Mining Incidents

3M: 390 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Frank Smith
Corona, Riverside County, CA  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0405075

3M has $277K in proposed MSHA penalties and $10K outstanding across 44 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
21
Years on record
2008–2021
Latest incident
Oct 2021
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
390
citations
100
significant & substantial
$277,247
proposed penalties
$198,240
paid to date
72% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $79,007 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
95
inspections on record
2,681
inspection hours
14.5
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.
390 citations across 2,681 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

3M has $277K in proposed MSHA penalties and $10K outstanding across 44 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.
$277K
proposed penalties
$208K
current assessed
$198K
paid to date
$10K
outstanding
371 assessments are final orders; 44 contested dockets.
Of $225K in penalties contested before the Commission, $141K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-02-23.
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.
26.0%
significant & substantial
10.7%
high negligence or reckless
27.6%
reasonably likely or greater
49.7%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 20.1% low, 69.3% moderate, 10.7% high, 0.0% reckless.
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.
173 citations taken to the federal commission · 44% of citations on record
  • Settled 126 · 73%
  • Stood as issued 26 · 15%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 9 · 5%
  • Still open 12 · 7%
63%
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 88 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
37%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$225K proposed, $141K 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 2026-04-22.
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.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
WEST 2015-0757 Settlement Manning 2016 $41K → $26K
WEST 2014-0833 Settlement Manning 2015 $25K → $11K
WEST 2018-0179 Settlement Moran 2019 $20K → $11K
WEST 2015-0220 Settlement Manning 2015 $15K → $15K
WEST 2016-0334 Settlement Manning 2016 $15K → $15K
WEST 2018-0029 Settlement Miller 2018 $14K → $10K
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
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.

Metal and nonmetal contaminants (personal samples)
Many samples are screening measurements of substances with no applicable exposure limit; they are counted as samples but excluded from every over-limit figure. Over-limit shares use only limit-tested samples.

Last sampled: 2023-12-13
20%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
26
samples
15
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz153 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg9
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz2
Show the individual readings (26)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2013-06-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.94 0.59 1.59 Laborer, Bullgang
2005-06-15 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.52 0.66 2.30 Cleanup Man
2005-06-15 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.71 0.67 1.06 Cleanup Man
2023-12-13 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2020-10-20 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.35 0.61 0.57 Laborer, Bullgang
2017-11-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.38 0.8 0.48 Crusher Oper/Worker
2017-11-16 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2016-01-12 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 1.03 0.18 Laborer, Bullgang
2016-01-12 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2016-01-12 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 1.02 0.15 Laborer, Bullgang
2013-11-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.68 0.73 0.93 Laborer, Bullgang
2013-06-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.55 0.9 0.61 Laborer, Bullgang
2013-06-19 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.22 Front-end Loader Operator
2009-03-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2009-03-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2008-03-04 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.3 0.67 0.45 Laborer, Bullgang
2008-03-04 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.14 0.59 0.24 Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-10-20 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.23 0.61 0.38 Front-end Loader Operator
2005-10-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2005-10-20 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.26 Laborer, Bullgang
2005-08-02 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.47 0.57 0.82 Cleanup Man
2005-06-15 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2005-06-15 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2003-10-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2003-10-22 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.26 0.75 0.35 Laborer, Bullgang
2003-10-22 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.31 0.77 0.40 Crusher Oper/Worker
Source: MSHA respirable dust, quartz, and noise sampling records, updated weekly. Metal/nonmetal contaminant figures come from MSHA's Personal Health Samples and Area Samples files (public record), updated weekly.

3M recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.

Injury rate, 2025
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.
0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 1.65 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In California, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.43 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year total case rate days-away fatal
2025 0.00 0.00 0.000
2024 0.00 0.00 0.000
2023 0.00 0.00 0.000
2022 0.00 0.00 0.000
2021 1.17 0.00 0.000
2020 0.00 0.00 0.000
2019 0.00 0.00 0.000
2018 1.31 0.00 0.000
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
  1. FST Sand & Gravel Inc 1990 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 81
2025 81
2024 73
2023 71
2022 59
2021 62
2020 61
2019 76
2018 58
2017 53
2016 53
2015 49
2014 51
2013 50
2012 58
2011 53
2010 56
2009 56
2008 57
2007 60
2006 44
2005 27
2004 16
2003 13
2002 11
2001 9
2000 6
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

3M sits in Riverside County, California, where the Census mining category is 0.1% 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.
Riverside County, California · Population 2,449,909
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$89,672
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
2026 Q2 51,483 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 52,450 7 1 133.5
2025 Q4 54,180 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 55,375 11 5 198.6
2025 Q2 52,375 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 51,350 8 2 155.8
2024 Q4 50,200 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 49,340 7 1 141.9
Show 96 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 47,255 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 41,520 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 40,165 3 0 74.7
2023 Q3 39,101 2 0 51.1
2023 Q2 46,121 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 42,600 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 41,260 2 0 48.5
2022 Q3 43,155 2 0 46.3
2022 Q2 45,776 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 42,406 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 43,260 9 3 208.0
2021 Q3 47,534 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 43,460 2 1 46.0
2021 Q1 37,210 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 44,403 7 2 157.6
2020 Q3 43,615 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 48,381 3 1 62.0
2020 Q1 41,971 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 48,324 3 0 62.1
2019 Q3 46,959 2 1 42.6
2019 Q2 38,876 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 33,293 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 39,753 4 1 100.6
2018 Q3 40,025 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 34,694 4 0 115.3
2018 Q1 38,700 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 42,308 8 1 189.1
2017 Q3 37,494 8 4 213.4
2017 Q2 37,578 2 1 53.2
2017 Q1 33,189 8 0 241.0
2016 Q4 37,417 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 34,760 6 3 172.6
2015 Q4 39,805 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 37,527 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 33,551 8 3 238.4
2015 Q1 32,045 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 35,553 15 2 421.9
2014 Q3 38,282 15 6 391.8
2014 Q2 33,008 7 6 212.1
2014 Q1 32,730 1 0 30.6
2013 Q4 34,862 6 1 172.1
2013 Q3 35,400 2 1 56.5
2013 Q2 32,148 7 3 217.7
2013 Q1 29,579 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 29,958 11 4 367.2
2012 Q3 32,633 2 2 61.3
2012 Q2 38,167 8 1 209.6
2012 Q1 31,960 2 0 62.6
2011 Q4 33,953 3 0 88.4
2011 Q3 39,839 4 2 100.4
2011 Q2 28,416 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 28,093 6 1 213.6
2010 Q4 31,238 3 3 96.0
2010 Q3 33,600 12 4 357.1
2010 Q2 33,243 18 8 541.5
2010 Q1 26,820 9 1 335.6
2009 Q4 29,827 9 4 301.7
2009 Q3 25,010 5 0 199.9
2009 Q2 23,739 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 18,314 5 1 273.0
2008 Q4 22,973 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 28,999 7 0 241.4
2008 Q2 21,885 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 27,028 3 0 111.0
2007 Q4 32,007 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 40,300 14 2 347.4
2007 Q2 41,720 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 34,763 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 34,476 9 0 261.1
2006 Q3 27,531 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 26,073 14 5 537.0
2006 Q1 25,911 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 24,923 11 0 441.4
2005 Q3 23,485 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 17,974 9 4 500.7
2005 Q1 9,035 4 2 442.7
2004 Q4 9,968 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 9,068 1 1 110.3
2004 Q2 9,769 2 0 204.7
2004 Q1 8,993 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 7,982 5 1 626.4
2003 Q3 7,512 8 3 1065.0
2003 Q2 8,216 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 7,916 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 6,713 4 0 595.9
2002 Q3 5,921 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 5,871 3 0 511.0
2002 Q1 7,413 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 7,816 5 1 639.7
2001 Q3 5,216 2 0 383.4
2001 Q2 5,129 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 4,761 9 0 1890.4
2000 Q4 4,284 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 3,831 5 0 1305.1
2000 Q2 3,452 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 2,667 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

21 on file

2021 · 1 incident

October 22, 2021 CA · Metal/Non-Metal dry screening plant operator, screen house operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Struck by flying object

miner was using a hammer driving a metal wedge on a crusher and the wedge released under pressure and stuck the miner on left cheek.

2018 · 1 incident

October 17, 2018 CA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Struck against stationary object

MINER WAS ATTEMPTING TO OPEN A NEW CAN OF WELDING ROD THAT WAS STORED IN THE SIDE BIN OF THE SERVICE TRUCK WHEN THE CAN SUDDENLY OPENED, ALLOWING EE'S WRIST TO STRIKE THE UPPER EDGE OF THE BIN AT FULL FORCE. THE EDGE OF THE BIN IS NOT AT ALL SHARP, BUT IS 16 GAUGE STEEL THAT IS FOLDED. THE FORCE OF THE HIT WAS STRONG ENOUGH TO CREATE A LACERATION THAT REQUIRED STITCHES.

2017 · 1 incident

May 4, 2017 CA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

miner fell 10 feet

2015 · 3 incidents

September 29, 2015 CA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Fall onto or against objects

Employee slipped and hit a frame metal knee opened got 6 stitches and then released back to work

September 9, 2015 CA · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HEARING TEST REPORTING- Plant manager - Hearing test findings state that he has a shift in his left ear, employee works primarily in his truck and is rarely ever around loud noise. He recently had a heart attack and believes the hearing loss is due to the heart attack.

January 19, 2015 CA · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Struck by falling object

Replacing a chute on screen 4 and 5 and it slipped and hit toe right before the steel toe starts on the shoe causing him to get a fracture

2014 · 2 incidents

March 12, 2014 CA · Metal/Non-Metal cleanup man, cleanup worker POWERED HAULAGE
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Miner was working around screens and conveyors. He saw material spilling from a chute under a screen in a area that was chained off with sign saying do not enter while running. he entered the area without locking out the conveyor. He attempted to try and stop the spilling material and got his arm caught in the conveyor tail pulley. He had a serious injury to his arm and torso.

January 18, 2014 CA · Metal/Non-Metal FIRE
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Accident type, without injuries

On 1-18-14 around 9pm at an hr after our quarry closed and all shifts ended, a fire started and burned a piece of equip (arson?). The fire dept. was contacted and put out the fire immed. equip was completely destroyed and it burnt the conveyor belting next to it(minimal) The burnt equipment was discovered by an employee the next day no injuries and MSHA was called immed.

2013 · 1 incident

July 29, 2013 CA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was asking another employee to help him with a lock. He was standing on top of a piece conveyor belt that was laying on the ground, when service truck (pick up) drove away the belt caught onto the tailpipe and tripped the employee

2012 · 3 incidents

November 6, 2012 CA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Struck by flying object

during post inspection of the 773 rock truck the inner r r tire exploded and blue dirt from the truck body bed which hit the miner. The miner was attended by other miners and was alert and responsive. The paramedics were called and the miner was transported to the hospital.

September 8, 2012 CA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE asked for pain medication. He said he had fallen to by the polymer mixing tank. He said he had slipped and fell. He was asked if he wanted to be taken to the clinic to get checked out. His respose was no, that he just needed something to ease some pain. He then said he had changed him mine and wanted to go to the clinic. His father called an ambulance.

January 5, 2012 CA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was moving a guard at tail pulley and hurt muscle in lower back he took tylenol. On 01/09/2012 the employees back was still hurting so he reported the injury he was off work from 01/09/2012 until 01/17/2012 and is now back to work

2011 · 1 incident

January 27, 2011 CA · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Struck by flying object

Employee was sledge hammering when the wedge flew out and hit his cheek bone causing a laceration to the face. The employee was wearing safety glasses! All employees have been notified that they MUST wear full face shields!

2010 · 5 incidents

September 2, 2010 CA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

This is annual hearing test-Shift confirmed and is to be reported for hearing loss in right ear. This employee has 30 years of noise exposure, wears hearing protection. Has 30 years of hearing protection use. His hobbies with noise include: MOTORCYCLE. This employee also suffers from Parkinsons Disease.

June 16, 2010 CA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Fall from machine

DRIVER SLIPPED AND FELL OFF OF HAUL TRUCK

March 19, 2010 CA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The ALLEGED incident happened on 3/19/2010 EE stated on 3-23-2010 that he had twisted his ankle at work the employee did not tell the company or report it to anyone for a few days. There were no witnesses and he told no one he was ever hurt for four days.

February 15, 2010 CA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man HANDLING OF MATERIALS
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Injury was shoveling material and bent over and hurt his back(sprained?).

2009 · 2 incidents

November 10, 2009 CA · Metal/Non-Metal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Walking to the tool room and tripped and fell twisting ankle..he was diagnosed with sprained ankle. Was back at work the next day but was put on modified duty that he was unable to walk for more than 3 hours.

August 21, 2009 CA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Struck by falling object

Rock broke loose and fell out and hit his knee he was put on work restriction for almost 2 weeks (his work restriction was standing more than 3-4 hours and lifting nothing heavier than 10 pounds)

2008 · 1 incident

April 9, 2008 CA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
FST Sand & Gravel Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Finger was cut on bolt, spinning when tightning with impact gun, while changing cutting edge on front end loader.