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: 443 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Town Creek Mine has $877 in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 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.
$877
proposed penalties
$877
current assessed
$877
paid to date
$0
outstanding
8 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2006-11-01.
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.
MSHA sampling at Town Creek Mine shows 100% of 12 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: 2007-09-12, 18 years ago
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
12
samples
0.30
dust max (mg/m3)
12 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER3
AUGER OPERATOR2
ELECTRICIAN2
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.
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)
2007
9
1,104
2006
6
2005
3
2004
6
9,348
2003
2
1,362
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Town Creek Mine 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
2007 Q4
3,648
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
0
0
0
2007 Q2
7,152
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
5,542
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
5,364
3
0
559.3
2006 Q1
504
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
496
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
512
0
0
0.0
Show 7 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2005 Q2
520
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
2,182
3
2
1374.9
2004 Q4
2,762
1
1
362.1
2004 Q3
3,914
2
1
511.0
2004 Q2
2,621
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
2,791
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
1,390
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
4 on file
2007 · 1 incident
June 25, 2007AL · Coaldriller, highwall operator, highwall drill operatorMACHINERY
Employee was checking miner on front of machine and suspension chain for ramp extension broke. The chain struck emloyee on left forearm approximately 4" below the elbow, breaking both bones in the arm and bruising left ribs.
2004 · 3 incidents
December 15, 2004AL · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
PULLING ON A SLATE BAR WITH ANOTHER EMPLOYEE (S.B.) TRYING TO TURN BELT ON A SP CAR. FELT A PULL OR STRAIN ON LEFT TESTICLE. WORKED REMAINDER OF SHIFT. REPORTED ON 1/4/05.
October 13, 2004AL · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanOTHER
EMPLOYEE CALLED IN SICK ON 10-4-2004 & SAID HE HAD A KIDNEY STONE & WAS GOING TO THE DOCTOR. ON TUESDAY HE CAME BACK TO WORK & TOLD THE FOREMAN HE COULD WORK BUT HE WAS REFERRED TO ANOTHER DOCTOR. AFTER 1 HOUR AT WORK HE TOLD THE FOREMAN HE HAD TO LEAVE WORK THAT HIS DOCTOR SAID HE MAY HAVE A HERNIA. EMPLOYEE NEVER CONTACTED US UNTIL 10-13-2004.
July 9, 2004AL · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EE WAS REMOVING A SPROCKET FROM A REDUCER SHAFT BY HITTING IT WITH A HAMMER. A PIECE OF METAL BROKE OFF OF THE SPROCKET HITTING AND ENTERING THE EE'S LEFT LEG, INSIDE OF LEFT KNEE.