Wilson #2 Mine has $246K in proposed MSHA penalties and $93K outstanding across 32 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
10
Years on record
2011–2014
Latest incident
Mar 2014
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2010
308
citations
79
significant & substantial
$246,364
proposed penalties
$100,722
paid to date
41% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $145,642 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.
308 citations across 2,421 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Wilson #2 Mine has $246K in proposed MSHA penalties and $93K outstanding across 32 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.
$246K
proposed penalties
$194K
current assessed
$101K
paid to date
$93K
outstanding
298 assessments are final orders; 32 contested dockets.
Of $199K in penalties contested before the Commission, $137K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2018-01-18.
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.
124citations taken to the federal commission · 40% of citations on record
Settled
122 · 98%
Vacated or withdrawn
2 · 2%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 69 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
31%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$199K proposed, $137K 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 2016-08-31.
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 Wilson #2 Mine shows 96% of 212 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: 2014-08-05, 12 years ago
96%
within 1.5 mg/m3
212
samples
2.39
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.
99 samples taken by MSHA inspectors, 113 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.
Wilson #2 Mine recorded 8.48 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2014.
Injury rate, 2014
ⓘ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.
8.48
total case rate
4.24
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US coal mining average was 3.96 and the all-US-mining average was 2.93 cases per 100 workers.
In Virginia, coal mining averaged 5.11 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
2014 *
8.48
4.24
0.000
2013 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2012 *
8.76
8.76
0.000
2011 *
6.09
2.03
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)
2025
0
2017
2
2016
2
2015
5
2014
28
46,853
2013
24
67,258
2012
41
141,949
2011
42
185,288
2010
5
10,603
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Wilson #2 Mine sits in Wise County, Virginia, where the Census mining category is 5.9% 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.
Wise County, Virginia · Population 35,727
5.9%
Mining share of county employment
$50,740
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
2025 Q3
0
0
0
2017 Q4
712
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
726
1
0
1377.4
2017 Q2
1,140
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
1,320
1
0
757.6
2016 Q4
960
0
0
0.0
2016 Q3
496
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
711
5
0
7032.3
Show 22 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2016 Q1
973
1
0
1027.7
2015 Q4
1,767
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
2,051
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
2,699
1
0
370.5
2015 Q1
2,172
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
2,408
3
0
1245.8
2014 Q3
10,391
13
2
1251.1
2014 Q2
14,200
2
0
140.8
2014 Q1
20,172
9
1
446.2
2013 Q4
9,120
6
2
657.9
2013 Q3
1,288
9
2
6987.6
2013 Q2
15,682
12
7
765.2
2013 Q1
24,903
19
3
763.0
2012 Q4
21,311
9
1
422.3
2012 Q3
20,937
33
13
1576.2
2012 Q2
24,349
30
7
1232.1
2012 Q1
24,715
20
7
809.2
2011 Q4
22,657
42
9
1853.7
2011 Q3
20,569
37
12
1798.8
2011 Q2
27,381
30
6
1095.7
2011 Q1
27,900
8
2
286.7
2010 Q4
3,095
7
3
2261.7
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
10 on file
2014 · 2 incidents
March 5, 2014VA · Coallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was using a Johnson Ride to pull a pull behind rock duster he said he was backing up and hit the Head Drive #4 said it made him hit his back against ride he was operating. EE stated foot switch stuck on him. (maint. checked foot switch and found no problems)
October 16, 2012VA · Coaldiscontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operatorOTHER
EE was the scoop operator on the 001 section on 10/16/12. The foreman found ee unconscious beside the scoop face down. EE had no apparent injuries and the area appeared to be safe to work and travel. This was a medical condition that caused this incident.
August 6, 2012VA · Coalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE hit his knee on a Johnson 3 Wheeler on July 2/, 2012. He refused medical attention at this time. On August 6, 2012, he came forward & requested to go to Doctor, we took him to Dr. He was given (1) day off. He was off work 8/7/12 and returned to work 8/8/12.
April 17, 2012VA · Coaldiscontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
EE was operating 2-man Johnson - stinger ride when he hit a hole in the bottom, causing the steering wheel to turn quickly. The ball on the steering wheel hit him on the back of his hand, breaking a bone.
2011 · 3 incidents
October 29, 2011VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
EE was drilling a hole for his roof bolt when the drill steel broke, throwing a piece of steel, striking him in the mouth. He required 8 stitches on his lip and he broke a tooth, which will require dental work.
August 17, 2011VA · Coallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
IE was assisting another EE make a belt splice. IE was holding the nail board in place while the other EE was striking it with a hammer. IE's finger slipped sideways as other EE was hitting the nail board, striking IE's finger.
April 20, 2011VA · Coalroof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs)MACHINERY
While installing a roof bolt, a spur on the bolt caught the EE's glove as he started his rotation causing his thumb to twist. He finished his shift and worked the next 8 shifts before consulting a doctor. He told his foreman that he was fine and did not require attention. On 5/2/11 he informed us that he had consulted a doctor.