Mining Incidents

BESSEMER CITY QUARRY: 2 recorded fatalities Metal/Non-Metal

Bessemer City, Gaston County, NC  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3101105

BESSEMER CITY QUARRY has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $100 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
2
Total incidents
17
Years on record
1984–2025
Latest incident
Sep 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
43
citations
11
significant & substantial
$5,518
proposed penalties
$4,854
paid to date
88% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $664 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
60
inspections on record
822
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: 822 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

BESSEMER CITY QUARRY has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $100 outstanding across 1 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.
$6K
proposed penalties
$5K
current assessed
$5K
paid to date
$100
outstanding
43 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $807 in penalties contested before the Commission, $243 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-07-30.
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.
25.6%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
27.9%
reasonably likely or greater
72.1%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 23.3% low, 76.7% moderate, 0.0% 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.
1 citations taken to the federal commission · 2% of citations on record
  • Settled 1 · 100%
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%
70%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$807 proposed, $243 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 2012-04-17.
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 2012-403M Settlement Lesnick 2012 $807 → $243
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: 2025-09-15
11%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
21
samples
9
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz101 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg7
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz4
Show the individual readings (21)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2004-12-08 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.91 0.6 1.52 Crusher Oper/Worker
2025-09-15 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.33 Front-end Loader Operator
2025-09-15 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2021-07-07 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.19 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-08-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-08-04 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.31 1.2 0.26 Utility Man
2011-08-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2011-08-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2005-02-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.43 1.13 0.38 Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-12-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2004-12-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Shovel Operator
2004-12-08 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 0.4 0.38 Truck Driver
2004-02-25 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.2 0.77 0.26 Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-02-25 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Shovel Operator
2004-02-25 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.25 Truck Driver
2004-02-25 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.59 2.23 0.26 Front-end Loader Operator
2002-01-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 0.53 0.36 Truck Driver
2002-01-30 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.36 Truck Driver
2002-01-30 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.35 Truck Driver
2001-04-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.9 2.06 0.44 Crusher Oper/Worker
2001-04-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 0.8 0.24 Truck Driver
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.

BESSEMER CITY QUARRY recorded 14.71 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2002.

Injury rate, 2002
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.
14.71
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 4.17 and the all-US-mining average was 5.05 cases per 100 workers.
In North Carolina, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 2.59 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
2002 * 14.71 0.00 0.000
2001 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2000 * 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. Martin Marietta Aggregates 1950 to 2005
  2. Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. 2005 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 3
2025 3
2024 3
2023 3
2022 3
2021 3
2020 4
2019 4
2018 3
2017 3
2016 4
2015 3
2014 2
2013 2
2012 3
2011 5
2010 3
2009 3
2008 6
2007 6
2006 8
2005 10
2004 10
2003 12
2002 15
2001 15
2000 16
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

BESSEMER CITY QUARRY sits in Gaston County, North Carolina, 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.
Gaston County, North Carolina · Population 231,485
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$65,472
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 1,136 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 1,096 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 956 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 948 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 1,120 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 958 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 740 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 1,063 1 0 940.7
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 1,350 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 1,565 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 1,062 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 1,112 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 1,096 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 1,092 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 977 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 1,108 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 1,134 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 810 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 1,020 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 986 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 1,114 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 1,212 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 1,402 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 1,268 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 1,286 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 1,577 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 1,430 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 1,185 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 1,315 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 1,431 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 1,230 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 966 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 1,235 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 780 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 805 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 833 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 883 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 1,374 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 974 1 0 1026.7
2016 Q3 2,045 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 3,679 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 967 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 1,129 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 1,631 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 441 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 27 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 42 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 14 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 47 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 0 0 0
2013 Q4 128 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 0 0 0
2013 Q2 40 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 22 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 151 3 1 19867.5
2012 Q3 317 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 562 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 4,216 1 1 237.2
2011 Q4 2,972 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 3,462 2 0 577.7
2011 Q2 2,676 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 3,342 4 2 1196.9
2010 Q4 2,756 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 794 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 660 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 705 1 0 1418.4
2009 Q4 889 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 770 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 816 1 0 1225.5
2009 Q1 1,182 2 0 1692.0
2008 Q4 1,714 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 2,236 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 3,044 1 0 328.5
2008 Q1 3,050 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 3,112 1 0 321.3
2007 Q3 3,168 1 0 315.7
2007 Q2 3,212 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 2,900 1 0 344.8
2006 Q4 3,052 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 4,207 1 0 237.7
2006 Q2 3,883 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 4,265 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 4,879 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 5,651 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 5,056 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 4,398 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 4,270 2 2 468.4
2004 Q3 3,812 1 0 262.3
2004 Q2 4,202 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 4,632 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 4,544 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 5,452 5 0 917.1
2003 Q2 5,141 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 4,534 5 1 1102.8
2002 Q4 4,634 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 7,966 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 7,692 2 0 260.0
2002 Q1 6,892 1 1 145.1
2001 Q4 7,305 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 7,609 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 9,632 2 1 207.6
2001 Q1 9,076 1 0 110.2
2000 Q4 8,925 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 8,229 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 8,001 1 0 125.0
2000 Q1 8,775 0 0 0.0

Fatalities at this mine

2 recorded
September 7, 1999 NC · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman Fatality · ELECTRICAL
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Contact with electrical current

HE WAS MAKING SURE THE WIRE WAS NOT CROSSED IN PREPARATION TO CONNECTING CONDUCTOR TO HANDLINE BEFORE PULLING TO POLE PLACEMENT.

August 15, 1998 NC · Metal/Non-Metal Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

STRUCK ON LEFT SIDE OF CHEST BY LEFT FRONT TIRE OF CHEVROLET WHTE 1500 TRUCK, CAUSING BROKEN RIBS.

Reportable incidents

15 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2025 · 1 incident

September 5, 2025 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Carolina Cat technician was entering through an interior door when the door closed on EE's hand.

2004 · 1 incident

August 30, 2004 NC · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

The employee was using a jigsaw to cut holes in the bottom of the generator pan. The saw either locked down or twisted during the cutting process, which pushed the saw against the ee's finger and the generator frame. The result was a lacerated finger requiring three stitches.

2003 · 1 incident

August 20, 2003 NC · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Contact with hot objects or substances

EMPLOYEE WAS LAYING ON HIS SIDE WELDING ON A D8L DOZER WHEN A PIECE OF SLAG POPPED AND WENT INTO HIS LEFT EAR.

2002 · 2 incidents

July 26, 2002 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE WAS TIGHTENING BOLTS ON JAW CRUSHER: SLIPPED AND FELL: SHIT HIT EDGE OF TAIL SPRING GUARD CAUSING CUT OF RIGHT LEG.

June 21, 2002 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Struck against a moving object

EE BUMPED ELBOW ON CONTROL LEVER IN THE CAB OF THE EX 1100. THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 6/21/2002 BUT NO PROBLEMS UNTIL 7/31/2002. FLUID WAS DRAINED FROM ELBOW ON 7/31/2002.

1996 · 1 incident

August 20, 1996 NC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS RELIEVING CO-WORKER ON THE STOCKPILE TRUCK WHEN CO-WORKER CLOSED THE TRUCK DOOR CATCHING EE'S LEFT THUMB BETWEEN THE DOOR JAM AND THE DOOR. THIS RESULTED IN A FRACTURE OF EE'S LEFT THUM B ABOVE THE KNUCKLE.

1995 · 1 incident

October 13, 1995 NC · Metal/Non-Metal master mechanic, foreman, supervisor HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE A WEDGE HE WAS USING TO BREAK LOOSE A BOWL LINER FROM THE LINER NUT. WHILE TAPPIN ON THE WEDGE IT CAME LOOSE AND STRUCK HIM UNDER THE CHIN CAUSIGN A LACERATI ON AND FRACTURE OF THE JAW.

1993 · 1 incident

September 24, 1993 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE BREAKING A JAW JAM THE CABLE TO THE HOOK FROM HOIST BOUNCED AND PINCHED THE RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER.

1992 · 1 incident

November 10, 1992 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

SANDING WITH A SMALL 4" HAND SANDER ON CRUSHR HEAD (MANTLE) AND SANDER DISK CAUGHT ON BURR, KICKED BACK AND STRUCK EMPLOYEES ARM ABO E WRIST CAUSING A LACERATION REQUIRING 7 STICHES.

1990 · 1 incident

1989 · 2 incidents

June 13, 1989 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech POWERED HAULAGE
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

CLEANING IN TUNNEL ATTEMPT TO REMOVE ROCK FROM BETWEEN CONVEY IDLER AND STEEL SKIRT CONVEY RUNNING. HAND PINCHED BETWEEN IDLER AND STEEL SKIRT.

March 15, 1989 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Fall to the walkway or working surface

PULLING ON WRENCH WHLE STANDING ON CATWALK WRENCH SLIPPED FELL BACK ONTO BACK ON CATWALK COMP OF LOWER BACK PAIN AND FOREMAN SENT TO DR.

1988 · 1 incident

June 27, 1988 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Fall onto or against objects

EMPLOYEE SLIPPED ON CONVEYOR CATWALK AND BRUISED LEFT HAND. RETURNED TO WORK AFTER REPORTING FALL OT FOREMAN. HAND WAS STILL SORE ON 7-11-88 AND FOREMAN SENT EMPLOYEE TO DOCTOR FOR X-RAY ON 7 -12-88. DOCOTR PRESCRIBED MUSCLE RELAXER FOR EMPLOYEE ON 7-12-88 AND EMPLOYEE RETURNED TO WORK.

1987 · 1 incident

July 7, 1987 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

ON 091787 EMPLO2EE SAID HIS DOC.ATTRIBUTED A BLOOD CIRCULATION PROBLEM IN HIS HAND TO BRUISES TO HIS HAND FROM A JAW CRUSHER H OIST HOOK THAT PINCHED HIS HAND BETWEEN THE CABLE & THE FEED BO X 3

1984 · 1 incident

February 1, 1984 NC · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

IN ORDER TO REACH INTO CHUTE OVER CONE CRUSHER,6\ BOARD WAS PLACED ACROSS 4\ OPENING ON FEED BOX.AS EMPL STARTED TO WELD BOARD COLLAPSED CAUSING FALL ONTO CRUSHER.