Mining Incidents

Valier Coal Yard: 36 MSHA citations Coal

Valier Coal Yard · Facility
Controlled by David D Osikowicz Jr
Valier, Jefferson County, PA  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3607194

Valier Coal Yard has $4K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
15
Years on record
1992–2005
Latest incident
Mar 2005
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
36
citations
19
significant & substantial
$4,117
proposed penalties
$3,086
paid to date
75% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,031 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
87
inspections on record
1,353
inspection hours
2.7
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.
36 citations across 1,353 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Valier Coal Yard has $4K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 1 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.
$4K
proposed penalties
$4K
current assessed
$3K
paid to date
$1K
outstanding
36 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $200 in penalties contested before the Commission, $0 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-05-08.
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.
52.8%
significant & substantial
2.8%
high negligence or reckless
52.8%
reasonably likely or greater
36.1%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 44.4% low, 52.8% moderate, 2.8% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
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
PENN20010148 Withdrawal 2002 $200 → $0
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.

MSHA sampling at Valier Coal Yard shows 100% of 144 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: 2026-02-24
100%
within 1.5 mg/m3
144
samples
1.44
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.
137 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 7 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER64
  • UTILITY MAN38
  • WEIGHMAN31

Silica (quartz)

Last sampled: 2014-04-10, 12 years ago
1.9
silica avg (%)
1
samples
1.9
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
  • UTILITY MAN1

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: 2026-02-24
1%
over PEL
70
samples
Most-sampled occupations
  • HIGHLIFT OPERATOR/FRONT END LOADER34
  • WEIGHMAN16
  • UTILITY MAN14
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
2026 100% 1
2025 100% 1
2024 100% 3
2023 100% 2
2022 100% 3
2021 100% 2
2020 100% 3
2019 100% 4
2018 100% 5
2017 100% 4
2016 100% 2
2015 100% 7
2014 100% 8
2013 100% 8
2012 100% 8
2011 100% 8
2010 100% 12
2009 100% 12
2008 100% 3
2007 100% 6
2006 100% 5
2005 100% 9
2004 100% 6
2003 100% 3
2002 100% 7
2001 100% 5
2000 100% 7
Noise by year
Year over PEL samples
2026 0% 1
2025 0% 1
2024 0% 3
2023 0% 1
2021 0% 1
2020 0% 1
2019 0% 2
2018 0% 3
2017 0% 2
2015 0% 3
2014 0% 4
2013 0% 4
2012 0% 4
2011 0% 4
2010 0% 5
2009 0% 7
2007 0% 3
2006 0% 3
2005 20% 5
2004 0% 2
2002 0% 6
2001 0% 2
2000 0% 3
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.

Valier Coal Yard recorded 0.00 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.
0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
No reportable injury cases in any year shown. Employee-hours were reported in each of those years, so these are true zeros rather than missing data. Citations, listed in the compliance record above, are inspector-found violations and are counted separately from worker injuries.
Below 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 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2014 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2013 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2011 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2010 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2009 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2008 * 0.00 0.00 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.
Ownership history
  1. Valier Coal Yard 1981 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 3
2025 3
2024 3
2023 3
2022 3
2021 3
2020 4
2019 5
2018 5
2017 6
2016 7
2015 9
2014 9
2013 9
2012 9
2011 10
2010 10
2009 10
2008 11
2007 12
2006 12
2005 11
2004 11
2003 8
2002 10
2001 10
2000 9
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Valier Coal Yard sits in Jefferson County, Pennsylvania, where the Census mining category is 1.8% 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.
Jefferson County, Pennsylvania · Population 44,099
1.8%
Mining share of county employment
$56,898
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
2026 Q2 1,168 6 0 5137.0
2026 Q1 1,168 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 1,168 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 1,168 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 1,168 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 1,152 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 1,168 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 1,260 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 1,168 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 576 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 1,168 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 1,152 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 1,168 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 1,153 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 1,170 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 1,787 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 1,691 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 1,280 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 1,173 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 1,170 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 1,373 1 0 728.3
2021 Q1 1,774 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 1,962 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 1,744 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 1,595 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 2,165 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 1,718 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 1,499 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 1,983 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 2,730 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 2,722 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 3,142 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 2,908 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 2,922 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 2,774 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 3,383 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 3,785 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 4,142 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 3,953 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 4,154 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 4,085 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 3,797 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 4,635 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 5,188 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 5,370 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 5,292 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 6,000 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 5,106 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 4,938 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 4,838 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 5,536 1 0 180.6
2013 Q3 4,760 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 5,190 1 0 192.7
2013 Q1 4,688 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 5,246 1 0 190.6
2012 Q3 4,611 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 5,067 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 4,830 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 5,321 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 5,804 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 4,590 1 0 217.9
2011 Q1 4,490 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 5,138 5 2 973.1
2010 Q3 5,142 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 5,213 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 4,923 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 5,115 1 1 195.5
2009 Q3 5,432 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 5,349 1 1 187.0
2009 Q1 4,556 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 5,396 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 6,086 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 5,840 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 5,576 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 5,807 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 6,517 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 6,368 1 0 157.0
2007 Q1 6,094 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 6,121 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 6,175 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 6,161 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 6,099 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 6,180 2 2 323.6
2005 Q3 6,164 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 5,721 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 4,767 1 1 209.8
2004 Q4 5,722 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 6,002 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 5,574 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 4,835 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 4,170 1 1 239.8
2003 Q3 4,219 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 4,124 1 1 242.5
2003 Q1 4,373 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 4,700 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 5,098 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 2,909 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 4,665 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 4,909 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 5,391 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 5,832 2 1 342.9
2001 Q1 4,875 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 4,308 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 4,772 1 1 209.6
2000 Q2 4,865 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 4,536 5 5 1102.3
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

15 on file

2005 · 1 incident

March 30, 2005 PA · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Valier Coal Yard · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Working on crusher v-belts, got fingers of right hand under belt, ring finger and middle finger involved; ring finger taken off below nail above 1st knuckle, middle finger re-attached. per company call 3-20-05. coder 12

2003 · 3 incidents

April 11, 2003 PA · Coal

PLUGGING IN A HEATER, PLUG GROUNDED OUT, BLEW FRONT PANEL OFF ELECTRIC BOX, SHOT FLAMES OUT, FLASHED & HE GOT BURNS ON FACE & NECK.

April 9, 2003 PA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Valier Coal Yard · Struck against stationary object

WHILE SHOVELING, A SPLINTER CAME OFF HANDLE AND PIERCED GLOVE, PUNCTURING HAND.

March 5, 2003 PA · Coal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Valier Coal Yard · Fall to the walkway or working surface

FELL ON ICE.

2001 · 1 incident

September 6, 2001 PA · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner ELECTRICAL
Valier Coal Yard · Flash burns (electric)

COAL FEEDER QUIT RUNNING, WALKED OVER TO INVESTIGATE CONNECTIONS WHILE OBSERVING, EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRIC FLASH. BURNED FINGERS.

2000 · 1 incident

February 7, 2000 PA · Coal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner MACHINERY
Valier Coal Yard · Struck by flying object

REPLACING LOCK ON OFFICE DOOR-CHIP OF METAL SHAVING ENTERED EYE WHILE GRINDING.

1997 · 2 incidents

July 10, 1997 PA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Valier Coal Yard · Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS GETTING A RAG OUT OF A BOX TO CLEAN WINDOWS ON LOADER. WHEN HE SHOOK THE RAG A PARTICLE OF DIRT LODGED IN HIS LEFT EYE.

June 20, 1997 PA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Valier Coal Yard · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

PUTTING HOSE ON LOADER & WHILE ROTATING IT IN A CONFINDED AREA CUT ARM ON HOSE CLAMP.

1995 · 1 incident

May 27, 1995 PA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Valier Coal Yard · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS BARRING COAL OFF OF THE FEEDER. HE WAS STANDING ON AN EMPTY 5 GAL BUCKET AND SHIFTED HIS POSITION, FALLING OFF OF THE BUCKET INTO A PIECE OF ANGLED STEEL.

1994 · 4 incidents

September 28, 1994 PA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Valier Coal Yard · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS CUTTING RUBBER FOR SCREEN ON CRUSHER WHEN THE UTILITY KNIFE SLIPPED AND CUT HIS LEG.

September 22, 1994 PA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator OTHER
Valier Coal Yard · Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS DOING MISC. WORK IN YARD. WHEN DUSTWENT INTO EYE.

January 19, 1994 PA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator DISORDERS (PHYSICAL AGENTS)
Valier Coal Yard · Contact with cold

EMPLOYEE WAS SHOVELING COAL AND DOING CLEAN UP WORK IN THE YARD DURING THE DAY.

January 8, 1994 PA · Coal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator FIRE
Valier Coal Yard · Contact with hot objects or substances

EMPLOYEE WAS WARMING HANDS OVER HEATER. HE THEN BEGAN SHOVELING COAL AGAIN, WHEN HE NOTICED HIS GLOVE WAS SMOLDERING. WHEN HE TOOK OFF THE GLOVE, HE SAW HIS FINGER WAS BURNT.

1993 · 1 incident

December 28, 1993 PA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Valier Coal Yard · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS CHANGING THE SCREENS ON THE CRUSHER. HE TWISTED HIS BACK CAUSING STRAIN TO HIS LOWER BACK MUSCLE.

1992 · 1 incident

April 24, 1992 PA · Coal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Valier Coal Yard · Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS SHOVELING COAL REFUSE AND STRUCK A PIECE OF STEEL ON WALKWAY, PUNCTURING HIS LEFT FOREARM.