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.
251 citations across 2,374 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Tantrough has $131K in proposed MSHA penalties and $5K 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.
$131K
proposed penalties
$114K
current assessed
$109K
paid to date
$5K
outstanding
249 assessments are final orders; 12 contested dockets.
Of $87K in penalties contested before the Commission, $71K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2012-03-26.
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.
112citations taken to the federal commission · 45% of citations on record
Settled
78 · 70%
Stood as issued
34 · 30%
94%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 47 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
19%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$87K proposed, $71K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2012-03-20.
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 Tantrough shows 96% of 234 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: 2012-01-25, 14 years ago
96%
within 1.5 mg/m3
234
samples
2.39
dust max (mg/m3)
123 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 111 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.
Tantrough recorded 5.49 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2011.
Injury rate, 2011
ⓘ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.
5.49
total case rate
1.83
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.83 and the all-US-mining average was 3.08 cases per 100 workers.
In Kentucky, coal mining averaged 4.28 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year
total case rate
days-away
fatal
2011
5.49
1.83
0.000
2010
4.84
0.00
0.000
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)
2012
24
30,851
2011
50
164,707
2010
52
161,961
2009
31
64,723
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Tantrough sits in Leslie County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 10.6% 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.
Leslie County, Kentucky · Population 10,261
10.6%
Mining share of county employment
$40,176
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
2012 Q2
2,040
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
19,496
17
4
872.0
2011 Q4
23,011
10
4
434.6
2011 Q3
28,865
14
4
485.0
2011 Q2
28,191
20
4
709.4
2011 Q1
29,296
33
11
1126.4
2010 Q4
25,796
13
7
504.0
2010 Q3
35,646
20
14
561.1
Show 5 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2010 Q2
33,455
22
9
657.6
2010 Q1
29,148
50
16
1715.4
2009 Q4
25,023
12
7
479.6
2009 Q3
26,010
36
16
1384.1
2009 Q2
1,169
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
10 on file
2012 · 1 incident
January 5, 2012KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee is a roof bolt operator, while strapping top strap fell striking top of right hand, employee received 2 sutures and has returned to reg. duty with no restrictions.
2011 · 3 incidents
December 17, 2011KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)HANDLING OF MATERIALS
The injured employee was loading belt structure in the scoop bucket when he caught his right thumb between the structure and the bucket. He had a simple (hair line fracture at the end of his thumb. Returned to regular duty.
November 29, 2011KY · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
Employee was in #5 entry installing roof bolts, during this time employee raised head on bolter, not aware of where his right hand was placed employee caught his right 3rd digit finger with the canopy of bolter causing injury to finger, employee has returned to work on light duty due to injury on 12/5/11.
March 21, 2011KY · Coallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
During pillaring a planned fall occurred, the pressure from this fall effected the ventilation by blowing out the brattice line, production was stopped, workers brought out, and necessary steps were taken to restore ventilation. Ventilation has been restored.
September 8, 2010KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was walking by tailpiece when he tripped and fell hitting chin on tailpiece sutures required. Employee has returned to work with no restrictions.
A roof fall was found in the Southmains (4 belt) at Brk. 3 between 1 & 2 entry, the size of the fall was approx. 20'L x 20'H x 7'W. No equipment or ventilation effected. The area has been cribbed and dangered off.
June 24, 2010KY · Coalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was pulling belt roller over waterline when soap dispenser nipple blowed out causing water pressure to hit right eye. Employee has been placed on restricted duty with inflammation to the right eye.
Employee was working on continous miner when he caught his left thumb in between two pieces of metal. Employee received sutures to left thumb. Employee has returned to regular duty with no restrictions.