Mining Incidents

Balcones Pit & Plant: 105 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Gene W Oeding
Flatonia, Fayette County, TX  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4100252

Balcones Pit & Plant has $20K in proposed MSHA penalties and $729 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
23
Years on record
1985–2026
Latest incident
Feb 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
105
citations
26
significant & substantial
$20,175
proposed penalties
$19,446
paid to date
96% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $729 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2001
64
inspections on record
765
inspection hours
n/a
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.
Rate withheld: 765 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Balcones Pit & Plant has $20K in proposed MSHA penalties and $729 outstanding across 0 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.
$20K
proposed penalties
$20K
current assessed
$19K
paid to date
$729
outstanding
103 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-09.
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.
24.8%
significant & substantial
7.6%
high negligence or reckless
24.8%
reasonably likely or greater
30.5%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 6.7% low, 85.7% moderate, 7.6% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, 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: 2025-12-03
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
14
samples
9
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz13
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg1
Show the individual readings (14)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2025-12-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.05 2.22 0.47 Ball Mill Operator
2025-12-03 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2024-04-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.36 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2024-04-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.25 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2021-07-01 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.51 1.92 0.79 Laborer, Bullgang
2021-07-01 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 Laborer, Bullgang
2021-07-01 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.54 Laborer, Bullgang
2017-10-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.25 2.26 0.11 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2017-10-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.46 2.18 0.67 Bagging Operator
2017-10-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.78 2.3 0.34 Ball Mill Operator
2006-08-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.94 2.17 0.43 Bagging Operator
2006-08-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.31 1.82 0.17 Laborer, Bullgang
2006-08-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.8 1.72 0.47 Laborer, Bullgang
2006-08-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.54 1.71 0.32 Laborer, Bullgang
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.

Balcones Pit & Plant 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 Texas, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.17 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 * 9.92 9.92 0.000
2020 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2019 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2018 * 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. Balcones Minerals Corp 1950 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 24
2025 25
2024 25
2023 23
2022 22
2021 22
2020 22
2019 25
2018 26
2017 24
2016 25
2015 28
2014 26
2013 26
2012 26
2011 25
2010 25
2009 25
2008 28
2007 27
2006 27
2005 27
2004 26
2003 26
2002 24
2001 24
2000 24
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Balcones Pit & Plant sits in Fayette County, Texas, where the Census mining category is 1.6% 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.
Fayette County, Texas · Population 24,783
1.6%
Mining share of county employment
$76,541
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 10,188 2 0 196.3
2026 Q1 10,897 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 12,021 3 0 249.6
2025 Q3 10,989 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 13,047 2 1 153.3
2025 Q1 10,596 1 0 94.4
2024 Q4 11,288 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 10,611 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 12,487 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 11,300 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 12,399 2 0 161.3
2023 Q3 10,784 4 0 370.9
2023 Q2 11,968 10 1 835.6
2023 Q1 10,907 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 12,588 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 12,953 2 1 154.4
2022 Q2 9,972 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 9,856 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 10,020 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 10,855 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 10,448 1 0 95.7
2021 Q1 9,006 4 0 444.1
2020 Q4 10,303 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 9,905 2 1 201.9
2020 Q2 9,081 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 11,944 4 0 334.9
2019 Q4 11,216 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 13,829 1 0 72.3
2019 Q2 11,329 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 13,078 3 1 229.4
2018 Q4 11,023 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 13,215 3 0 227.0
2018 Q2 12,253 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 13,914 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 10,773 7 2 649.8
2017 Q3 12,937 2 0 154.6
2017 Q2 10,766 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 11,861 2 0 168.6
2016 Q4 10,716 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 11,870 2 1 168.5
2016 Q2 12,415 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 10,560 3 1 284.1
2015 Q4 12,147 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 11,145 3 1 269.2
2015 Q2 13,629 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 10,629 1 0 94.1
2014 Q4 12,101 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 11,249 1 1 88.9
2014 Q2 13,237 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 11,115 3 2 269.9
2013 Q4 12,948 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 11,945 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 12,873 2 0 155.4
2013 Q1 11,014 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 12,527 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 11,301 4 2 354.0
2012 Q2 12,867 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 10,513 2 0 190.2
2011 Q4 11,619 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 11,524 1 0 86.8
2011 Q2 10,344 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 10,690 2 0 187.1
2010 Q4 10,567 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 12,838 3 1 233.7
2010 Q2 11,265 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 11,487 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 12,044 1 1 83.0
2009 Q3 12,628 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 10,943 2 0 182.8
2009 Q1 11,580 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 12,130 2 2 164.9
2008 Q3 13,027 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 11,541 1 0 86.6
2008 Q1 11,477 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 11,498 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 14,059 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 12,493 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 12,816 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 11,855 1 0 84.4
2006 Q3 14,961 8 1 534.7
2006 Q2 12,333 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 13,429 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 11,949 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 13,664 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 12,244 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 9,148 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 11,938 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 13,445 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 13,653 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 9,420 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 13,607 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 12,151 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 14,389 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 12,610 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 13,876 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 13,904 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 13,799 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 12,524 1 0 79.8
2001 Q4 12,278 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 12,952 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 14,379 1 0 69.5
2001 Q1 12,522 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 13,426 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 12,473 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 14,162 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 12,893 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

23 on file

2026 · 1 incident

February 10, 2026 TX · Metal/Non-Metal bagging, package operator STRIKING OR BUMPING
Balcones Minerals Corp · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was returning to work from break and attempted to enter the operators seat for packaging from the wrong side. Their foot slipped off the foot rest and they cut their right leg above the knee.

2021 · 2 incidents

December 6, 2021 TX · Metal/Non-Metal master mechanic, foreman, supervisor SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Balcones Minerals Corp · Fall down stairs

Employee was leaving the breakroom as they closed the door a gust of wind caught the door knocking the employee off the steps. They fell to the ground injuring their arm/wrist. They came to the office to report the injury and we offered to take to ER for precautions due to age of employee and type of fall

October 12, 2021 TX · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Balcones Minerals Corp · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Was opening the fines trailer to empty by turning a hand crank that pulls a chain to open door. Chain became tight and employee pushed harder on the crank and felt EE's back tighten up.

2016 · 1 incident

December 8, 2016 TX · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator POWERED HAULAGE
Balcones Minerals Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Finger was pinched between drive chain and sprocket on cat litter packaging conveyor belt. Operator failed to stop conveyor before cleaning debris from shaft.

2015 · 1 incident

July 30, 2015 TX · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Balcones Minerals Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Removing old steel trusses from kiln shed. Truss was falling and employee tried to grab the truss resulting in his hand between the truss and kiln. Kiln was not running at the time. The hand was not pinned in just hit briefly but with some force.

2008 · 1 incident

June 2, 2008 TX · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Balcones Minerals Corp · Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was lighting #1 Kiln. He did not know gas was trapped in Kiln. When he lit it, it exploded.

2007 · 1 incident

October 25, 2007 TX · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Balcones Minerals Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee performing normal task, stepped down from frontend loader and heard right knee pop. Could not put weight on leg at that point. Torn Ligament.

2005 · 1 incident

January 7, 2005 TX · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Balcones Minerals Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was attempting to move a 12" pipe and strained an abdominal muscle

2002 · 1 incident

August 22, 2002 TX · Metal/Non-Metal truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Balcones Minerals Corp · Struck by falling object

DRIVER WAS OPENING TRAILER DOORS, HINGES WERE BROKEN AND WHEN DOOR WAS UNLATCHED, DOOR FELL AND EMPLOYEE CAUGHT DOOR WITH RIGHT ARM.

2001 · 1 incident

August 29, 2001 TX · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Balcones Minerals Corp · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE PARKED FRONT END LOADER NEXT TO HANDICAPPED RAMP FOR LOADER OPERATOR. EMPLOYEE EXITED LOADER AND STARTED DOWN RAMP. HE SLIPPED & FELL ON HIS RIGHT SHOULDER. AT THE TIME IT WAS RAINING & RAMP WAS SLICK.

2000 · 1 incident

April 18, 2000 TX · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner POWERED HAULAGE
Balcones Minerals Corp · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE HAND CAUGHT IN DRAG CHAIN WHILE APPEMPTING TO REMOVE A ROCK. EE DID NOT CUT OFF DRAG CHAIN. AS A RESULT CHAIN CAUGHT EMPLOYEE'S GLOVE AND PULLED HIS HAND UNDER CHAIN. EE SUSTAINED LACERATIO NS TO HAND AND TENDON STRAIN.

1998 · 1 incident

June 3, 1998 TX · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor NONPOWERED HAULAGE
Balcones Minerals Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE RELOCATING BOTTLE CART FOR CUTTING TORCH, STRAINED BACK.

1996 · 2 incidents

February 13, 1996 TX · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Balcones Minerals Corp · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS BAGGING 5 CAT LITTER BAGS. WRIST BECAME WEAK.

January 23, 1996 TX · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Balcones Minerals Corp · Struck by falling object

EE WAS ASSISTING A LOCATING WEIGHT MECHANISM IN CORRECT PORNION, WEIGHT DROPPED ON FINGER.

1993 · 1 incident

August 14, 1993 TX · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Balcones Minerals Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS SHOVELING MATERIAL FROM #1 KILN HOOD BOX SHOVEL STRUCK SOLID OBJECT STRAINING HIS BACK

1992 · 1 incident

February 15, 1992 TX · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Balcones Minerals Corp · Over-exertion in lifting objects

HE WAS BAGGING FINES AND LIFTING THE BAGS. THIS ACCIDENT WAS NOT REPORTED TO US UNTIL 2-18-92. A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT WAS MADE AND HE WAS SENT TO THE DOCTOR.

1991 · 1 incident

October 1, 1991 TX · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman MACHINERY
Balcones Minerals Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

HE WAS CLEANING CRUSHER BLADE OUT WITH A LONG ROD. THE ROD WAS CAUGHT BY THE CRUSHER CAUSING HIS FINGERS TO GET CRUSHED.

1990 · 2 incidents

May 2, 1990 TX · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Balcones Minerals Corp · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

THROWING BAGS ONTO PALLET,STRAINED LEFT SHOULDER

1989 · 2 incidents

May 18, 1989 TX · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Balcones Minerals Corp · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

HE WAS SHOVELING DIRT FROM UNDER CONVEYOR WITH SHOVEL. AS HE TURNED TO THROW DIRT ONTO LOADER BUCKET. HE SAID HE HURT HIS LOWER BACK.

1985 · 2 incidents

July 29, 1985 TX · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Balcones Minerals Corp · Struck against a moving object

DRIVERS FAILED TO SEE EACH OTHER ROUNDING A CURVE.DAMAGE TO BOTH DUMP TRUCKS.

January 31, 1985 TX · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator POWERED HAULAGE
Balcones Minerals Corp · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A CLOD TRAVELING UP THE INCLINED CONVEYOR JAMMED INTO THE OPENING OF THE TOP OSF THE DISINTERGRATOR THUS CAUSING A CLAY BUILDUP OPERATOR CRAWLED ONT DONVEYOR AND TRIED TO FREE THE CLOD WITH A SHORT PIECE OF ROD HE APPARENTLY LOOSENED THE CLOD LOST HIS BALANCE AND HIS HAND WAS TRAPPED BETWEEN BELT AND LOWER GUARD