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Topper: 8 reportable incidents Coal

KNOTT COUNTY COAL LLC · Underground
Kite, Knott County, KY  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 1517326

Topper has had no fatalities among 8 reportable incidents since 1993.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
8
Years on record
1993–1994
Latest incident
Oct 1994
Ownership history
  1. Kiah Creek Mining Company 1992 to 1993
  2. Topper Coal Company Inc 1993 to 1994
  3. Fleming Enterprises Inc 1994 to 2016
  4. KNOTT COUNTY COAL LLC 2016 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)
1996 18 26,417
1995 35 165,867
1994 27 121,724
1993 25 120,264
1992 0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly; years before 2000 come from MSHA's archived Part 50 employment files.

Topper sits in Knott County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 2.8% 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.
Knott County, Kentucky · Population 14,046
2.8%
Mining share of county employment
$37,736
Median household income
Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year estimates.
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

8 on file

1994 · 2 incidents

October 7, 1994 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Fleming Enterprises Inc · Struck against a moving object

EE WAS TRAMMING A LOADED 21 SC SHUTTLE CAR TO FEEDER TO BE DUMPED HE WAS TRAVELING DOWN A HILL WHEN HE STRUCK A ROCK IN THE ROADWAY JERKING THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HIS OIL HANDS AND LOST CON TROL OF THE SHUTTLE CAR CAUSING IT TO STRIKE THERIB OF MINE THIS LEAVING HIS LEFT KNEE SORE AND STRAINING LOWER BACK.

September 14, 1994 KY · Coal continuous miner helper, coal mole helper, bridgeman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Fleming Enterprises Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE HAD PICKED UP MINER CABLE TO BE HUNG FROM ROOK OF MINE & FELT A SHARP PAIN & PULLING SENSATION IN HIS LOWER BACK.

1993 · 6 incidents

June 4, 1993 KY · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Kiah Creek Mining Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MAN WAS TURNING AROUND ON SHUTTLE CAR AND TWISTED KNEE.

February 19, 1993 KY · Coal scoop car operator POWERED HAULAGE
Kiah Creek Mining Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

SCOOP OPERATOR WAS CLEANING #% ENTRY ON THE COAL SECTION, RAISED UP CAUGHT EAR (LEFT) ON BENT PLATE, CUTTING LOWER PART OF EAR.

January 21, 1993 KY · Coal electrician, lineman ELECTRICAL
Kiah Creek Mining Company · Contact with electrical current

REPAIRING WENT TO REAR OF S/C TO CHECK CABLE, CABLE WAS PARTIALLY PULLED INTO. BREAKER DIDN'T KICK AT POWER CENTER. WHEN HE TOUCHED S/C HE RECIVED ELECTRICAL SHOCK.