Mining Incidents

Atlas 874/115 Mine: 192 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Kermit, Winkler County, TX  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4105262

Atlas 874/115 Mine has $60K in proposed MSHA penalties and $4K outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
23
Years on record
2018–2026
Latest incident
Jan 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2017
192
citations
27
significant & substantial
$60,374
proposed penalties
$56,216
paid to date
93% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $4,158 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2017
41
inspections on record
1,221
inspection hours
15.7
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.
192 citations across 1,221 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
A Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2021-03-08.
On record since 2021.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.

Atlas 874/115 Mine has $60K in proposed MSHA penalties and $4K outstanding across 2 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.
$60K
proposed penalties
$60K
current assessed
$56K
paid to date
$4K
outstanding
189 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $2K in penalties contested before the Commission, $2K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-04-15.
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.
14.1%
significant & substantial
5.8%
high negligence or reckless
14.1%
reasonably likely or greater
30.4%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 8.4% low, 85.9% moderate, 5.8% 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.
8 citations taken to the federal commission · 4% of citations on record
  • Settled 2 · 25%
  • Stood as issued 6 · 75%
100%
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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$2K proposed, $2K 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 2024-11-03.
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
CENT 2024-0224 Dismissal Bulluck 2024 $1K → $1K
CENT 2025-0026 Settlement McCarthy 2025 $560 → $560
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: 2026-03-04
8%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
18
samples
12
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz141 over
  • Cristobalite, respirable2
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg2
Show the individual readings (18)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2017-08-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1 0.55 1.82 Cleanup Man
2026-03-04 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.37 1.3 0.28 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2026-03-04 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.14 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2026-03-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2026-03-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2023-03-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.38 0.59 0.64 Utility Man
2023-03-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.27 0.47 0.57 Lab Technician
2023-03-30 Cristobalite, respirable 0.38 Utility Man
2023-03-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.36 0.48 0.75 Utility Man
2023-03-30 Cristobalite, respirable 0.36 Utility Man
2023-03-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.16 Lab Technician
2017-11-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.27 0.52 0.52 Lab Technician
2017-11-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.23 0.68 0.34 Cleanup Man
2017-11-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.17 0.62 0.27 Cleanup Man
2017-11-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.16 0.63 0.25 Cleanup Man
2017-11-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.13 0.6 0.22 Scale Man
2017-08-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.45 0.59 0.76 Supervisor, Co. Official
2017-08-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.34 0.53 0.64 Bobcat Operator
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.

Atlas 874/115 Mine recorded 0.80 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.
0.80
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 Texas, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.17 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year total case rate days-away fatal
2025 0.80 0.00 0.000
2024 0.00 0.00 0.000
2023 0.68 0.00 0.000
2022 5.13 1.47 0.000
2021 2.88 0.00 0.000
2019 2.11 0.70 0.000
2018 2.48 1.24 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. HI Crush Proppants LLC 2017 to 2018
  2. Atlas Energy Solutions 2018 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 121
2025 110
2024 125
2023 117
2022 103
2021 88
2020 89
2019 117
2018 70
2017 34
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Atlas 874/115 Mine sits in Winkler County, Texas, where the Census mining category is 17.6% 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.
Winkler County, Texas · Population 7,540
17.6%
Mining share of county employment
$91,898
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 83,078 25 0 300.9
2026 Q1 60,331 6 0 99.5
2025 Q4 63,504 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 61,736 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 71,660 4 0 55.8
2025 Q1 54,118 3 0 55.4
2024 Q4 55,931 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 70,801 8 0 113.0
Show 28 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 77,509 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 78,430 17 2 216.8
2023 Q4 78,689 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 77,996 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 70,787 2 0 28.3
2023 Q1 68,333 1 0 14.6
2022 Q4 64,088 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 69,342 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 75,097 5 1 66.6
2022 Q1 64,202 7 1 109.0
2021 Q4 62,269 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 56,994 8 1 140.4
2021 Q2 57,384 1 0 17.4
2021 Q1 31,362 5 2 159.4
2020 Q3 27,287 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 28,805 6 0 208.3
2020 Q1 74,810 7 0 93.6
2019 Q4 72,601 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 68,879 10 3 145.2
2019 Q2 72,341 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 70,658 3 1 42.5
2018 Q4 55,571 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 37,505 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 33,661 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 34,328 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 32,751 2 0 61.1
2017 Q3 25,837 11 0 425.7
2017 Q2 1,969 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

23 on file

2026 · 2 incidents

January 28, 2026 TX · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Atlas Energy Solutions · Fall onto or against objects

While clearing frozen sand rocks from the Alpha hopper, employee was stepping down to the ground and slipped on their final step. They were able to catch themselves and did not fall; however, during the slip they sustained a cut to their left leg from contact with a metal edge.

January 22, 2026 TX · Metal/Non-Metal fan attendant POWERED HAULAGE
Atlas Energy Solutions · Struck against a moving object

IE was cleaning a silo spill. IE was pushing a pile of sand through the scale. At the end of the scale, the scale meets concrete and there is a small rise. The bucket clipped the concrete causing the IE's impact on the windshield. IE had a hard hat on; the brim caused the gash.

2025 · 1 incident

August 15, 2025 TX · Metal/Non-Metal master mechanic, foreman, supervisor POWERED HAULAGE
Atlas Energy Solutions · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

The crew was using a sky track with a man basket in an area where a conventional manlift could not be used due to ground conditions. While positioning the boom, a pinch point existed between the man basket and sky track backplate rack. The employee was unaware, and as the boom was raised, the basket shifted, catching and injuring fingers, requiring five sutures.

2023 · 1 incident

January 26, 2023 TX · Metal/Non-Metal dry screening plant operator, screen house operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Atlas Energy Solutions · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Miner got a hand smashed in a metal lever mid swing when using a sledge hammer causing a cut to the left hand. Miner received 3 stitches at the local hospital on left hand.

2022 · 7 incidents

December 16, 2022 TX · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Atlas Energy Solutions · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was greasing a bearing while standing on a bucket. Employee then fell off the bucket landing on left hand causing a mild sprain to left wrist. Incident occurred 12/16/22 & first aid was administered by a 3rd party nurse. Employee sought treatment on 1/13/2023 and received restrictions.

August 8, 2022 TX · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Atlas Energy Solutions · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

On the last step of the stairwell coming down from the BC5 platform employee stepped down with the right foot and upon contact with the cement, felt the right knee pop.

July 28, 2022 TX · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator POWERED HAULAGE
Atlas Energy Solutions · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was assisting in moving a 10" HDPE pipe. The pipe had bent while being moved with a telehandler. When the pipe straightened out when the telehandler shifted forward for positioning purposes, the pipe unwound and struck the employee in the knee

July 25, 2022 TX · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Atlas Energy Solutions · Struck against stationary object

Employee made inadvertent contact with the tip of a sawzall blade creating a small puncture on the left hand requiring two stitches.

June 14, 2022 TX · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec MACHINERY
Atlas Energy Solutions · Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was attempting to unplug a sump pump. After shutting down equipment employee unbolted relief valve, at this time hot air/ steam was released due to back pressure and burned both hands.

May 27, 2022 TX · Metal/Non-Metal safety director SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Atlas Energy Solutions · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee parked the vehicle in a truck rut. As employee exited the vehicle and made a move to the tail gate for the fire extinguishers, employees left foot went into a low section of the rut and rolled left ankle and knee over. Employee was evaluated on 6/12/2022 and again on 7/7/2022 where it was determined physical therapy was the best course of treatment

February 3, 2022 TX · Metal/Non-Metal dry screening plant operator, screen house operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Atlas Energy Solutions · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was walking towards a piece of equipment. as they were walking they slipped on the icy ground and suffered a laceration to a knee. Employee was cleared to return Sunday (2/6/2022). Employee worked the shift then reported the injury was still aggravated and is out for medical evaluation again

2021 · 4 incidents

October 28, 2021 TX · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Atlas Energy Solutions · Struck by falling object

Employee was moving a screen when EE lost balance. As EE lost balance EE began to drop the screen and the corner of the screen made contact with EE's right shoulder.

August 17, 2021 TX · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
Atlas Energy Solutions · Struck against a moving object

Miner was operating EE's personal vehicle, traveling from the mine entrance to our contractor shop when the vehicle EE was operating made contact with a concrete barrier used to post a stop sign for the inbound traffic. Miner suffered muscle strains due to the impact of EE's vehicle and the barrier.

February 19, 2021 TX · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Atlas Energy Solutions · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was walking in the wet plant when EE slipped and twisted ankle entering the control room.

January 11, 2021 TX · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Atlas Energy Solutions · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Incident occurred on the 11th of January but was not reported to the operator until the January 21st. While changing screen decks on a Rotex, the miner felt a pop in their back which was later determined to be a sprain. The injured miner sought treatment at a chiropractor triggering reportability.

2020 · 3 incidents

November 25, 2020 TX · Metal/Non-Metal safety director SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Atlas Energy Solutions · Fall onto or against objects

Miner slipped while entering the cab of an on road semi tractor. Miner hit side on the floor board of cab. Bruised ribs. Miner did not report at time of incident. Reported 12/07/2020

November 16, 2020 TX · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Atlas Energy Solutions · Contact with hot objects or substances

Miner attempted to add coolant to the haul truck the miner was operating. Miner failed to allow the equipment to cool before attempting to open radiator cap. When cap released pressure the coolant from inside the radiator sprayed the miner's shoulder, resulting in 2nd degree burn.

October 19, 2020 TX · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Atlas Energy Solutions · Fall from machine

fall from trailer 18 inches to ground

2019 · 3 incidents

December 29, 2019 TX · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Atlas Energy Solutions · Fall down stairs

Employee was climbing stairs when employee missed a step and struck knee on leading edge of step resulting in laceration requiring stitches.

February 9, 2019 TX · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Atlas Energy Solutions · Struck by flying object

EE was removing a bearing race from a dryer fan shaft. EE struck the bearing race with a chisel when a shred of metal passed through the glove and into EE's left thumb.

January 11, 2019 TX · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Atlas Energy Solutions · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was walking out of the floc room and slipped down three steps and twisted left knee.

2018 · 2 incidents

February 15, 2018 TX · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec HANDLING OF MATERIALS
HI Crush Proppants LLC · Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee opened a cap on a radiator while it was still hot. Steam and coolant sprayed out on the left arm and face. Employee was taken to the hospital. Employee has 1st degree burn on the face and 2nd degree burn on the left wrist.

January 5, 2018 TX · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
HI Crush Proppants LLC · Struck against stationary object

EE was swinging sledge hammer, ee slipped and hit hand on flange and dislocated socket on right hand/pinky finger