Kentucky Coal Company Faces Fine for Electrical Accident

A federal agency has proposed a $220,000 fine against an eastern Kentucky coal company for an accident last February in which a miner suffered electrical burns.

The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said the incident resulted from a flagrant violation of mine safety laws. The proposed fine is the maximum that can be assessed for each violation.

Laura Duda of TECO Energy, parent company of Perry County Coal Corp., said in an e-mail that she was not aware of the proposed fine.

The mine operator has 30 days to pay or contest the penalty, MSHA said in a statement.

The incident happened at Perry County Coal’s E4-1 Mine in Hazard when a miner was attempting to reinstall a high-voltage splice box, MSHA said. The miner, an electrician, was burned on his right wrist and left index finger, the agency said.