Mining Incidents

Independence Coal Co. LLC operator

MSHA operator ID: P21654
Fatalities
5
Total incidents
1016
Mines on record
20
Years on record
1992–2017
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 1999
8,127
citations
3,612
significant & substantial
$9,571,651
proposed penalties
$7,176,930
paid to date
75% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $2,394,721 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
2,043
inspections on record
72,419
inspection hours
11.2
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.
8,127 citations across 72,419 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Penalty disposition
Differences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.
$9.6M
proposed penalties
$7.2M
current assessed
$7.2M
paid to date
$0
outstanding
7,918 assessments are final orders; 288 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2017-08-11.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.

Top causes

Incident timeline

2017
4
2016
2
2015
4
2014
5
2013
14
2012
22 (1f)
2011
43
2010
48
2009
42
2008
36 (1f)
2007
29
2006
35
2005
68
2004
66
2003
74
2002
83 (1f)
2001
86 (1f)
2000
97 (1f)
1999
92
1998
60
1997
51
1996
39

Mines on record

Fatalities under this operator

5 recorded
May 17, 2012 WV · Coal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Independence Coal Company Inc · Fall from ladders

An employee suffered fatal injuries after he fell down the hoist-well from the 3rd floor onto the basement floor of the preparation plant. The employee was on a ladder when it slipped or shifted causing the employee and ladder to fall over the handrails and down the hoist-well. Employee was transported to the ER by EMS.

October 8, 2008 WV · Coal supply man, supply worker, nipper Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Independence Coal Company Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was assisting in the movement of supplies at the Justice Mine of Independence Coal Company, Inc. During this process he was apparently pinned between a parts car loaded on a rail car and a rib near the first left switch.

January 2, 2002 WV · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Independence Coal Company Inc · Struck by falling object

ON WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2002, EMPLOYEE WAS FATALLY INJURED BY A SUDDEN FALL OF ROOF WHILE OPERATING THE CONTINUOUS MINER IN THE #2 BELT ENTRY (#2 RIGHT BREAK).

August 27, 2001 WV · Coal continuous miner operator, coal mole operator Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Independence Coal Company Inc · Struck by falling object

EE OPERATING THE CONTINUOUS MINER IN THE #5 ENTRY WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK BROW FELL STRIKING HIM FROM BEHIND RESULTING IN FATAL INJURIES.

October 30, 2000 WV · Coal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator Fatality · FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Independence Coal Company Inc · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS ASSISTING A CO-WORKER LOADING A SCOOP CHARGER IN THE BUCKET OF A 35C SCOOP. A PIECEOF DRAW ROCK FELL FROM BETWEEN THE ROOF BOLTS FORCING HIM TO THE MINE FLOOR. THE ROCK BROKE INTO TWO PIECES. ORIGINAL SIZE OF ROCK WAS 89" X 54" X 1"-4".

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The full compliance file on Independence Coal Co. LLC

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.