Tuscarora Breaker has $13K in proposed MSHA penalties and $151 outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
22
Years on record
1984–2015
Latest incident
Mar 2015
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
121
citations
38
significant & substantial
$13,334
proposed penalties
$12,883
paid to date
97% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $451 gap.
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.
121 citations across 3,472 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Tuscarora Breaker has $13K in proposed MSHA penalties and $151 outstanding across 5 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.
$13K
proposed penalties
$13K
current assessed
$13K
paid to date
$151
outstanding
120 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $1K in penalties contested before the Commission, $745 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-05-28.
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.
4citations taken to the federal commission · 3% of citations on record
Settled
2 · 50%
Stood as issued
2 · 50%
100%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 4 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
6%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$427 proposed, $400 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 2010-03-01.
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 Tuscarora Breaker shows 97% of 299 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: 2026-05-26
97%
within 1.5 mg/m3
299
samples
3.38
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.
227 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 72 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.
Tuscarora Breaker recorded 14.17 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2015.
Injury rate, 2015
ⓘ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.
14.17
total case rate
14.17
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.76 and the all-US-mining average was 2.72 cases per 100 workers.
In Pennsylvania, coal mining averaged 3.79 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
2015 *
14.17
14.17
0.000
2014 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2013 *
14.43
7.22
0.000
2012 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2010 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2009 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008 *
9.30
9.30
0.000
2007 *
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.
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)
2026
3
2025
3
2024
3
2023
3
2022
3
2021
3
2020
4
2019
5
2018
6
2017
5
2016
5
2015
13
27,244
2014
14
13,816
2013
12
3,453
2012
8
2011
8
2010
9
2009
10
2008
10
2007
11
2006
11
2005
11
2004
11
2003
8
2002
7
2001
16
8,305
2000
14
6,193
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Tuscarora Breaker sits in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 1.1% 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.
Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania · Population 143,259
1.1%
Mining share of county employment
$66,901
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
EE and another EE were moving 50lb bags of magnatite. He said he felt a twist, thought he must have pulled his back. Worked a full day and did not report until following day.
EE WAS LOOSENING BOLT ON ENGINE REMOVAL ON D9 DOZER.. TOOL SLIPPED OFF NUT, EE LOST HIS BALANCE, FALLING TO GROUND. PAIN ON RIGHT SIDE--RIB AND SHOULDER BRUISED.
January 6, 2000PA · Coalgrader operator, roadgrader operatorMACHINERY
EMPLOYEE WAS LODDING MUD FROM MUD DAM USING A GRADE ALL. WHIEL DUMPIN BUCKET OF MUD, IT SPLASHED BACK INTO WIDNOW SPLASHING HIM IN THE EYES WITH MUD. ADMINISTERED FIRST AID ON JOB SITE. WEN T TO EMERGENCY ROOM AT GOOD SAMARITON HOSPITAL FOR FURTHER CLEANING. WAS SENT TO DR. FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.
1997 · 1 incident
February 28, 1997PA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techFIRE
EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO START MACHINE. PUTTING GAS INTO CARBURATOR TO PRIME IT. IT BACK FIRED, CAUSING IT TO CATCH FIRE. EE JUMPED OFF THE MACHINE, LANDING ON HIS RT ARM.
EE WAS CUTTING OUT A STEEL PIN FROM THE CYLINDER ON A DRILL USING AN ACETYLENE/OXYGEN CUTTING TANK. HOT SLAG FELL INTO HIS GLOVE CREATING A FLASH, BURNING HIS RIGHT HAND (THE PALM AND TOP AREA OF HIS HAND).
August 22, 1995PA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS OPENING TAIL GATE ON INTERNATIONAL TRI ANKLE DUMP TRUCK. HE ALLEDGEDLY WAS PUSHING DOWN ON ROD TO OPEN GATE WHEN HE RELIZED HE CUT THE PALM AREA OF HIS RIGHT HAND, CAUSING IT TO BLEED. IT REQUIRED 7 STITCHES TO CLOSE.
May 15, 1995PA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS SERVICING A MACHINE IN THE HEADHOUSE BLDG HE LOST HIS FOOTING WHEN A SECTION OF GRATING GAVE WAY & DE-TACHED HE GRABBED ONTO A HAND RAIL FOR BALANCE TWISTING HIMSELF WHILE HOLDING ON A FEW DAYS LATER HE EXPERIENCED SORENESS IN HIS BACK & WENT TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UNCLOG THE FEED HOPPER WITH A BAR EE PUT THE BAR BETWEEN THE MOVING PLATE & FEED PLATE IN ERROR CAUSING THE BAR TO PINCH HIS FINGER AGAINST THE HOPPER
1991 · 2 incidents
August 22, 1991PA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
I NAME STATED THAT THE HAMMER SLIPPED FROM HAND AT THE PICKING TABLE HE REACHED DOWN TO PICK UP THE HAMMER & WAS STRUCK ON THE LEFT HAND BY ANOTHER ROCK TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL DISPENSARY WILL RETURN ON MONDAY FOR A CAST TO BE APPLIED
April 2, 1991PA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
HE SUFFER CUT AND FUMP TO THE SAME FINGER X RAYED BY DR ON CALL. NOTHING BROKEN BUT PAIN AND SWELLING WAS PERSISTANT. BURN ON APRIL 2, WENT UNDETECTED. HE CUTTER STEEL WITH CUTTING TOUCHES AND SUSTAINED BURNS TO THE MIDDLE FINGER ON LEFT HAND.
THE INJURED STATED HE HAD COMPLETED ACETYLENE WELDING THE OIL PAN OF THE MACK TRUCK(WHICH HAD BEEN DRAINED)WHEN HE PASSED THE OIL DRAIN HOLE AND THE FUMES IGNITED.
1984 · 1 incident
October 15, 1984PA · Coalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorMACHINERY