Big Springs Quarry has $83K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 21 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
7
Years on record
2008–2020
Latest incident
Jan 2020
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2007
162
citations
23
significant & substantial
$83,210
proposed penalties
$60,272
paid to date
72% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $22,938 gap.
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: 831 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Big Springs Quarry has $83K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 21 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.
$83K
proposed penalties
$60K
current assessed
$60K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
161 assessments are final orders; 21 contested dockets.
Of $51K in penalties contested before the Commission, $26K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-01-14.
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.
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.
43citations taken to the federal commission · 27% of citations on record
Settled
40 · 93%
Vacated or withdrawn
3 · 7%
45%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 22 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
49%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$51K proposed, $26K 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 2025-06-03.
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.
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: 2026-01-14
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
18
samples
5
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Respirable dust, <.1mg8
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz5
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz3
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz2
Show the individual readings (18)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2026-01-14
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
1.44
10
0.14
Blaster, Powder Gang
2026-01-14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.92
Crusher Oper/Worker
2026-01-14
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Mechanic
2022-09-07
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2022-09-07
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Rotary Bucket Ex. Operator
2022-09-07
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.13
Truck Driver
2022-09-07
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.22
Mechanic
2021-06-07
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2021-06-07
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.21
Mechanic
2021-06-07
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
1.04
Crusher Oper/Worker
2021-06-07
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Bulldozer Operator
2021-06-07
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2016-05-10
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2016-05-10
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.41
10
0.04
Crusher Oper/Worker
2011-09-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2011-09-22
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.42
10
0.04
Truck Driver
2011-09-22
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.99
10
0.10
Crusher Oper/Worker
2011-09-22
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.14
10
0.01
Ground Control/Timberman
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.
Big Springs Quarry 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 Kansas, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.88 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 *
2.66
2.66
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
3.50
3.50
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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2026
30
2025
30
2024
28
2023
28
2022
33
2021
35
2020
34
2019
31
2018
30
2017
26
2016
24
2015
24
2014
24
2013
20
2012
27
2011
31
2010
35
2009
36
2008
35
2007
18
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Big Springs Quarry sits in Douglas County, Kansas, 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.
Douglas County, Kansas · Population 119,547
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$68,756
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
15,178
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
13,636
1
0
73.3
2025 Q4
17,628
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
19,212
1
0
52.1
2025 Q2
21,030
0
0
0.0
2025 Q1
13,012
4
0
307.4
2024 Q4
17,548
0
0
0.0
2024 Q3
17,726
0
0
0.0
Show 68 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
16,157
3
1
185.7
2024 Q1
14,121
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
13,262
6
1
452.4
2023 Q3
17,502
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
14,983
2
0
133.5
2023 Q1
12,873
1
0
77.7
2022 Q4
11,990
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
12,586
4
0
317.8
2022 Q2
11,770
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
11,991
9
0
750.6
2021 Q4
12,796
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
16,779
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
17,435
3
1
172.1
2021 Q1
14,162
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
18,300
2
0
109.3
2020 Q3
20,955
4
0
190.9
2020 Q2
19,463
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
16,442
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
16,414
1
0
60.9
2019 Q3
16,237
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
16,840
1
0
59.4
2019 Q1
12,530
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
15,053
3
1
199.3
2018 Q3
16,771
6
0
357.8
2018 Q2
14,749
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
10,535
4
0
379.7
2017 Q4
13,707
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
14,315
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
11,378
2
1
175.8
2017 Q1
13,623
5
3
367.0
2016 Q4
15,080
0
0
0.0
2016 Q3
14,131
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
12,601
3
0
238.1
2016 Q1
9,870
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
11,962
2
0
167.2
2015 Q3
13,543
2
0
147.7
2015 Q2
13,116
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
10,448
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
13,220
4
0
302.6
2014 Q3
13,577
2
0
147.3
2014 Q2
10,310
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
10,997
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
13,403
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
12,740
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
12,053
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
4,443
3
0
675.2
2012 Q4
12,660
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
14,875
5
1
336.1
2012 Q2
14,316
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
8,873
5
1
563.5
2011 Q4
12,697
2
0
157.5
2011 Q3
14,512
11
2
758.0
2011 Q2
13,615
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
11,256
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
16,662
12
1
720.2
2010 Q3
18,034
2
1
110.9
2010 Q2
15,805
4
0
253.1
2010 Q1
8,230
5
1
607.5
2009 Q4
13,525
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
15,399
8
2
519.5
2009 Q2
14,697
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
11,769
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
13,940
9
3
645.6
2008 Q3
14,220
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
14,072
9
2
639.6
2008 Q1
10,452
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
8,834
1
0
113.2
2007 Q3
3,578
10
0
2794.9
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
7 on file
2020 · 1 incident
January 21, 2020KS · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Conveyor was blocked with boulders. Employee went through LOTO procedures. Employee removed head pulley guard to release tension in belt with pipe wrench. As employee was moving pipe wrench towards self, EE's hand slipped off wrench and into the pulley as it began to rotate back to original position.
2018 · 1 incident
April 9, 2018KS · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was trying to change Skid-steer bucket attachment. The pins were not releasing due to buildup of frozen mud/ice. After getting bucket free, the bucket fell about 2' and landed on employee's foot behind the steel-toe protector. The result is a fracture in metatarsal bone.
2013 · 2 incidents
November 11, 2013KS · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was grinding leg on bin. Employee hit a gap with the grinder and the grinder smacked employee in nose. He broke this nose and was released to regular duty that day. Employee took the afternoon off and was back to work the following day.
Hydraulics on lift of dump truck failed, crashing into the truck. Broke passenger door, flying glass hit right eye and thrashed into steering wheel and back into seat. Intitial treatment that day, then admitted to the hospital on 9/22. He is currently in the hospital on IV pain meds for 5 bulging disks lower lumbar and swelling. Dump truck has been tagged out and is under repair.
2008 · 2 incidents
April 9, 2008KS · Metal/Non-Metalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverHANDLING OF MATERIALS