Independence Coal Company Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was walking down mine office steps when his left boot tread caught on steps causing him to twist his left ankle.
White Oak: 101 MSHA citations Coal
Independence Coal Company Inc
· Underground
Controlled by
Alpha Natural Resources Holdings, Inc
Madison,
Boone County,
WV
·
Abandoned and Sealed
MSHA Mine ID: 4608933
White Oak has $9K in proposed MSHA penalties and $60 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 7
- Years on record
- 2004–2005
- Latest incident
- Aug 2005
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2002
101
citations
37
significant & substantial
$9,047
proposed penalties
$8,987
paid to date
99% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $60 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2002
39
inspections on record
904
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: 904 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
White Oak has $9K in proposed MSHA penalties and $60 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.$9K
proposed penalties
$9K
current assessed
$9K
paid to date
$60
outstanding
99 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2006-01-05.
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.37.4%
significant & substantial
1.0%
high negligence or reckless
42.4%
reasonably likely or greater
9.1%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 1.0% low, 98.0% moderate, 1.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
MSHA sampling at White Oak shows 92% of 75 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: 2005-03-17, 21 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.92%
within 1.5 mg/m3
75
samples
2.17
dust max (mg/m3)
30 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 45 by the operator.
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR44
- ROOF BOLTER (SINGLE HEAD)10
- SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)8
Silica (quartz)
Last sampled: 2005-02-01, 21 years ago5.8
silica avg (%)
2
samples
6.7
silica max (%)
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR2
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: 2004-10-20, 21 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.10%
over PEL
10
samples
Most-sampled occupations
- CONTINUOUS MINER OPERATOR3
- ROOF BOLTER (SINGLE HEAD)3
- SHUTTLE CAR OPERATOR (STANDARD SIDE)3
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 100% | 16 |
| 2004 | 90% | 59 |
Silica (quartz) by year
| Year | silica avg (%) | samples |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 4.9 | 1 |
| 2004 | 6.7 | 1 |
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly.
White Oak recorded 10.58 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2004.
Injury rate, 2004
ⓘ
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.10.58
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 5.57 and the all-US-mining average was 4.33 cases per 100 workers.
In West Virginia, coal mining averaged 6.79 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.
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
- Omar Mining Company 2001 to 2002
- Independence Coal Company Inc 2002 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) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 3 | 139,453 |
| 2004 | 24 | 288,616 |
| 2003 | 3 | 5,447 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
White Oak sits in Boone County, West Virginia, where the Census mining category is 10.1% 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.Boone County, West Virginia · Population 21,312
10.1%
Mining share of county employment
$56,152
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2006 Q1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2005 Q4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2005 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2005 Q2 | 3,720 | 16 | 7 | 4301.1 |
| 2005 Q1 | 5,470 | 27 | 8 | 4936.0 |
| 2004 Q4 | 3,621 | 18 | 5 | 4971.0 |
| 2004 Q3 | 1,685 | 16 | 4 | 9495.5 |
Show 6 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Q2 | 17,592 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q1 | 14,905 | 1 | 1 | 67.1 |
| 2003 Q4 | 2,546 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2003 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2003 Q1 | 290 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
7 on file2005 · 4 incidents
Independence Coal Company Inc · Accident type, without injuries
UNPLANNED ROOF FALL OCCURRED DURING THE MAINTENANCE SHIFT. THE LOCATION OF THE FALL WAS IN #10 ENTRY 2 BKS INBY SPAD #413 AND 30' FROM THE ACTIVE FACE. THE FALL MEASURED 30'X15'X5-6' AND FELL ON THE JOY 12-27 RIGHTCONTINUOUS MINER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. VENTILATION WAS NOT AFFECTED. ROCK WAS REMOVED FROM THE CAR AND MINING CEASED IN THAT AREA OF THE MINE
Independence Coal Company Inc · Accident type, without injuries
ON 1/6/05 WHITE OAK MINE EXPERIENCED AN UNPLANNED ROOF FALL. THE FALL MEASURED 23'X 16'X 5' AND WAS 3,200' FROM THE ACTIVE FACE. THE FALL WILL BE REHABILITATED.
Independence Coal Company Inc · Accident type, without injuries
ON 1/6/05 WHILE OAK MINE EXPERIENCED AN UNPLANNED ROOF FALL. THE FALL MEASURED 30'X18'X6' AND WAS 3,400 FT FROM THE ACTIVE FACE. THE FALL WILL BE REHABILITATED.
2004 · 3 incidents
July 28, 2004
WV · Coal
examiner, fire boss, pre-shift examiner, mine examiner
HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Independence Coal Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was cutting a hole in the dust hose when he dropped his knife. He cut his left leg at the knee area. He received 4 stitches.
Independence Coal Company Inc · Accident type, without injuries
AN UNPLANNED ROOF FALL OCURRED AT THE WHITE OAK MINE ON 3/31/04. THE FALL MEASURED 70'X 20'X 48"-8'.
Independence Coal Company Inc · Struck by falling object
EE was cleaning duct work on the right continuous miner. He raised the lid to reach for the waterhose. The lid fell cutting his right ring finger. He received four stitches.