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Billings Pit: 38 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Knife River Corporation
Billings, Yellowstone County, MT  ·  Intermittent
MSHA Mine ID: 2400478

Billings Pit has $4K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
12
Years on record
1985–2005
Latest incident
Jun 2005
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
38
citations
4
significant & substantial
$4,092
proposed penalties
$3,942
paid to date
96% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $150 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Knife River Billings's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
48
inspections on record
617
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: 617 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Billings Pit has $4K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 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.
$4K
proposed penalties
$4K
current assessed
$4K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
38 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $708 in penalties contested before the Commission, $558 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2021-07-21.
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.
10.5%
significant & substantial
2.6%
high negligence or reckless
10.5%
reasonably likely or greater
42.1%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 28.9% low, 68.4% moderate, 2.6% 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.
2 citations taken to the federal commission · 5% of citations on record
  • Settled 2 · 100%
50%
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 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
21%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$708 proposed, $558 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 2014-06-29.
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
WEST 2011-1455 Settlement Lesnick 2012 $600 → $450
WEST 2014-0812 Settlement Lesnick 2015 $108 → $108
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: 2025-11-14
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
15
samples
5
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg10
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz5
Show the individual readings (15)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2025-11-14 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2025-11-14 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2025-11-14 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2019-05-30 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2019-05-30 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2019-05-30 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2016-07-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Lab Technician
2016-07-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-07-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2002-12-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2002-12-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.55 0.76 0.72 Cleanup Man
2002-12-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.39 1.5 0.26 Front-end Loader Operator
2002-05-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.28 1.72 0.16 Front-end Loader Operator
2002-05-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.5 0.64 0.78 Sampler, Dust
2002-05-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.33 0.55 0.60 Crusher Oper/Worker
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.

Billings Pit recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2003.

Injury rate, 2003
ⓘ 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 3.76 and the all-US-mining average was 4.43 cases per 100 workers.
In Montana, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 6.39 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
2003 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2002 * 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. Midland Materials Company 1950 to 1987
  2. Midland O'Leary Inc 1987 to 1989
  3. Midland O'Leary Inc 1989 to 1990
  4. Midland O'Leary Inc 1990 to 1991
  5. Midland O'Leary Inc 1991 to 1994
  6. Jtl Group Inc 1995 to 2002
  7. Knife River Billings 2002 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 3
2025 2
2024 2
2023 3
2022 2
2021 2
2020 2
2019 2
2018 2
2017 2
2016 2
2015 2
2014 2
2013 2
2012 2
2011 2
2010 6
2009 6
2008 8
2007 9
2006 10
2005 11
2004 12
2003 13
2002 10
2001 11
2000 12
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Billings Pit sits in Yellowstone County, Montana, where the Census mining category is 1.4% 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.
Yellowstone County, Montana · Population 167,340
1.4%
Mining share of county employment
$74,400
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 692 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 575 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 1,063 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 1,779 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 1,788 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 0 0 0
2024 Q4 1,186 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 1,549 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 1,512 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 0 0 0
2023 Q4 1,372 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 1,354 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 1,087 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 774 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 615 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 1,027 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 995 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 145 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 995 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 864 1 0 1157.4
2021 Q2 1,249 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 0 0 0
2020 Q4 1,271 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 1,755 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 1,339 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 195 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 528 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 985 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 1,590 2 0 1257.9
2019 Q1 0 0 0
2018 Q4 1,286 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 1,156 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 1,279 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 0 0 0
2017 Q4 1,008 1 0 992.1
2017 Q3 815 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 1,101 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 0 0 0
2016 Q4 472 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 742 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 622 1 0 1607.7
2016 Q1 0 0 0
2015 Q4 647 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 1,070 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 1,213 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 513 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 1,112 1 0 899.3
2014 Q3 601 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 1,650 4 0 2424.2
2014 Q1 245 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 672 1 0 1488.1
2013 Q3 802 5 1 6234.4
2013 Q2 1,059 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 833 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 719 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 815 3 1 3681.0
2012 Q2 921 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 202 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 339 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 436 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 218 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 1,585 4 1 2523.7
2010 Q4 3,565 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 4,098 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 3,479 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 1,144 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 2,808 1 0 356.1
2009 Q3 3,410 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 3,332 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 1,244 2 0 1607.7
2008 Q4 3,294 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 3,549 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 3,458 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 2,067 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 3,603 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 4,477 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 3,939 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 1,518 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 3,885 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 4,736 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 5,017 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 3,456 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 3,938 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 5,804 1 0 172.3
2005 Q2 5,888 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 3,377 3 0 888.4
2004 Q4 4,642 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 5,787 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 4,560 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 4,258 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 5,068 1 0 197.3
2003 Q3 7,241 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 6,351 1 0 157.5
2003 Q1 3,198 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 5,639 1 0 177.3
2002 Q3 9,215 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 3,702 1 0 270.1
2002 Q1 2,619 1 0 381.8
2001 Q4 4,562 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 5,809 2 0 344.3
2001 Q2 5,176 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 4,155 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 4,129 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 5,417 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 5,773 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 4,161 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

12 on file

2005 · 1 incident

June 1, 2005 MT · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Knife River Billings · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

PULLING HOSE WHILE WASHING PAD AT WASH PLANT.

1996 · 1 incident

April 16, 1996 MT · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Jtl Group Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HE WAS WELDING INSIDE THE IMPACT CRUSHER. HE WAS BENT OVER WHILE WELDING. WHEN HE STRAIGHTENED HIS BODY HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS LEFT LOWER BACK.

1995 · 1 incident

June 16, 1995 MT · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Jtl Group Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE USING ABAR TO CLEAN THE MUD OFF OF THE RETURN ROLLERS OF THE 220' CONVEYOR, THE BAR SLIPPE DOUT OF HIS HAND SAND HIT HIM IN THE CHIN.

1994 · 2 incidents

February 4, 1994 MT · Metal/Non-Metal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Midland O'Leary Inc · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE WAS SERVICIGN A 988 LOADER. HE HAD GREASEDTHE LOWER CYLINDER ONT EH BUCKET ARMS AND WAS CLIMBIG UP THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE TO GREASE THE UPPER CYLINDER. THE GREASE HOSE BECAME TANGLED OR CAUGHT ON SOMETHING, SO EMPLOYEE GAVE IT A BIG TUG. IT WAS FREE CAUSIGN HIM TO LOOSE HIS BALANCE. HE FELL OFF HTE TIRE AND STRUCK HIS LEFT ELBOW ON SOMETHING BEFORE HE LANDED ONT EH GROUN

January 11, 1994 MT · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
Midland O'Leary Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

CREW CHANGING SCREEN MESH ON #2 SCREEN DECK, PHILLIP HOLDING BOLT WITH RIGHT HAND, AIR WRENCH SPUN BOLT, SHARP EDGE ON BELT CUT FINGER.

1993 · 4 incidents

September 7, 1993 MT · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Midland O'Leary Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE STEPPED DOWN OFF LADDER ON LOADER & TWISTED HIS TORSO STRAINING HIS LOWER BACK EE CONTINUED TO WORK EACH SHIFT THAT WEEK ON 09-13-93 HE SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION HE MISSED WORK ON 09-13-93 & 09-14-93

June 23, 1993 MT · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) OTHER
Midland O'Leary Inc · Struck by falling object

WIND BLEW LADDER OVER HIT EMPLOYEE ON LEFT HIP WIND GUSTING TO 35 MPH AT TIMES

April 20, 1993 MT · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator MACHINERY
Midland O'Leary Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

INSTALLING SCREENS ON DOUBLE SCREEN DECK, CHANG ED SOCKETS ON 3/4" DRIVE IMPACT WRENCH. THE KEEPER PIN SLIPPED PART WAY OUT OF SOCKET, CAUGHT HAND WHEN STARTED WRENCH, TORE HAND.

April 12, 1993 MT · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Midland O'Leary Inc · Fall onto or against objects

EE WAS CLIMBING TO TOP FO SCREEN DECK, STOPER ON LIP OF DECK, IT SHIFTED, FELL, CUT LEG ON LIP. LIP HAD NOT BEEN WELDED IN PLACE AT TIME OF INJURY.

1992 · 2 incidents

October 23, 1992 MT · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Midland O'Leary Inc · Fall onto or against objects

CHANGING SCREENS ON ELJAY SCREEN, SLIPPED AND HIT LEG ON SCREEN SUPPORT.

July 27, 1992 MT · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Midland O'Leary Inc · Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS USING A STEEL PUNCH TO DRIVE THE RACE OUT OF A BELT ROLLER. PIECE FLEW OFF PUNCH AND HIT HIM IN THE RIGHT SIDE.

1985 · 1 incident

September 30, 1985 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Midland Materials Company · Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS RE1AIRING CUTTING EDGE ON 992 LOADER HAD COMPLETED THE WELDING & IT WAS GOING BACK TOGETHER HE STARTED DRIVING THE TOOTH ON WITH A SLEDGE HAMMER & A PIECE OF METAL CHIPPED OFF & P UNCTURED HIS LE1