Mining Incidents

Swisher Contracting Inc.: 99 MSHA citations Coal

Controlled by Leonard O Swisher Jr
Clearfield, Clearfield County, PA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 3607550

Swisher Contracting Inc. has $16K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
4
Years on record
1990–2011
Latest incident
Apr 2011
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
99
citations
62
significant & substantial
$16,350
proposed penalties
$16,350
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
74
inspections on record
1,848
inspection hours
5.4
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.
99 citations across 1,848 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Swisher Contracting Inc. has $16K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 1 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.
$16K
proposed penalties
$16K
current assessed
$16K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
98 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $500 in penalties contested before the Commission, $500 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2017-10-04.
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.
63.3%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
63.3%
reasonably likely or greater
17.3%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 19.4% low, 80.6% moderate, 0.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
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
PENN20000161 Default Barbour 2000 $500 → $500
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Swisher Contracting Inc. shows 100% of 173 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: 2019-05-14, 7 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
173
samples
1.36
dust max (mg/m3)
0
over MSHA ECV
The excessive concentration value (ECV) is MSHA's own per-sample enforcement threshold, which builds in measurement uncertainty; a sample over its ECV can trigger a citation. The count covers only samples MSHA assigned an ECV.
106 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 67 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR101
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER59
  • HIGHWALL DRILL OPERATOR7

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2018-11-02, 7 years ago
9.8
silica avg (%)
18
samples
25.3
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR14
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER2
  • HIGHWALL DRILL HELPER1

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: 2019-05-14, 7 years ago
5%
over PEL
64
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER30
  • BULLDOZER OPERATOR26
  • REFUSE TRUCK DRIVER/BACKFILL TRUCK DRIVE2
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
2019 100% 6
2018 100% 13
2017 100% 11
2016 100% 11
2015 100% 21
2014 100% 8
2013 100% 14
2012 100% 10
2011 100% 16
2010 100% 12
2009 100% 3
2008 100% 12
2005 100% 5
2004 100% 3
2003 100% 6
2002 100% 4
2001 100% 6
2000 100% 12
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2018 5.6 3
2017 3.1 2
2015 17.6 2
2012 0.6 1
2010 21.3 1
2009 14.5 3
2001 9.9 2
2000 8.1 4
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2019 0% 2
2018 0% 6
2017 0% 6
2016 0% 5
2015 0% 6
2013 0% 4
2012 0% 4
2011 0% 2
2010 0% 2
2009 0% 3
2008 0% 5
2006 0% 2
2005 0% 3
2004 0% 3
2003 0% 4
2001 50% 4
2000 33% 3
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Swisher Contracting Inc. recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2014.

Injury rate, 2014
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 2.93 cases per 100 workers.
In Pennsylvania, coal mining averaged 5.34 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
2014 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2013 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2011 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2010 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2009 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2008 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2007 * 6.00 6.00 0.000
2006 * 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.
Ownership history
  1. Swisher Contracting Inc 1984 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)
2020 0
2019 4 10,893
2018 9 35,326
2017 7 26,536
2016 8 25,662
2015 13 42,259
2014 14 71,548
2013 13 79,295
2012 12 60,705
2011 12 56,092
2010 14 59,424
2009 15 38,706
2008 22 94,624
2007 21 67,857
2006 15 57,871
2005 21 77,858
2004 21 127,857
2003 17 93,955
2002 19 81,862
2001 17 101,002
2000 13 50,875
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Swisher Contracting Inc. sits in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 1.3% 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.
Clearfield County, Pennsylvania · Population 78,902
1.3%
Mining share of county employment
$60,181
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
2020 Q4 0 0 0
2020 Q3 147 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 0 0 0
2020 Q1 0 0 0
2019 Q3 360 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 1,700 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 3,100 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 3,872 0 0 0.0
Show 75 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2018 Q3 4,844 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 3,775 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 1,899 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 2,776 1 0 360.2
2017 Q3 4,275 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 3,353 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 3,010 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 3,144 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 1,439 1 0 694.9
2016 Q2 3,791 1 0 263.8
2016 Q1 1,969 1 1 507.9
2015 Q4 4,269 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 5,588 1 0 179.0
2015 Q2 4,563 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 5,297 3 2 566.4
2014 Q4 7,689 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 7,197 1 0 138.9
2014 Q2 7,711 3 1 389.1
2014 Q1 5,602 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 7,674 2 2 260.6
2013 Q3 7,450 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 7,939 1 1 126.0
2013 Q1 5,441 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 7,142 3 1 420.1
2012 Q3 2,304 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 4,488 2 2 445.6
2012 Q1 5,351 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 6,738 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 7,107 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 6,095 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 3,764 1 1 265.7
2010 Q4 6,938 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 6,860 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 5,368 1 0 186.3
2010 Q1 5,018 1 1 199.3
2009 Q4 3,783 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 4,422 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 3,812 5 2 1311.6
2009 Q1 10,866 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 11,745 16 12 1362.3
2008 Q3 13,083 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 9,955 12 7 1205.4
2008 Q1 10,631 3 1 282.2
2007 Q4 7,924 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 8,698 3 3 344.9
2007 Q2 8,792 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 7,899 4 1 506.4
2006 Q4 5,992 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 7,285 1 1 137.3
2006 Q2 5,674 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 6,578 2 2 304.0
2005 Q4 6,442 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 10,836 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 11,667 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 11,126 6 6 539.3
2004 Q4 13,681 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 11,516 7 5 607.8
2004 Q2 12,152 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 8,410 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 7,677 3 1 390.8
2003 Q3 7,693 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 8,693 1 1 115.0
2003 Q1 5,082 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 5,047 4 2 792.6
2002 Q3 7,298 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 6,721 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 6,514 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 9,058 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 8,583 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 8,060 1 0 124.1
2001 Q1 7,564 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 6,099 1 0 164.0
2000 Q3 4,964 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 6,623 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 4,090 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

4 on file

2011 · 1 incident

April 12, 2011 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Swisher Contracting Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Fuel delivery driver slipped in mud and fell on back. It had been raining a few days and rained heavily the morning of the 12th. Fuel driver suffered a cut on his head and broke a bone. The driver will likely be unable to work for a few weeks.

2007 · 1 incident

February 26, 2007 PA · Coal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Swisher Contracting Inc · Fall from machine

Stepped out on dozer Track's and slipped and fell off deck of dozer bad weather of ice.(Catwalk)

1990 · 2 incidents

September 19, 1990 PA · Coal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Swisher Contracting Inc · Struck against a moving object

INJURED WAS OPERATING WABCO END DUMP GOING UP RAMP WHEN THE TRUCK SLID BACKWARDS HITTING BERM ROLLING TRUCK ON ITS SIDE CAUSING INJURED TO BRUISE HIS LEFT LEG AND ANKLE AND A CUT ON HEAD.

August 31, 1990 PA · Coal ELECTRICAL
Swisher Contracting Inc · Accident type, without injuries

LOADER CAUGHT FIRE WHILE REMOVING OVERBURDEN.IT APPEARS THAT A SHORT IN THE WIRING UNDER THE CAB CAUSED THE FIRE.THE LOADER BURNT.