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Triple K #1: 200 MSHA citations Coal

AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Underground
Ford City, Armstrong County, PA  ·  Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 3607962

Triple K #1 has $21K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 10 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
26
Years on record
1990–2005
Latest incident
Aug 2005
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
200
citations
66
significant & substantial
$21,124
proposed penalties
$20,198
paid to date
96% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $926 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See AMFIRE Mining Company LLC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
135
inspections on record
3,570
inspection hours
5.6
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.
200 citations across 3,570 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Triple K #1 has $21K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 10 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.
$21K
proposed penalties
$20K
current assessed
$20K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
198 assessments are final orders; 10 contested dockets.
Of $3K in penalties contested before the Commission, $2K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2006-04-19.
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.
33.2%
significant & substantial
1.0%
high negligence or reckless
33.7%
reasonably likely or greater
7.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 24.6% low, 74.4% moderate, 1.0% 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.
15 citations taken to the federal commission · 8% of citations on record
  • Settled 15 · 100%
87%
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 15 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
29%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$3K proposed, $2K 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 2006-06-27.
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
PENN 2006-260 Settlement Lesnick 2006 $533 → $383
PENN 2004-248 Settlement Feldman 2005 $521 → $342
PENN 2005-220 Settlement Lesnick 2005 $405 → $327
PENN 2006-142 Settlement Lesnick 2006 $342 → $265
PENN 2004-205 Settlement Lesnick 2004 $330 → $230
PENN 2005-164 Settlement Lesnick 2005 $301 → $224
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Triple K #1 shows 87% of 479 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: 2006-04-14, 20 years ago
87%
within 1.5 mg/m3
479
samples
8.83
dust max (mg/m3)
217 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 262 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR251
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)63
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER11

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2005-10-07, 20 years ago
4.2
silica avg (%)
47
samples
12.0
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR32
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: 2005-12-12, 20 years ago
40%
over PEL
47
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)15
  • CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR9
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER7
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
2006 88% 24
2005 87% 61
2004 90% 71
2003 97% 89
2002 74% 76
2001 87% 78
2000 86% 80
Silica (quartz) by year
Year silica avg (%) samples
2005 5.6 7
2004 3.9 5
2003 2.8 13
2002 4.1 5
2001 4.2 9
2000 5.4 8
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2005 13% 8
2003 43% 7
2002 29% 7
2001 43% 7
2000 56% 18
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Triple K #1 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2005.

Injury rate, 2005
ⓘ 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 5.11 and the all-US-mining average was 4.21 cases per 100 workers.
In Pennsylvania, coal mining averaged 5.95 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
2005 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2004 * 13.92 4.64 0.000
2003 * 4.31 4.31 0.000
2002 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2001 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2000 * 11.07 11.07 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. Dlr Mining Inc 1987 to 2003
  2. AMFIRE Mining Company LLC 2003 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)
2007 0
2006 6 49,393
2005 16 179,538
2004 18 272,003
2003 18 416,999
2002 20 304,634
2001 22 498,624
2000 21 422,825
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Triple K #1 sits in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 2.2% 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.
Armstrong County, Pennsylvania · Population 65,069
2.2%
Mining share of county employment
$64,295
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 Q2 0 0 0
2007 Q1 0 0 0
2006 Q4 0 0 0
2006 Q3 453 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 5,867 1 0 170.4
2006 Q1 9,365 8 3 854.2
2005 Q4 7,155 2 1 279.5
2005 Q3 8,971 2 0 222.9
Show 22 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2005 Q2 14,120 8 3 566.6
2005 Q1 13,879 9 2 648.5
2004 Q4 12,454 7 2 562.1
2004 Q3 11,713 9 5 768.4
2004 Q2 10,122 10 2 987.9
2004 Q1 8,813 3 0 340.4
2003 Q4 11,082 7 1 631.7
2003 Q3 11,081 6 3 541.5
2003 Q2 11,285 3 0 265.8
2003 Q1 12,992 2 0 153.9
2002 Q4 13,376 6 3 448.6
2002 Q3 12,129 6 2 494.7
2002 Q2 8,820 9 3 1020.4
2002 Q1 11,958 8 1 669.0
2001 Q4 14,339 14 3 976.4
2001 Q3 12,845 4 1 311.4
2001 Q2 16,084 13 9 808.3
2001 Q1 15,258 19 4 1245.2
2000 Q4 14,079 14 6 994.4
2000 Q3 12,239 6 1 490.2
2000 Q2 14,072 17 9 1208.1
2000 Q1 13,805 7 2 507.1
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

26 on file

2005 · 3 incidents

March 22, 2005 PA · Coal INUNDATION
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Accident type, without injuries

While mining X-Cut belt to L1 the miner operator cut through an abandoned bore hole @ 11" in diameter. A small amount of water was encountered. Oxygen was 20.9% and Ch4 was 0.0%. The hole is properly plugged in the roof and floor.

February 20, 2005 PA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Accident type, without injuries

Roof fall occurred on 2-20-05 at 10:00 pm and was found on 2-21-05 at 6:00 am. Roof fall was due to large clay vein runnng through the center of intersection.

2004 · 3 incidents

October 1, 2004 PA · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Fall onto or against objects

While EE was putting a tie-rod end on a 21SC shuttle car his wrench slipped and he fell striking his right side on the wheel unit hub.

July 29, 2004 PA · Coal beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider HANDLING OF MATERIALS
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

While shoveling loose coal from the mine floor onto a belt line Employee felt a "pop" and felt pain in his left shoulder blade.

June 7, 2004 PA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
AMFIRE Mining Company LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stepped in a low place caused by uneven mine floor and twisted his right knee.

2003 · 2 incidents

March 15, 2003 PA · Coal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Dlr Mining Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

SLIPPED ON ICE WHILE AT SURFACE CHARGING STATION, TAKING SCOOP OFF CHARGE. MINER INJURED RIGHT SHOULDER, WENT TO EMERGENCY ROOM AT INDIANA HOSP., AFTER WORKING HIS NORMAL SHIFT. DIAGNOSED AS TORN ROTATOR CUFF. NO LOST TIME OR RESTRICTED DUTY FROM DATE OF ACCIDENT UNTIL DATE OF SURGERY. LOST TIME FROM DATE OF SURGERY TO RETURN TO REGULAR JOB AT FULL CAPACITY ON 11-18-03.

2001 · 3 incidents

May 31, 2001 PA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Dlr Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

TURNED A CROSS CUT INTO TWO CLAY VEINS THAT RAN PARALLEL IN THE CROSS CUT AND WAS BOLTED WITH TOO SHORT OF BOLTS. NO IMPAIRMENT HAPPENED DUE TO THE FOREMAN SEEING IT WAS GOING TO CAVE AND G OT THE MEN AND EQUIPMENT TO A SAFE AREA.

April 20, 2001 PA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Dlr Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

2 CLAY VEINS RUNNING DIAGONAL IN NO.2 HEADING FOR ABOUT 60 FEET DROPPED OUT. STOPPED AT INTERSECTION WHERE 6 FEET BOLTS WERE USED.

2000 · 3 incidents

August 21, 2000 PA · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner MACHINERY
Dlr Mining Inc · Fall onto or against objects

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING OR MOVING ROOF BOLTER AND SLIPPED ON THE MUDDY BOTTOM AND THE BOLTER SQUEEZED HIM AGAINST THE COAL RIB.

March 27, 2000 PA · Coal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Dlr Mining Inc · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS WAITING TO START BOLTING A PIECE OF ROCK FELL BETWEEN THE BOLTS AND STRUCK HIS LEFT FOOT.

1999 · 2 incidents

October 14, 1999 PA · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Dlr Mining Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS OPERATING A SHUTTLE CAR. HE PUT HIS HAND ON TOP OF HTE CANOPY. THE CAR WENT OVER A BUMP AND WENT UP SMASHING HIS RIGHT POINTER FINGER.

1997 · 1 incident

March 17, 1997 PA · Coal section foreman, bullgang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, shift boss MACHINERY
Dlr Mining Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A 20' X 15' X 15" SLAB OF ROCK FELL ON THE CANOPY OF A ROOF BOLTER PUSHING THE CANOPY DOWN AND INJURING THE BOLTER OPERATOR.

1996 · 4 incidents

June 7, 1996 PA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Dlr Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

THE ROOF STARTED WORKING IN THE #1 ENTRY OF THE 2 BELT SECTION. AFTER 60 MINS THE ROOF FELL ABOUT 5 FT HIGH AND 70 FT LONG.

May 30, 1996 PA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Dlr Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL OCCURRED AT THE FACE OF 2 ENTRY IN THE 2 BUTT, LEFT SECTION AND FELL OUTBY 80 FT THIS FALL WAS 110 FT INBY STATION 142.

March 26, 1996 PA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Dlr Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL OCCURRED AT THE FACE OF #3 HEADING & XCUT OF THE 003 SECTION. IT WAS 40'L & 7'H.

March 22, 1996 PA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Dlr Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

A INTERSECTON IN THE #4 ENTRY IN 003 SECTION AT THE FACE HAD 4 CAYVEINS AND IT FELL IN 50' LONG AND 6-7'H.

1991 · 3 incidents

September 28, 1991 PA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Dlr Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

WE HAD 3 ROOF FALLS OF FACE OF SUB MAINS @2 & #5 WERE FOUND ON PRESHIFT RUN. WE FOUND PROBLEM WITH TYPE BOLTS WE WERE USING & HAVE CHANGED TO MORE SUITABLE ROOF BOLT. ROCK WAS TO SOFT FOR PERT ICULAR BOLT WE WERE INSTALLING.

June 18, 1991 PA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Dlr Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL AT THE FACE OF 2 ENTRY OF THE SUBMAIN. THE FALL WAS 5 FT HIGH 20 FT LONG AND 18 FT WIDE.

June 13, 1991 PA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Dlr Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

A ROOF FALL 200 FT INBY STATION #44 IN ENTRY OF SUBMAINS. IT WAS 60 FT LONG AND 4 FT HIGH. THERE THE CONDITION CONTRIBUTING TO THE ROOF FALL IS UNKNOWN.

1990 · 2 incidents

May 18, 1990 PA · Coal SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Dlr Mining Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF THE MINE WERE THE PERSON SLIPPED ON UNEVEN AND MUDDY BOTTOM CARRYING A MACHINE PART WHICH FELL ON HIS HIP.

March 10, 1990 PA · Coal FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Dlr Mining Inc · Accident type, without injuries

A CAVE HAD OCCURRED IN #1 AND #2 LEFT ROOMS WHERE PILLAR WORK HAD BEEN DONE, AND THE AREA HAD BEEN ABANDONED. WHEN THE AREA CAVED OVER RIDING PRESSURE COLLASPED THE ROOF IN THE BLEEDER PERIMET ER ROOM MAKING IMPOSSIBLE FOR EXAMINATION.