Mining Incidents

BROWN # 2: 135 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Ned Gumble
woodruff, Spartanburg County, SC  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 3800596

BROWN # 2 has $79K in proposed MSHA penalties and $9K outstanding across 7 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
13
Years on record
1986–1999
Latest incident
Oct 1999
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
135
citations
40
significant & substantial
$78,501
proposed penalties
$59,927
paid to date
76% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $18,574 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
41
inspections on record
1,014
inspection hours
13.3
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.
135 citations across 1,014 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

BROWN # 2 has $79K in proposed MSHA penalties and $9K outstanding across 7 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.
$79K
proposed penalties
$69K
current assessed
$60K
paid to date
$9K
outstanding
135 assessments are final orders; 7 contested dockets.
Of $39K in penalties contested before the Commission, $29K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2010-11-23.
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.
29.6%
significant & substantial
15.6%
high negligence or reckless
29.6%
reasonably likely or greater
68.9%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 11.9% low, 72.6% moderate, 14.8% high, 0.7% 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.
17 citations taken to the federal commission · 13% of citations on record
  • Settled 14 · 82%
  • Stood as issued 2 · 12%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 1 · 6%
100%
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 11 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
26%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$38K proposed, $28K 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 2011-07-19.
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
SE 2011-419M Settlement Harner 2011 $21K → $16K
SE 2009-461M Settlement 2011 $9K → $7K
SE 2008-993M Settlement Bulluck 2011 $5K → $4K
SE 2009-827M Default Lesnick 2011 $2K → $2K
SE 20000072M Settlement Barbour 2000 $655 → $491
SE 2011-420M Settlement McCarthy 2011 $540 → $378
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: 2010-07-21, 16 years ago
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
33
samples
9
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Fibers, >5um23
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz5
  • Asbestos 2.0f/ml4
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg3
Show the individual readings (37)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2010-07-21 Fibers, >5um 0.01 Laborer, Bullgang
2010-07-21 Fibers, >5um 0.02 Backhoe Operator
2010-07-21 Fibers, >5um 0.02 Lab Technician
2010-07-21 Fibers, >5um 0.01 Front-end Loader Operator
2009-09-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.13 1.36 0.10 Bagging Operator
2009-09-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bagging Operator
2009-09-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Lab Technician
2009-09-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2009-02-19 Fibers, >5um 0.01 Bagging Operator
2009-02-19 Fibers, >5um 0.02 Bagging Operator
2008-05-21 Fibers, >5um 0 Bulldozer Operator
2008-05-21 Fibers, >5um 0.01 Bulldozer Operator
2008-05-21 Fibers, >5um 0.01 Bulldozer Operator
2008-05-21 Fibers, >5um 0.04 Bagging Operator
2008-05-21 Fibers, >5um 0.03 Bagging Operator
2006-06-14 Fibers, >5um 0.01 Bagging Operator
2006-06-14 Fibers, >5um 0.01 Bagging Operator
2005-09-08 Fibers, >5um 0.05 Lab Technician
2004-01-22 Fibers, >5um 0.15 Bagging Operator
2004-01-22 Asbestos 2.0f/ml 0 2 0.00 Flotation/Concentrator Oper.
2004-01-22 Fibers, >5um 0.12 Flotation/Concentrator Oper.
2004-01-22 Asbestos 2.0f/ml 0 2 0.00 Lab Technician
2004-01-22 Fibers, >5um 0.1 Lab Technician
2004-01-22 Asbestos 2.0f/ml 0.01 2 0.01 Bagging Operator
2004-01-22 Fibers, >5um 0.12 Bagging Operator
2004-01-22 Asbestos 2.0f/ml 0.01 2 0.01 Bagging Operator
2002-11-26 Fibers, >5um 0.05 Lab Technician
2002-11-26 Fibers, >5um 0.02 Bulldozer Operator
2002-11-26 Fibers, >5um 0.04 Bagging Operator
2002-11-26 Fibers, >5um 0.05 Bulldozer Operator
2002-11-26 Fibers, >5um 0.02 Bulldozer Operator
2002-06-12 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.22 Bulldozer Operator
2002-06-12 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.24 Bagging Operator
2002-06-12 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.3 0.99 0.30 Bagging Operator
2002-06-12 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.29 2.2 0.13 Truck Driver
2001-10-31 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.35 2.08 0.17 Bagging Operator
2001-10-31 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.23 1.93 0.12 Bagging Operator
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.

BROWN # 2 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2010.

Injury rate, 2010
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 2.68 and the all-US-mining average was 3.20 cases per 100 workers.
In South Carolina, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.39 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
2010 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2009 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2008 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2007 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2006 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2005 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2004 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2003 * 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. Carolina Vermiculite Company Inc 1984 to 1990
  2. Carolina Vermiculite Div-Va Vermiculite LLC 1990 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2011 17
2010 18
2009 21
2008 25
2007 24
2006 23
2005 19
2004 19
2003 17
2002 19
2001 20
2000 27
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

BROWN # 2 sits in Spartanburg 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.
Spartanburg County, South Carolina · Population 338,096
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$64,195
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
2011 Q1 9,909 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 10,686 18 6 1684.4
2010 Q3 9,869 15 9 1519.9
2010 Q2 9,775 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 8,186 2 0 244.3
2009 Q4 11,057 8 3 723.5
2009 Q3 8,392 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 8,988 2 1 222.5
Show 33 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2009 Q1 11,548 8 5 692.8
2008 Q4 13,701 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 13,426 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 12,938 36 8 2782.5
2008 Q1 11,360 4 4 352.1
2007 Q4 13,928 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 13,300 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 13,000 11 1 846.2
2007 Q1 12,550 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 12,725 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 13,450 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 13,800 2 0 144.9
2006 Q1 11,100 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 11,200 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 11,400 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 11,350 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 11,000 2 0 181.8
2004 Q4 10,800 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 10,905 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 10,460 2 0 191.2
2004 Q1 11,040 1 1 90.6
2003 Q4 8,060 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 8,580 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 8,720 1 0 114.7
2003 Q1 8,850 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 9,350 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 10,500 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 10,720 3 0 279.9
2001 Q4 9,900 4 1 404.0
2001 Q3 12,300 3 1 243.9
2001 Q1 11,500 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 13,880 4 0 288.2
2000 Q1 17,700 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

13 on file

1999 · 1 incident

October 29, 1999 SC · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Carolina Vermiculite Div-Va Vermiculite LLC · Struck against stationary object

WORKING ON PUMP, INTAKE HOSE AND CLAMP, EE WAS CUTTING INTO CLAMP TO FIND THE AIR LEAKE. WHILE CUTTING HIS SHUT SLEAVE BECAME TANGLED IN BLADE WHICH PULLED HIS HAND INTO SAW.

1992 · 1 incident

1991 · 2 incidents

October 11, 1991 SC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Carolina Vermiculite Div-Va Vermiculite LLC · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

SCAFFOLD WAS BEING ERECTED BRICKS HANDED UP WITH FORKLIFT FORKLIFT TOUCHED SCAFFOLD EMPLOYEE JUMP ONTO PALLETS

1989 · 1 incident

January 26, 1989 SC · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Carolina Vermiculite Company Inc · Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS KNEELING WORKING WITH SUBMERSIBLE PUMP IN THE TROMMEL SCREEN AREA. HE GLANCED UP AT APRON FEEDER AND NOTICED HOPPER WAS ALMOST EMPTY. WHILE WORKING WITH PUMP HE HAD MOVED UNDER TH E CONTROL LOG TABLE. HE JUMPED UP AND HIT HIS HEAD ON CORNER EDGE OF TABLE. AND CUT HIS HEAD.

1988 · 5 incidents

November 30, 1988 SC · Metal/Non-Metal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant ELECTRICAL
Carolina Vermiculite Company Inc · Contact with electrical current

#2 HEATEER ELEMENT IN QUALITY CONTROL LAB FURNACE DROPPED DOWN INTO LAB OPERATORS WORKA REA. WHICH MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR EMPL TO TOUCH SMAPLE PAN TO ELEMENT WHICH RESULTED IN ELECTRICAL SHOC K. ELEMENT DROPPED DOWN DUE TO VIBRATION CAUSED BY OPERATORS TAPPING ON BAFFLE WHICH HAD BEEN SSTOPPED UP OVER LAST 24 HRS. EMPL COMPLAINING OF SORENESS IN RIGHT ARM & SHOULDER.

November 1, 1988 SC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Carolina Vermiculite Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WELDING ON RUSTY GRIZZLY BARS RUST OR OTHER FOREIGN OBJECT ENTERED RT.EYE EMPLOYEE WAS IN AN CRAMPED POSITION WHILE HE WAS STARTING TO WELD

October 19, 1988 SC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Carolina Vermiculite Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS OPENING A BARREL OF AMINE REMOVING THE PROTECTIVE SEAL WHEN HAND SLIPPED CAUSING FINGER TO BE CUT BY RING AROUND VARREL

August 5, 1988 SC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Carolina Vermiculite Company Inc · Struck against stationary object

CONDITIONER SHAFT REMOVED FROM TANK RESTING 40 DEG ANGLE.EMPL RAISED HAND STRIKING RIGHT FOREFINGER ON EDGE OF PADDLE CAUSING SEVERE CUT ON INSIDE OF FINGER BETWEEN 1ST & 2ND JOINTS.

July 12, 1988 SC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Carolina Vermiculite Company Inc · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EMPL WAS POURING CAUSTIC SODA MIXTURE INTO TANK USING 10 QT BUCKET. HIS HAND SLIPPED OFF OF BOTTOM OF BUCKET CAUSING LIQUID TO SPLASH OUT & OVER BACK OF HIS LEFT HAND.

1987 · 2 incidents

March 19, 1987 SC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver MACHINERY
Carolina Vermiculite Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPL HOLDING SH9ET OF METAL WHILE ANOTHER EMPL DRILL HOLE IN IT.DRILL WENT THROUGH METAL AND HIT EMPL FINGER.

February 12, 1987 SC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Carolina Vermiculite Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMP WAS REMOVIN1 A PIECE OF 1/2 IN PLATE THAT HAD BEN WELDED TO AN H BEAM AFTER FLAME CUTTING THE WELD HE WAS USING A CHISEL AND 1 LB HAMMER TO REMOVE PLATE WHICH WAS STILL HOLDING WITH MELTED METAL ON ONE SI8E. PUT CHISEL IN LOOSENED SIDE AND WAS DRIVING CHISEL TOWARD STUCK SIDE- WAS NOT HOLDING CHISEL USING FRICTION OF PLATE TO HOLD IT. CHISEL SLIPPED AND HAMMER STUCK KNEE CAP

1986 · 1 incident

October 23, 1986 SC · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Carolina Vermiculite Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

USING DISC GRIN8ER TO REMOVE MATERIAL BUILDUPO FROM PLATE FOR FEED END OF ROD MILL KNEELING ON FLOOR WITH PIECE OF FLOOR. DISC HIT PROTRUDING BOLT HEAD ON METAL PIECE & KICKED BACK DISC CONTEC %@%*@ CONTACTED3RIGHT LEG JUST ABOVE KNEE. REQUIRING 12 STITCHES. RETURNED TO WORK 10-28 TORE OUT 2 STITCHES BENDING LEG WAS OFF 29,30,31 RETURNED TO WORK 11-3-86 WORKER WAS NOT INSTRUCTED BE