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Atomic Mine: 202 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Atomic Sand, LLC · Surface
Controlled by David Ryan Williams
Gatson, Aiken County, SC  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3800115

Atomic Mine has $438K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 7 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
19
Years on record
1983–2017
Latest incident
Oct 2017
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
202
citations
59
significant & substantial
$438,063
proposed penalties
$322,732
paid to date
74% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $115,331 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Atomic Sand, LLC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
101
inspections on record
1,297
inspection hours
15.6
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.
202 citations across 1,297 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Atomic Mine has $438K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 7 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.
$438K
proposed penalties
$323K
current assessed
$323K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
195 assessments are final orders; 7 contested dockets.
Of $390K in penalties contested before the Commission, $267K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-11-17.
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.
29.4%
significant & substantial
18.4%
high negligence or reckless
29.4%
reasonably likely or greater
63.2%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 7.5% low, 74.1% moderate, 15.9% high, 2.5% 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.
18 citations taken to the federal commission · 9% of citations on record
  • Settled 16 · 89%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 2 · 11%
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 11 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
32%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$390K proposed, $267K 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 2018-07-24.
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
SE 2018-0203 Settlement Feldman 2018 $212K → $149K
SE 2018-0204 Settlement Feldman 2018 $134K → $93K
SE 2009-138M Settlement Miller 2010 $20K → $6K
SE 2016-0060 Settlement Lesnick 2016 $10K → $10K
SE 2009-363M Settlement Paez 2010 $8K → $4K
SE 2010-573M Settlement Lewis 2011 $5K → $2K
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: 2025-09-03
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
24
samples
3
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg16
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz4
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz3
  • Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (24)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2025-09-03 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2025-09-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.26 Front-end Loader Operator
2024-09-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2024-09-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bulldozer Operator
2024-09-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-09-21 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.16 0.33 0.48 Laborer, Bullgang
2023-09-21 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.17 Laborer, Bullgang
2023-09-21 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.17 Laborer, Bullgang
2023-09-21 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2022-06-01 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.14 10 0.01 Bulldozer Operator
2022-06-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2022-06-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2022-06-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2015-12-29 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.18 Mechanic
2015-12-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bulldozer Operator
2015-12-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2015-12-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2009-07-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2009-07-01 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.12 0.63 0.19 Front-end Loader Operator
2002-10-31 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2002-10-31 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bulldozer Operator
2002-10-31 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2001-11-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2001-11-28 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.13 Utility Man
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.

Atomic Mine 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
No reportable injury cases in any year shown. Employee-hours were reported in each of those years, so these are true zeros rather than missing data. Citations, listed in the compliance record above, are inspector-found violations and are counted separately from worker injuries.
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 South Carolina, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.42 cases per 100 workers that year.
Under 100,000 employee-hours were reported that year, so a single case moves the rate by two or more. Read the figure as approximate.
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 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2020 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2019 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2012 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
* Fewer than 100,000 employee-hours that year; the rate is less stable.
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. Augusta Sand & Gravel Inc 1950 to 1993
  2. Foster Dixiana Corporation 1993 to 2007
  3. South Carolina Minerals Inc. 2007 to 2018
  4. Atomic Sand, LLC 2018 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 10
2025 10
2024 11
2023 11
2022 10
2021 10
2020 9
2019 9
2018 7
2017 5
2016 7
2015 7
2014 7
2013 7
2012 10
2011 10
2010 7
2009 6
2008 7
2007 6
2006 7
2005 6
2004 6
2003 7
2002 8
2001 8
2000 9
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Atomic Mine sits in Aiken County, South Carolina, where the Census mining category is 0.3% 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.
Aiken County, South Carolina · Population 171,949
0.3%
Mining share of county employment
$67,940
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 4,176 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 5,299 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 5,596 3 0 536.1
2025 Q3 4,364 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 5,048 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 5,088 1 0 196.5
2024 Q4 5,382 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 5,690 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 6,843 2 0 292.3
2024 Q1 6,527 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 6,274 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 6,779 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 5,990 1 1 166.9
2023 Q1 6,598 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 6,293 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 6,310 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 6,058 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 6,710 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 5,812 1 0 172.1
2021 Q3 6,151 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 6,648 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 5,746 4 0 696.1
2020 Q4 4,138 5 1 1208.3
2020 Q3 5,270 7 2 1328.3
2020 Q2 5,422 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 5,715 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 6,164 2 0 324.5
2019 Q3 6,431 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 4,244 7 1 1649.4
2019 Q1 3,762 4 0 1063.3
2018 Q4 3,465 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 3,722 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 2,166 17 9 7848.6
2018 Q1 3,497 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 3,418 18 7 5266.2
2017 Q3 3,867 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 2,950 4 3 1355.9
2017 Q1 2,799 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 3,193 2 0 626.4
2016 Q3 3,534 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 4,620 1 0 216.5
2016 Q1 3,790 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 4,222 8 1 1894.8
2015 Q3 3,567 8 2 2242.8
2015 Q2 4,391 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 4,603 7 1 1520.7
2014 Q4 4,123 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 5,743 8 4 1393.0
2014 Q2 5,132 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 4,282 1 0 233.5
2013 Q4 4,767 1 0 209.8
2013 Q3 4,888 6 3 1227.5
2013 Q2 4,421 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 4,225 3 0 710.1
2012 Q4 5,600 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 6,807 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 6,768 3 1 443.3
2012 Q1 4,990 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 5,092 2 0 392.8
2011 Q3 6,516 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 5,335 3 1 562.3
2011 Q1 4,636 3 2 647.1
2010 Q4 3,720 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 4,516 3 0 664.3
2010 Q2 4,146 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 2,244 2 1 891.3
2009 Q4 2,344 13 6 5546.1
2009 Q3 3,024 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 3,901 1 0 256.3
2009 Q1 1,020 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 3,151 3 0 952.1
2008 Q3 4,163 9 4 2161.9
2008 Q2 4,585 4 0 872.4
2008 Q1 3,026 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 2,222 1 1 450.0
2007 Q3 3,348 7 2 2090.8
2007 Q2 4,812 1 0 207.8
2007 Q1 5,764 3 2 520.5
2006 Q4 7,580 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 5,286 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 4,728 1 0 211.5
2006 Q1 5,000 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 4,385 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 4,028 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 667 5 1 7496.3
2005 Q1 4,605 2 1 434.3
2004 Q4 3,466 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 4,427 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 4,905 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 4,199 3 0 714.5
2003 Q4 4,326 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 4,419 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 4,766 1 0 209.8
2003 Q1 4,535 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 4,613 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 4,793 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 4,589 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 5,657 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 4,758 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 5,707 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 5,830 2 0 343.1
2001 Q1 5,765 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 5,462 3 1 549.2
2000 Q3 5,831 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 6,867 3 0 436.9
2000 Q1 6,231 2 0 321.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

19 on file

2017 · 1 incident

October 4, 2017 SC · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
South Carolina Minerals Inc. · Struck against stationary object

EE was moving some boards and got a splinter in EE's right hand. Between thumb and fore finger.

2015 · 1 incident

July 30, 2015 SC · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman OTHER
South Carolina Minerals Inc. · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was bitten by black widow spider while walking to office building; bite was on right of neck causing swollen area size of quarter at bite area; He was transported to emergency room for treatment and released same day. Spider was confirmed to be black widow by emergency care providers.

2014 · 1 incident

April 30, 2014 SC · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
South Carolina Minerals Inc. · Struck by falling object

While lifting 25HP electric motor from mount the lifting eye on top of motor broke and dropped 2' hitting mount and rolling off mount onto employee's foot. Lifting eye was installed by manufacturer. Steel choker & clevis were used for rigging. Truck hoe was used for lift.

2011 · 1 incident

May 26, 2011 SC · Metal/Non-Metal barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
South Carolina Minerals Inc. · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Dredge oper. was in the bottom of dredge checking the pump when he lost his footing on his right leg. When he came down on his right leg his knee was twisted or sprang.

2009 · 1 incident

February 6, 2009 SC · Metal/Non-Metal assayer, geologist, metallurgist, engineer, engineer management SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
South Carolina Minerals Inc. · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Stepped off dredge to frozen ground. Rolled ankle over, bad sprain.

2008 · 2 incidents

November 21, 2008 SC · Metal/Non-Metal barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
South Carolina Minerals Inc. · Struck against stationary object

Attempting to lift sheet of metal stepped off sidewalk onto another piece of metal, twisting his knee.

September 5, 2008 SC · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
South Carolina Minerals Inc. · Struck against stationary object

Around 8:00 pm the loader was going to the pit to put lights on. Went to shop to fuel loader bucket was bouncing. Then the loader stopped. EE had no seat belt on. He hit the windshield with his forehead and nose.

2006 · 1 incident

November 7, 2006 SC · Metal/Non-Metal barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Foster Dixiana Corporation · Struck against a moving object

Employee was attempting to repair broken swing cable on dredge. Operator, co-worker and EE were in service boat when wall in front of dredge fell in water, causing wave to rock boat, throwing him on his back across rear bench of boat.

2005 · 2 incidents

October 13, 2005 SC · Metal/Non-Metal assistant mine foreman, assistant mine manager SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Foster Dixiana Corporation · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was walking down hill to fresh water pumps to check water level in dredge pond. As he was going down hill, his foot slipped on loose sand & went into wash out hole causing him to fall & twist his right knee.

April 23, 2005 SC · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Foster Dixiana Corporation · Fall from machine

Employee was climbing onto rear (push block) of 615C elevating scraper to make a repair to the top guard assembly. His foot slipped on slick mud spot causing him to fall backwards onto concrete floor of shop.

2003 · 1 incident

April 23, 2003 SC · Metal/Non-Metal miner, nec OTHER
Foster Dixiana Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WALKING OUT OF DOOR TO SHOP, THE WIND CAUGHT THE DOOR AND SLAMMED IT ON TO HIS HAND & THE DOOR JAM.

2000 · 3 incidents

July 11, 2000 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Foster Dixiana Corporation · Fall from machine

EE STOOD UP IN WORK BOAT, STEPPED OVER SEAT TO GET OUT OF BOAT, SLIPPED & FELL..

June 26, 2000 SC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Foster Dixiana Corporation · Struck against stationary object

WORKING ON A STOPPED UP PIPE LINE, EE'S HARD HAT FELL OFF HIS HEAD. EE BENT OVER TO PICK UP HARD HAT. STOOD UP STRIKING HEAD ON GUARD OVER HEAD.

January 21, 2000 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Foster Dixiana Corporation · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

WHILE USE HAND WINCH TO WINCH BOAT ONTO TRAILER SAFETY LATCH FAILED (DISENGAGED) ALLOWING HANDLE TO FREE WHEEL AND MASHED LEFT HAND BETWEEN HANDLE AND TRAILER.

1999 · 1 incident

March 4, 1999 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Foster Dixiana Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

USING GRINDER AFTER FINISHED WELDING, PIECE OF METAL WENT INTO HIS EYE. EE WAS WEARING SAFETY GLASSES. METAL CAME THORUGH SIDE

1998 · 1 incident

August 28, 1998 SC · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Foster Dixiana Corporation · Contact with hot objects or substances

METAL SAFETY GAS CAN APPROVED TOUCHED AND SHORTED OUT ON BATTERY CABLE WHERE ATTACHES TO SOLENOID OF STARTER ON PORTABLE WELDER MACHINE ON BACK OF PICK-UP TRUCK. TRUCK IN TRANSIT WHEN SHORT OC CURRED IGNITING GAS CAN. CAN CAUGHT FIRE AND WASEXTINGUISHED WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER. ONCE FIRE OUT EE PICKED UP HOT GAS CAN.

1997 · 1 incident

February 19, 1997 SC · Metal/Non-Metal barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Foster Dixiana Corporation · Fall from machine

VENDORS TRUCK ARRIVED TO REFUEL DREDGE. PRODUCT HOSE NOT LONG ENOUGH TO REACH DREDGE. EMP TOOK 4X4 TRUCK TO RETRIEVE EXTRA HOSE. BECAME STUCK ON ACCESS ROAD DUE TO RECENT RAIN. EMP CLIMBED ONT O HOOD OF VEHICL TO FLAG EMP FOR HELP. JUMPED FROM HOOD OF TRUCK AND UPON LANDING, BROKE LEFT KNEE.

1984 · 1 incident

1983 · 1 incident

October 11, 1983 SC · Metal/Non-Metal OTHER
Augusta Sand & Gravel Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MORRIS HAD BEEN A DRAGLINE OPERTOR FOR ABOUT 53 YEARS HE HAD 2 HEART ATTACKS ON 082383 HE WAS TOLD BY HIS DOCTOR ON SEPT 21 1983 THAT HE COULD WORK WHEN HE FELT LIKE WORKING HE WORKED ABOUT 5 HRS A DAY OR MORE IF HE FELT LIKE IT HE WAS A FRIEND OF MINE AND HAD WORKED PART TIME SINCE EARLY THIS SUMMER