Smoky Quartz · Struck against a moving object
Injured was tramming excavator across the impoundment dam and went across a windrow of dirt and it "jarred" them. Pain started in lower back and pain and numbness traveled down EE's left leg.
Sapphire Prep Plant Coal
Smoky Quartz
· Facility
Controlled by
John T Quintrell
Whitesburg,
Letcher County,
KY
·
NonProducing
MSHA Mine ID: 1512914
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 12
- Years on record
- 2002–2023
- Latest incident
- Sep 2023
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
517
citations
163
significant & substantial
$72,131
proposed penalties
$58,696
paid to date
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Quarterly safety rates
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Q1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024 Q4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2024 Q2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2023 Q2 | 6,066 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q4 | 3,919 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q3 | 4,154 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 Q3 | 1,281 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 Q2 | 1,408 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
12 on file2023 · 1 incident
2009 · 1 incident
October 20, 2009
KY · Coal
beltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor rider
POWERED HAULAGE
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
A conveyor belt broke on the refuge conveyor system at Sapphire Coal Mine. The conveyor belt struck the EE knocking him to the ground.
2008 · 3 incidents
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was lifting motor off base plate, when motor slipped and caught EE's finger. Required stiches to close wound.
May 27, 2008
KY · Coal
quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant
HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Sapphire Coal Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
The employee was trying to unstop a blockage in the tertiary cutter box and the bar being used slid into the box as the coal gave way. this pulled the employees hand toward the cutter. Employees hand caught the top roller of the teritary cutting the tip of the fifth digit on the left hand. The cutter was in operation at the time of the incident.
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was throwing broken glass globe into a dumpster when a sliver of glass cut his right middle finger. Cut required stitched to repair.
2006 · 1 incident
March 17, 2006
KY · Coal
maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech
HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Sapphire Coal Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
He was using a bar to install fan belt when the bar slipped and struck him on the shin. The injury required stitches.
2004 · 2 incidents
Coal Extraction LLC · Struck by falling object
INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS WELDING OVERHEAD WHEN A FOREIGN OBJECT BECAME LODGED IN HIS EYE. HE WAS WEARING SAFETY GLASSES.
Cook & Sons Mining Inc · No Value Found
WHILE INSTALLING A NEW SNUB ROLLER ON UTH 104 PLANT REFUSE BELT THE NYLON STRAP BEING USED TO LIFT THE ROLLER SLIPPED LETTING THE ROLLER FALL STRIKING HIM ON THE RIGHT SHIN AND FOOT.
2003 · 3 incidents
September 20, 2003
KY · Coal
maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech
POWERED HAULAGE
Cook & Sons Mining Inc · Struck against a moving object
HE WAS GOING UP THE HILL TOWARDS THE TRUCK GARAGE WHEN THE TRUCK KICKED OUT OF GEAR, ROLLING BACKWARDS, HITTING THE BERM & FLIPPING THE TRUCK.
Cook & Sons Mining Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects
HE HAD PAIN IN BACK WHILE PICKING UP A PIECE OF WOOD FROM THE BED OF THE TRUCK (RAILROAD TIE AND TRASH OUT OF RAW COAL STOCK PILE).
Cook & Sons Mining Inc · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects
EMPLOYEE WAS BEATING ON #1 RAW COAL SILO WITH A #10LB SLEDGE TRYING TO BREAK LOOSE STUCK COAL. HE NOTICED A BURNING ON HIS RIGHT SIDE, LOWER STOMACH. IT GOT WORSE AS THE NIGHT WENT BY. HE HAD TO HAVE HERNIA SURGERY & WENT OFF WORK 9-8-03.
2002 · 1 incident
Cook & Sons Mining Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects
LIFTING A PIECE OF PIPE AND FELT PAIN IN BACK.