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: 521 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Bisti Wash Plant has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 14 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
$6K
current assessed
$6K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
56 assessments are final orders; 14 contested dockets.
Of $4K in penalties contested before the Commission, $3K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2016-11-17.
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.
20citations taken to the federal commission · 36% of citations on record
Settled
18 · 90%
Stood as issued
1 · 5%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 5%
58%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 12 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
5%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$3K proposed, $3K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2016-11-01.
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: 2015-11-04, 10 years ago
13
samples
0
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Respirable dust, <.1mg13
Show the individual readings (13)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2015-11-04
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2013-10-31
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2013-10-31
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2013-10-31
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Supervisor, Co. Official
2009-10-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Supervisor, Co. Official
2009-10-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2009-10-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2005-06-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Cleanup Man
2005-06-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-06-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2003-05-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2003-05-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2003-05-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Supervisor, Co. Official
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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2016
13
2015
9
2014
6
2013
5
2012
5
2011
6
2010
6
2009
5
2008
5
2007
5
2006
5
2005
5
2004
15
2003
5
2002
5
2001
4
2000
4
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Bisti Wash Plant sits in San Juan County, New Mexico, where the Census mining category is 7.5% 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.
San Juan County, New Mexico · Population 121,178
7.5%
Mining share of county employment
$53,020
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
2016 Q4
1,450
1
0
689.7
2016 Q3
1,458
1
0
685.9
2016 Q2
1,799
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
1,906
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
1,310
1
0
763.4
2015 Q3
1,677
4
1
2385.2
2015 Q2
1,461
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
2,088
0
0
0.0
Show 60 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2014 Q4
2,256
3
1
1329.8
2014 Q3
2,126
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
1,665
4
1
2402.4
2014 Q1
2,342
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
1,818
4
1
2200.2
2013 Q3
968
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
1,734
1
0
576.7
2013 Q1
1,884
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
1,662
2
0
1203.4
2012 Q3
1,977
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
2,060
3
2
1456.3
2012 Q1
1,849
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
2,326
2
0
859.8
2011 Q3
2,446
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
2,235
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
1,547
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
2,124
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
2,347
2
1
852.2
2010 Q2
2,039
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
2,102
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
1,100
2
0
1818.2
2009 Q3
1,245
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
1,232
3
0
2435.1
2009 Q1
1,238
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
1,168
4
2
3424.7
2008 Q3
1,272
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
1,305
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
492
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
1,207
2
1
1657.0
2007 Q3
792
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
1,287
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
1,020
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
1,269
2
0
1576.0
2006 Q3
1,338
0
0
0.0
2006 Q2
1,461
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
925
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
1,250
1
0
800.0
2005 Q3
1,375
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
1,065
1
0
939.0
2005 Q1
1,406
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
1,274
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
2,951
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
4,170
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
2,898
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
881
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
1,432
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
1,499
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
1,290
0
0
0.0
2002 Q4
1,352
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
860
3
0
3488.4
2002 Q2
3,334
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
745
0
0
0.0
2001 Q4
865
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
817
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
1,251
3
1
2398.1
2001 Q1
602
0
0
0.0
2000 Q4
832
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
959
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
969
2
0
2064.0
2000 Q1
765
5
2
6535.9
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
10 on file
2006 · 1 incident
March 13, 2006NM · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
Employee was putting the torches away, using the backhoe to move them. He set the backhoe pad down to keep the backhoe from rolling while he got out to open the shed door. The backhoe came off the pad and rolled, pinning the employee's wrist to the shed with the backhoe bucket.
2005 · 3 incidents
June 20, 2005NM · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EE WAS BREAKING BOLTS OFF SCREEN AT THE SAND PLANT. HE LATER EXPERIENCED A GREAT DEAL OF CHEST PAIN. THE MEDICAL PROVIDER DETERMINED THT EE HAD STRAINED HIS CHEST WALL AND NEEDED LIGHT DUTY FOR 1 WEEK IN ORDER TO HEAL.
June 14, 2005NM · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS CHANGING THE CUTTING EDGE ON THE SCRAPER WHEN IT FELL ON HIS LEFT ARM CAUSING A SLIGHT NUMBNESS, SWELLING AND PAIN. HE WAS RELEASED TO LIGHT DUTY AND AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT HAS NOT BEEN BACK TO THE DR FOR FULL RELEASE. HE WILL GO NEXT WEEK.
EE WAS STEPPING OUT OF TRUCK. HER BOOTS WERE MUDDY AND SHE SLIPPED ON THE TRUCK STEP. SHE FELL AND HER RIGHT ANKLE WAS SPRAINED AS IT LANDED ON A ROCK.
1997 · 1 incident
August 28, 1997NM · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techPOWERED HAULAGE
EE WAS CHECKING THE AIR SYSTEM ON THE LOADER. THE ENGINE ON THE LOADER WAS RUNNING. SOMETHING MUST HAVE FELL INTO THE FAN THEN GOT BLOWN BACK AND HIT EE IN THE EYE.
1995 · 3 incidents
September 11, 1995NM · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
THE EMPLOYEE CLIMBED UP THE CONVEYOR TO ATTACH THE LEG AT THE TOP. HE REACHED OVER TO GRAB THE LEG AND THE LEG MOVED SO HE PUT HIS RIGHT HAND BACK ON THE ANKLE IRON TO HOLD ON AND THE LEG CAM E BACK AND HIT HIS HAND CRUSHING HIS RIGHT POITN FINGER.
1992 · 1 incident
July 23, 1992NM · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
WHILE REMOVING HOLDING NUT ON BOTTOM IRON ON MANTLE THE CHAIN WAS NOT FASTENED TO STEEL HAMMER LUG ON TOP, BUT AROUND THE BOTTOM WHICH MADE THE NUT TOP HEAVY. IT TIPPED SIDEWAYS AND HIT INJUR ED ON THE RIGHT LEG.