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.
143 citations across 1,116 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Bonito Pit has $113K in proposed MSHA penalties and $25K outstanding across 6 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.
$113K
proposed penalties
$110K
current assessed
$85K
paid to date
$25K
outstanding
118 assessments are final orders; 6 contested dockets.
Of $47K in penalties contested before the Commission, $44K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-07-29.
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.
21citations taken to the federal commission · 15% of citations on record
Settled
16 · 76%
Stood as issued
3 · 14%
Vacated or withdrawn
2 · 10%
78%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 9 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
6%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$47K proposed, $44K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2024-01-29.
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.
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: 2026-08-04
46%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
21
samples
13
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz146 over
Respirable dust, <.1mg7
Show the individual readings (21)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2026-08-04
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.76
0.72
1.06
Laborer, Bullgang
2026-03-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.9
0.67
1.34
Laborer, Bullgang
2026-03-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.74
0.63
1.17
Laborer, Bullgang
2024-09-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.24
0.66
1.88
Laborer, Bullgang
2024-04-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
2.21
0.54
4.09
Laborer, Bullgang
2019-05-21
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.8
0.71
1.13
Crusher Oper/Worker
2026-08-04
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.43
0.67
0.64
Laborer, Bullgang
2026-03-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.43
0.52
0.83
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-01-29
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.2
0.74
0.27
Laborer, Bullgang
2024-09-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.17
0.86
0.20
Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2024-09-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.27
Front-end Loader Operator
2024-07-11
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.69
0.77
0.90
Laborer, Bullgang
2024-04-24
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2024-04-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.31
1.39
0.22
Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2024-04-24
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2019-05-21
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Backhoe Operator
2019-05-21
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.35
0.58
0.60
Crusher Oper/Worker
2016-06-21
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Cleanup Man
2016-06-21
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Cleanup Man
2016-06-21
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Bulldozer Operator
2016-06-21
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Electrician
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.
Bonito Pit recorded 7.54 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.
7.54
total case rate
7.54
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above 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 New Mexico, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.67 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 *
7.54
7.54
0.000
2024 *
3.66
0.00
0.000
2023 *
3.87
0.00
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
13.36
13.36
0.000
2019 *
9.83
0.00
0.000
2018 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2017 *
8.75
8.75
8.747
* 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
31
2025
34
2024
28
2023
24
2022
21
2021
16
2020
8
2019
9
2018
10
2017
8
2016
7
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Bonito Pit sits in Valencia County, New Mexico, where the Census mining category is 0.2% 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.
Valencia County, New Mexico · Population 77,382
0.2%
Mining share of county employment
$58,333
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
For unknown reason an independent driver lost control of belly truck which caused it to jack knife, throwning driver from the cab. Driver was then run over by same truck.
March 24, 2017NM · Metal/Non-Metalminer, prospector, necFatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Approx. 8-8:30 pm after shift, employee drove a vehicle onto mine site and stopped close to generator, left vehicle running, gear selector in drive position, did not set emergency brake or chalk wheels. Got out and started generator. EE appeared to have come out of generator and stopped in front of vehicle to urinate, back to vehicle. Vehicle rolled, pinned EE against generator.
While miner was exiting/stepping down out of a storage trailer EE's ankle turned and simultaneously EE's knee gave out causing EE to fall to the ground.
Miner was cutting a piece off of a conveyor belt using a utility knife. Miner was cutting towards their body , knife slipped and made contact with right forearm causing a laceration. Laceration was approx. 1" long and several mm deep and required medical attention.
2025 · 2 incidents
July 10, 2025NM · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
While using a grinder the miner had a small piece of debris enter the corner of EE's right eye. The employee was wearing safety glasses at time of incident. Employee was taken to urgent care and released post eye doctor visit on 07/11/25. Released to return to work for next scheduled shift (07/14/25).
May 22, 2025NM · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
While conducting R&R on a new conveyor (not energized) digging bar slid/fell onto a miner's hand causing a laceration to the miner's thumb. Initially it was believed to be controlled with gauze/bandage however due to bleed through etc the miner was sent to a clinic and was given 4 stitches to close the wound.
2024 · 1 incident
May 7, 2024NM · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Crusher Maintenance employee fell onto EE's tail bone while walking on catwalk. Employee reported that EE did not fall onto EE's back or hit EE's head. Reported incident in the afternoon and an initial report was taken and employee was sent for medical evaluation.
Plant Groundmen's left hand was crushed by a rock. Employee was accessing the catwalk on the Jaw Crusher. They lost footing and tripped crushing their left hand against the railing on the catwalk. Employee was transported to the hospital by a co-worker. Upon release, employee was treated for a laceration on left middle finger. No broken bones were discovered.
2021 · 2 incidents
July 14, 2021NM · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techPOWERED HAULAGE
EE was changing a conveyer belt, when a rock fell from an unknown location striking the conveyer frame. This rock then bounced up and struck EE on the right side of EE's head below EE's hard hat. EE started to feel dizzy so EE was driven to the urgent care by a coworker where EE was diagnosed with a concussion. Proper lock out/tag out was being utilized.
July 8, 2021NM · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE shut EE's D-10 dozer off and exited the cab through the left door. When EE stepped onto the tracks of the dozer, EE felt pain in EE's left ankle and heard a pop. EE was driven to urgent care by a co-worker where EE was diagnosed with a sprained left ankle. EE took the next day off from work but returned the following work day.
2019 · 1 incident
October 15, 2019NM · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee was changing out center cutting edge of D155 dozer. Upon cutting off fastening bolts of cutting edge with sledge hammer the cutting edge fell on employee's foot causing injury.