Performance Coal Company · Accident type, without injuries
Wet conditions, berm came lose, equipment slid approximately 12 feet before turning on its side there were no injuries to the operator
Upper Big Branch Raw Coal Facil: 65 MSHA citations Coal
Performance Coal Company
· Facility
Controlled by
Alpha Natural Resources Holdings, Inc
Naoma,
Raleigh County,
WV
·
Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 4608539
Upper Big Branch Raw Coal Facil has $13K in proposed MSHA penalties and $4K outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 9
- Years on record
- 1996–2014
- Latest incident
- Sep 2014
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
65
citations
35
significant & substantial
$13,012
proposed penalties
$9,312
paid to date
72% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $3,700 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
56
inspections on record
894
inspection hours
n/a
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: 894 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Upper Big Branch Raw Coal Facil has $13K in proposed MSHA penalties and $4K outstanding across 2 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
$9K
paid to date
$4K
outstanding
65 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $1K in penalties contested before the Commission, $1K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-12-23.
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.53.8%
significant & substantial
1.5%
high negligence or reckless
53.8%
reasonably likely or greater
29.2%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 7.7% low, 90.8% moderate, 1.5% 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.
3
citations taken to the federal commission · 5% of citations on record
- Settled 3 · 100%
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 3 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$1K proposed, $1K 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 2009-11-06.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEVA 2010-208 | Settlement | Miller | 2012 | $585 → $585 |
| WEVA 2008-887 | Settlement | Miller | 2011 | $439 → $439 |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at Upper Big Branch Raw Coal Facil shows 100% of 35 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: 2010-02-23, 16 years ago
ⓘ
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.100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
35
samples
1.14
dust max (mg/m3)
35 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 0 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- BELT MAN/CONVEYOR MAN18
- HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER4
- OUTSIDE FOREMAN3
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: 2009-09-10, 16 years ago
ⓘ
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.0%
over PEL
6
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- BELT MAN/CONVEYOR MAN5
- LABORER/BLACKSMITH1
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 100% | 1 |
| 2009 | 100% | 5 |
| 2008 | 100% | 5 |
| 2006 | 100% | 5 |
| 2005 | 100% | 8 |
| 2004 | 100% | 2 |
| 2003 | 100% | 1 |
| 2002 | 100% | 1 |
| 2001 | 100% | 5 |
| 2000 | 100% | 2 |
Noise by year
| Year | over PEL | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0% | 2 |
| 2008 | 0% | 3 |
| 2000 | 0% | 1 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
Upper Big Branch Raw Coal Facil recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2009.
Injury rate, 2009
ⓘ
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 4.16 and the all-US-mining average was 3.36 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 4.29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2007 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2006 * | 8.21 | 8.21 | 0.000 |
| 2005 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2004 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2001 * | 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.
Ownership history
- Performance Coal Company 1995 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
| Year | Employees |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2009 | 20 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2007 | 8 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2000 | 5 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Upper Big Branch Raw Coal Facil sits in Raleigh County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 4.0% 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.Raleigh County, West Virginia · Population 73,666
4.0%
Mining share of county employment
$52,055
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 Q4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2014 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2012 Q4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q2 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Show 48 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Q1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2011 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010 Q4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2010 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2010 Q1 | 1,394 | 3 | 1 | 2152.1 |
| 2009 Q4 | 19,978 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q3 | 17,076 | 2 | 1 | 117.1 |
| 2009 Q2 | 4,380 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q1 | 1,777 | 1 | 0 | 562.7 |
| 2008 Q4 | 1,974 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q3 | 2,983 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q2 | 3,923 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q1 | 3,925 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q4 | 3,941 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q3 | 5,294 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q2 | 6,332 | 2 | 2 | 315.9 |
| 2007 Q1 | 5,546 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q4 | 5,823 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q3 | 5,026 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q2 | 6,291 | 3 | 3 | 476.9 |
| 2006 Q1 | 7,210 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q4 | 6,248 | 8 | 3 | 1280.4 |
| 2005 Q3 | 6,607 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q2 | 6,501 | 5 | 2 | 769.1 |
| 2005 Q1 | 5,075 | 6 | 2 | 1182.3 |
| 2004 Q4 | 4,933 | 2 | 0 | 405.4 |
| 2004 Q3 | 5,766 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q2 | 6,231 | 1 | 1 | 160.5 |
| 2004 Q1 | 5,587 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q4 | 4,701 | 6 | 5 | 1276.3 |
| 2003 Q3 | 4,635 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q2 | 2,546 | 2 | 2 | 785.5 |
| 2003 Q1 | 2,750 | 8 | 5 | 2909.1 |
| 2002 Q4 | 3,604 | 6 | 3 | 1664.8 |
| 2002 Q3 | 4,080 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q2 | 4,524 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q1 | 6,743 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q4 | 7,691 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q3 | 6,356 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q2 | 4,369 | 3 | 2 | 686.7 |
| 2001 Q1 | 3,887 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q4 | 4,219 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q3 | 3,453 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q2 | 3,469 | 3 | 1 | 864.8 |
| 2000 Q1 | 2,424 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
9 on file2014 · 1 incident
2008 · 1 incident
Performance Coal Company · Fall to the walkway or working surface
He was walking when he fell down injuring his lower back, right hand & leg. He was walking on a floor that was uneven that has been repaired. Was diagnosed with pulled ligament by specialist on 8/14/08.
2006 · 2 incidents
December 1, 2006
WV · Coal
beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Performance Coal Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was attempting to change the middle roller of the top belt. He locked & tagged the belt out & proceeded to place his body between the top & bottom belt to take the weight off of the roller. He heard a pop in his lower back & experienced sharp pains shooting into his legs.
Performance Coal Company · Flash burns (welding)
Co-workers welding in close proximity. Exposure to welding burned ee's eye. Employee was wearing safety glasses during exposure.
2003 · 1 incident
December 8, 2003
WV · Coal
warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Performance Coal Company · Fall from machine
INJURED WAS EXITING A 988 END LOADER WHEN HIS RIGHT FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE NEXT TO LAST STEP. THIS CAUSED HIM TO LAND AWKWARDLY ON HIS RIGHT LEG. HE CONTINUED TO WORK BUT HIS KNEE DIDN'T GET ANY BETTER. HE STARTED TO MISS 12/15/03 AFTER SCHEDULED DAYS OFF. HE THOUGHT HIS KNEE WOULD GET BETTER.
2002 · 3 incidents
November 5, 2002
WV · Coal
beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider
HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Performance Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
INJURED WAS PREPARING TO MAKE A VULCANIZED SPLICE IN A CONVEYOR BELT IN AN AREA THAT WAS WET AND MUDDY. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CUT THE BELTING HE POSITIONED HIMSELF IN AN AWKWARD POSITION THAT PUT HIS LEG IN A DIRECT PATH OF THE UTILITY KNIFE HE WAS USING. THE KNIFE CAME OFF OF THE BELT AND STRUCKHIM IN THE LEG WHEN PULLING THE KNIFE TOWARD HIS BODY.
Performance Coal Company · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects
EE WAS PULLING A WATER HOSE UP THE CATWALK TO CLEAN THE WALKWAY. HE STATED HE FELT PAIN IN HIS BACK.
May 15, 2002
WV · Coal
beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider
POWERED HAULAGE
Performance Coal Company · Struck against a moving object
EE HAD FINISHED CLEANING THE TAILPIECE ON 101 SILO BELT. HE STATED WHILE DRIVING DOWN A STEEP INCLINE TO THE BELT CONTROL ROOM, THE TRUCK SEEMED TO JUMP OUT OF GEAR, AND THE POWER STERRING FAI LED. THE BRAKES ALSO FAILED, AND HE MANUALLY STEERED THE TRUCK INTO THE DITCHLINE AT THE LEFT. THE TRUCK STOPPED APPROX 30 YDS AWAY. HE FELT PAIN IN HIS BACK NECK AND RIGHT WRIST.
1996 · 1 incident
July 3, 1996
WV · Coal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Performance Coal Company · Fall onto or against objects
EE HAD BEEN RUNNING A BOBCAT LOADER. EE HAD PARKED THE LOADER AND DISMOUNTED. SLIP ON MUD, FELL BACK INTO THE BUCKET, CUTTING HIS RIGHT LEG ABOUT 2" BELOW THE KNEE. SAW A DR. & GOT PRESCRIPTIO N.