Blacksburg Quarry has $17K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
4
Years on record
2016–2020
Latest incident
Mar 2020
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2012
75
citations
14
significant & substantial
$17,225
proposed penalties
$17,083
paid to date
99% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $142 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: 791 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Blacksburg Quarry has $17K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 3 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.
$17K
proposed penalties
$17K
current assessed
$17K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
75 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $842 in penalties contested before the Commission, $700 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-05-13.
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.
3citations taken to the federal commission · 4% of citations on record
Settled
3 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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%
17%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$842 proposed, $700 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 2013-12-04.
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: 2026-06-16
24%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
41
samples
21
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz225 over
Respirable dust, <.1mg16
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz2
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (41)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2026-04-15
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.61
0.49
1.24
Cleanup Man
2026-04-15
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.37
0.35
1.06
Cleanup Man
2026-03-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.57
0.58
2.71
Building Repair/Maint.
2026-03-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.67
0.54
1.24
Building Repair/Maint.
2016-11-16
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.62
0.38
1.63
Cleanup Man
2026-06-16
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.22
0.64
0.34
Cleanup Man
2026-06-16
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.3
0.65
0.46
Cleanup Man
2026-06-16
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.26
0.75
0.35
Crusher Oper/Worker
2026-03-24
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2026-03-24
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Rotary Bucket Ex. Operator
2026-03-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.12
0.72
0.17
Cleanup Man
2023-10-03
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2023-10-03
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2023-10-03
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.24
0.51
0.47
Mechanic
2021-08-19
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2021-08-19
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.28
0.81
0.35
Utility Man
2021-08-19
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.15
10
0.02
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2021-08-19
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2020-09-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Utility Man
2020-09-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Utility Man
2020-09-02
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.3
Utility Man
2020-09-02
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.35
Utility Man
2019-06-11
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2019-06-11
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.35
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2019-06-11
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.14
Utility Man
2019-06-11
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2018-07-12
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.24
0.4
0.60
Crusher Oper/Worker
2018-07-12
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2018-07-12
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.27
0.29
0.93
Utility Man
2017-08-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.19
0.66
0.29
Cleanup Man
2017-08-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.22
0.41
0.54
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2017-05-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2017-05-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Cleanup Man
2017-05-02
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.45
0.85
0.53
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2016-11-16
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.2
0.49
0.41
Truck Driver
2016-09-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2016-09-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2016-09-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2012-10-03
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.15
0.47
0.32
Crusher Oper/Worker
2012-10-03
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.14
0.53
0.26
Cleanup Man
2012-10-03
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.21
0.53
0.40
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.
Blacksburg 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 South Carolina, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.42 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 *
6.81
0.00
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2026
20
2025
17
2024
16
2023
16
2022
13
2021
14
2020
14
2019
14
2018
16
2017
18
2016
20
2015
12
2014
9
2013
8
2012
6
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Blacksburg Quarry sits in Cherokee County, South 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.
Cherokee County, South Carolina · Population 56,299
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$49,047
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
11,106
5
2
450.2
2026 Q1
10,048
0
0
0.0
2025 Q4
9,317
3
0
322.0
2025 Q3
9,541
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
8,256
3
0
363.4
2025 Q1
7,997
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
7,339
3
1
408.8
2024 Q3
8,959
0
0
0.0
Show 50 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
9,193
6
0
652.7
2024 Q1
8,531
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
9,230
3
0
325.0
2023 Q3
9,665
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
7,046
1
0
141.9
2023 Q1
7,742
1
0
129.2
2022 Q4
6,772
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
5,719
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
6,500
1
0
153.8
2022 Q1
6,330
5
0
789.9
2021 Q4
6,078
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
6,513
1
0
153.5
2021 Q2
8,014
0
0
0.0
2021 Q1
7,891
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
7,119
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
7,322
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
7,354
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
7,594
1
0
131.7
2019 Q4
7,241
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
8,551
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
7,665
0
0
0.0
2019 Q1
6,532
1
0
153.1
2018 Q4
6,746
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
7,585
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
9,626
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
7,965
3
3
376.6
2017 Q4
7,434
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
12,728
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
9,049
1
0
110.5
2017 Q1
8,419
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
6,099
6
3
983.8
2016 Q3
11,028
1
1
90.7
2016 Q2
12,106
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
9,540
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
7,878
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
14,224
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
6,345
1
0
157.6
2015 Q1
5,464
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
7,375
1
0
135.6
2014 Q3
4,504
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
6,082
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
3,575
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
3,095
1
0
323.1
2013 Q3
3,520
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
3,565
1
0
280.5
2013 Q1
4,396
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
2,287
1
0
437.3
2012 Q3
2,482
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
1,725
1
0
579.7
2012 Q1
3,046
2
0
656.6
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
4 on file
2020 · 1 incident
March 25, 2020SC · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was handling a screen panel section while replacing the middle screen deck on a 6x16 shaker. The employee lost EE's grip on the panel and it fell onto EE's foot. No broken bones, but light duty was issued
2018 · 1 incident
February 6, 2018SC · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Using a wrench to loosen up hydraulic line on HP400. The dust cover slipped which pushed their hand and the wrench into the main frame and caused a small stone to be smashed into the side of a finger.
2016 · 2 incidents
September 17, 2016SC · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was lifting an approximately 65lb shank to a new location about 3 feet away. In the process of lifting the item, combined with the twisting motion, a back strain was suffered.
September 1, 2016SC · Metal/Non-Metalutility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was lifting an oxygen cylinder. Upon lifting, the employee felt a pop in back and began making complaints of back pain. The employee decided to wait until 9/2/16 to ask to be taken to the doctor. The physician placed the ee on light duty with a back strain as the diagnosis at this time. EE is still on light duty and has a follow up appointment on 9/15/16