidents

November 20, 2009 AL · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Drummond Company Inc · Struck against a moving object

Rock truck operator backed over the dumping point.

September 24, 2009 AL · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Drummond Company Inc · Fall from machine

The operator was boarding his dozer at the beginning of the shift, his foot slipped off the cat track causing him to fall to the ground, fracturing his left arm. Working conditions were dry and it was daylight.

2008 · 2 incidents

1998 · 2 incidents

June 3, 1998 AL · Coal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Drummond Company Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE HAD CUT DOWN A SMALL PINE TREE-REACHED DOWN TO PULL THE TREE LOOSE-STRAINED LOWER ABDOMEN

May 20, 1998 AL · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Drummond Company Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE WAS CLIMBING UP EMBANKMENT FROM PUMP, SLIPPED ON A ROCK, FELL AND STRAINED HIS RIGHT KNEE.

1997 · 1 incident

December 11, 1997 AL · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer OTHER
Drummond Company Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HEART ATTACK - DEATH. EMPLOYEE DIED OF HEART ATTACK WHILE DISMOUNTING DOZER.

1996 · 1 incident

December 18, 1996 AL · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Drummond Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS BREAKING COAL INT HE CRUSHER WITH A METALBAR. STRUCK ABOVE RIGHT EYE WITH BAR. (2 STITCHES)

1995 · 2 incidents

May 1, 1995 AL · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Drummond Company Inc · Struck by rolling or sliding object

EMPOLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO STRAIGHTEN A STEEL ROD. HE WEDGED ONE END AND PUSHED THE OTHER END. THE ROD ROLLED AND STRUCK HIM IN THE HEAD.

March 25, 1995 AL · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Drummond Company Inc · Struck against stationary object

EE STRUCK HIS LEFT ELBOW ON THE CRUSHER GUARD, WHILE INSTALLING CLUTCH. CONTINUED TO WORK UNTIL 4-3-95. WENT TO DR. 4-3-95. ELBOW BADLY SWOLLEN.