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Bichler Pit: 185 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Escanaba, MI, Delta County, MI  ·  Intermittent
MSHA Mine ID: 2000676

Bichler Pit has $66K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
18
Years on record
1984–2026
Latest incident
May 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
185
citations
34
significant & substantial
$66,262
proposed penalties
$58,738
paid to date
89% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $7,524 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Bichler Concrete & Gravel's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
54
inspections on record
783
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: 783 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Bichler Pit has $66K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$66K
proposed penalties
$59K
current assessed
$59K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
184 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $15K in penalties contested before the Commission, $6K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-10-16.
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.
18.4%
significant & substantial
5.9%
high negligence or reckless
18.4%
reasonably likely or greater
28.1%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 8.1% low, 85.9% moderate, 5.9% 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.
9 citations taken to the federal commission · 5% of citations on record
  • Settled 7 · 78%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 2 · 22%
67%
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 6 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
59%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$15K proposed, $6K 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 2024-01-10.
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
LAKE 2024-0087 Settlement Manning 2024 $15K → $6K
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: 2025-10-20
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
13
samples
6
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz7
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg4
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz2
Show the individual readings (13)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2025-10-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2025-10-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2021-06-08 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.29 Utility Man
2021-06-08 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.53 1.41 0.38 Truck Driver
2015-07-01 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.39 1.5 0.26 Crusher Oper/Worker
2015-07-01 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.23 1.75 0.13 Crusher Oper/Worker
2015-07-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2004-06-24 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.14 1.44 0.10 Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-06-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-06-24 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.14 Front-end Loader Operator
2000-07-19 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.21 Laborer, Bullgang
2000-07-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.14 1.01 0.14 Laborer, Bullgang
2000-07-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.2 1.98 0.10 Front-end Loader 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.
Ownership history
  1. Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co 1950 to 2017
  2. BICHLER CONCRETE & GRAVEL 2018 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 39
2025 8
2024 7
2023 7
2022 6
2021 8
2020 7
2019 8
2018 7
2017 4
2016 5
2015 5
2014 5
2013 5
2012 5
2011 5
2010 5
2009 5
2008 5
2007 5
2006 4
2005 5
2004 6
2003 5
2002 6
2001 6
2000 6
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Bichler Pit sits in Delta County, Michigan, where the Census mining category is 0.4% 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.
Delta County, Michigan · Population 36,829
0.4%
Mining share of county employment
$54,829
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 3,429 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 1,772 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 4,234 5 1 1180.9
2025 Q3 6,171 8 2 1296.4
2025 Q2 4,759 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 1,176 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 4,285 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 5,266 14 3 2658.6
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 3,995 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 1,411 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 3,093 24 4 7759.5
2023 Q3 5,045 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 4,067 6 3 1475.3
2023 Q1 2,170 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 2,937 11 1 3745.3
2022 Q3 4,358 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 3,903 20 2 5124.3
2022 Q1 1,941 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 3,542 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 5,583 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 4,859 15 0 3087.1
2021 Q1 2,034 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 4,115 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 4,116 7 0 1700.7
2020 Q2 5,533 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 1,269 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 5,036 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 6,212 12 3 1931.7
2019 Q2 3,663 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 1,925 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 4,768 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 3,959 2 0 505.2
2018 Q2 2,620 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 2,412 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 2,695 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 2,963 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 1,978 5 0 2527.8
2017 Q1 1,197 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 3,328 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 2,761 9 1 3259.7
2016 Q2 2,759 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 1,387 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 2,969 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 2,974 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 2,452 7 3 2854.8
2015 Q1 1,125 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 3,132 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 2,761 6 1 2173.1
2014 Q2 1,639 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 922 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 4,612 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 3,879 1 0 257.8
2013 Q2 1,908 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 815 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 2,648 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 3,405 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 2,640 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 934 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 3,582 4 1 1116.7
2011 Q3 3,408 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 1,865 3 1 1608.6
2011 Q1 1,038 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 2,884 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 3,656 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 2,998 5 2 1667.8
2010 Q1 1,206 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 3,236 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 4,098 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 2,079 1 0 481.0
2009 Q1 1,144 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 2,421 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 4,150 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 2,353 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 1,127 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 3,812 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 4,023 4 2 994.3
2007 Q2 2,250 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 1,050 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 3,641 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 2,130 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 2,130 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 922 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 3,550 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 3,941 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 2,904 4 1 1377.4
2005 Q1 1,020 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 4,230 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 3,976 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 3,420 4 0 1169.6
2004 Q1 1,183 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 4,282 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 4,719 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 2,067 2 2 967.6
2003 Q1 1,320 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 3,881 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 4,993 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 2,420 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 1,596 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 4,367 1 0 229.0
2001 Q3 5,194 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 3,150 2 0 634.9
2001 Q1 1,549 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 3,901 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 6,344 2 1 315.3
2000 Q2 3,742 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 1,228 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

18 on file

2026 · 1 incident

May 4, 2026 MI · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
BICHLER CONCRETE & GRAVEL · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee picked up the conveyor belt to slide it over and tighten bolt overhead. EE used EE's arms and head to push the belt up and over. After moving, employee turned EE's body and felt a sharp pain in EE's lower back and had pain standing, sitting and walking.

2020 · 1 incident

June 17, 2020 MI · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
BICHLER CONCRETE & GRAVEL · Unclassified, insufficient data

On 6/17/2020 a contractor vehicle entered the county road 426 Pit to give paper work to & talk to operator. After a brief conversation, the contractor began to leave but came to a stop. EE began to load the truck & thought the contractor left. EE began to back up & did not see the contractor truck until it was too late & hit the tailgate & above brake light. No injuries reported.

2016 · 1 incident

August 13, 2016 MI · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Struck against stationary object

Greasing under truck and got up and cut head.

2014 · 3 incidents

October 27, 2014 MI · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Struck by falling object

He set a hammer on top of 8' ladder & forgot it was there and moved the ladder and the hammer fell on his left foot.

September 10, 2014 MI · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Stepping out of dump truck and rolled ankle.

September 9, 2014 MI · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Holding chain trying to get slack out the chain lowered pinching finger between metal & conveyor.

2013 · 1 incident

December 3, 2013 MI · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Walking to building and fell on ice.

2002 · 2 incidents

September 27, 2002 MI · Metal/Non-Metal truck driver HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WAS HAMMERING PINS OUT OF WALKING BEAM WHEN DIRT WENT BETWEEN FACE SHEILD AND FACE LANDING IN EYE CAUSING SHARD OF STONE TO BE EMBEDDED IN EYE.

July 17, 2002 MI · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Struck by flying object

WHILE GRINDING ON SPRING BREAK BOLT (TO CHANGE BRAKE CAM) A CHUNK OF STEEL FLEW UP INTO LEFT EYE, CAUSING STEEL TO BE EMBEDDED INTO EYE.

2000 · 1 incident

July 29, 2000 MI · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner MACHINERY
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Flash burns (welding)

LOKKED AT THE FLASH FROM THE WELDER WHEN ASSISTING. HAD SAFETY GLASSES ON AT THE TIME. EYES FELT LIKE SANDPAPER. WENT TO DOCTOR'S RECEIVED PAIN PILLS PUT LIQUID CREAM INTO EYE.

1998 · 1 incident

March 31, 1998 MI · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Contact with hot objects or substances

DURING REMOVAL OF REAR AXLE U BOLTS, CUTTING TORCH ROLLED IN HAND PASSING TIP OVER FINGERS OF LEFT HAND BURNING THIRD AND FOURTH FINGERS ON LEFT HAND 2ND DEGREE BURNS.

1997 · 2 incidents

August 16, 1997 MI · Metal/Non-Metal driver, jeep driver, tractor operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

WAS WASHING TRUCK WITH CLEANING ACID ON BRUSH. IT SPLASHED BACK IN FACE & OVER SAFETY GLASSES INTO EYE. DRIVER INFORMED US & WENT TO DR ON 8/20/97. MEDICAL EYE OINTMENT WAS PRSCRIBED.

1994 · 1 incident

September 23, 1994 MI · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Struck against stationary object

HE WAS CLIMBING STAIRS AND HE HIT WHAT HE WAS CARRYING (SCREEN) ON TOP OF THE STAIRWELL AND JAMMED HIS NECK.

1993 · 1 incident

September 24, 1993 MI · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS TRYING TO FREE ROCK AND SMASHED HIS FINGER.

1991 · 1 incident

May 3, 1991 MI · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS HAMMERING, HAMMER BOUNCED OFF AND HIT HAND.

1990 · 1 incident

August 14, 1990 MI · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Struck against a moving object

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A FRONT-END LOADER PUSHING MATERIAL INTO FEED HOPPER WHEN BUCKET EDGE CAUGHT ON A PIECE OF IRON EMBEDDED IN THE CONCRETE APPROACH APRON CAUSING LOADER TO STOP SUDDENLY. EMPLOYEE'S KNEE HIT DASH OF LOADER CAUSING BRUISE TO KNEE.

1984 · 1 incident

October 12, 1984 MI · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Bichler Gravel & Concrete Co · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ROCK WHICH WAS LODGED BETWEEN FEED GATE & GRIZZLY FEEDER WAS BEING PRYED LOOSE WITH AN IRON BAR WHEN IT WAS FREED GATE SWUNG BACK & HIT PRY BAR WHICH IN TURN HIT VICTIM IN SIDE OF HEAD INJU RY CONSIST ED OF A CUT ON HEAD ABOVE THE EAR-NO CONCUSSION