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: 815 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
CF & I PIT has $13K in proposed MSHA penalties and $147 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.
$13K
proposed penalties
$13K
current assessed
$12K
paid to date
$147
outstanding
68 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $2K in penalties contested before the Commission, $1K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-02-26.
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.
4citations taken to the federal commission · 6% of citations on record
Settled
2 · 50%
Stood as issued
1 · 25%
Still open
1 · 25%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
32%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$2K proposed, $1K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2024-12-29.
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: 2024-10-10
20%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
29
samples
10
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz162 over
Respirable dust, <.1mg8
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz5
Show the individual readings (29)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2010-02-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.7
0.41
1.71
Drill Operator, Rotary
2010-02-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.74
0.56
1.32
Crusher Oper/Worker
2024-10-10
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2024-10-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.23
Truck Driver
2024-10-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.51
1
0.51
Truck Driver
2024-10-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.12
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2023-09-26
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.31
Truck Driver
2023-09-26
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2023-09-26
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Pump, Slurry Mix Operator
2023-09-26
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.22
Drill Operator, Rotary
2022-02-08
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.21
0.62
0.34
Drill Operator, Rotary
2022-02-08
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.23
Truck Driver
2022-02-08
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.13
Laborer, Bullgang
2021-09-28
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2021-09-28
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.16
Diamond Drill Operator
2021-09-28
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.13
Truck Driver
2013-12-05
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.12
Crusher Oper/Worker
2013-12-05
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.19
Backhoe Operator
2013-12-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2012-12-19
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.2
Drill Operator, Rotary
2012-12-19
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2012-12-19
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2010-02-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.17
0.91
0.19
Front-end Loader Operator
2010-02-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.12
1.29
0.09
Truck Driver
2005-12-01
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.39
0.53
0.74
Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-12-01
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.36
0.46
0.78
Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-12-01
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Supervisor, Co. Official
2004-06-22
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.2
0.61
0.33
Laborer, Bullgang
2004-06-22
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.95
2.92
0.33
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.
CF & I PIT recorded 24.26 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.
24.26
total case rate
24.26
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above 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 Dakota, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 4.68 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 *
24.26
24.26
0.000
2009 *
6.30
0.00
0.000
2008 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2007 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2005 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2004 *
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
3
2025
4
2024
5
2023
4
2022
4
2021
5
2020
5
2019
6
2018
5
2017
6
2016
3
2015
3
2014
1
2013
2
2012
2
2011
2
2010
10
2009
13
2008
13
2007
13
2006
8
2005
10
2004
11
2003
3
2002
4
2001
3
2000
6
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
CF & I PIT sits in Pennington County, South Dakota, where the Census mining category is 0.9% 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.
Pennington County, South Dakota · Population 112,081
0.9%
Mining share of county employment
$70,768
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
575
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
2,079
1
0
481.0
2025 Q4
2,243
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
2,196
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
1,828
0
0
0.0
2025 Q1
2,677
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
2,338
1
0
427.7
2024 Q3
2,858
0
0
0.0
Show 93 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
2,159
0
0
0.0
2024 Q1
2,665
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
2,643
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
1,833
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
1,275
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
1,376
1
1
726.7
2022 Q4
1,526
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
1,839
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
2,115
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
2,859
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
2,196
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
2,291
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
2,098
2
0
953.3
2021 Q1
2,310
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
2,123
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
2,130
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
2,483
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
2,848
1
0
351.1
2019 Q4
2,923
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
3,085
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
1,849
1
0
540.8
2019 Q1
3,065
2
0
652.5
2018 Q4
2,937
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
2,371
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
1,871
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
3,462
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
3,086
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
2,551
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
1,206
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
1,324
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
3,875
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
1,619
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
0
0
0
2014 Q4
0
0
0
2014 Q3
0
0
0
2014 Q2
0
0
0
2014 Q1
981
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
2,041
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
0
0
0
2013 Q2
0
0
0
2013 Q1
1,629
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
750
2
2
2666.7
2012 Q3
0
0
0
2012 Q2
0
0
0
2012 Q1
3,015
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
1,626
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
0
0
0
2011 Q2
0
0
0
2011 Q1
2,391
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
5,259
1
0
190.2
2010 Q3
7,784
5
1
642.3
2010 Q2
5,994
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
5,698
12
8
2106.0
2009 Q4
6,440
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
8,477
3
0
353.9
2009 Q2
9,730
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
7,102
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
6,800
5
0
735.3
2008 Q3
9,630
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
9,432
2
0
212.0
2008 Q1
6,998
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
5,007
2
1
399.4
2007 Q3
8,466
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
8,449
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
6,176
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
5,380
1
0
185.9
2006 Q3
5,131
0
0
0.0
2006 Q2
5,170
1
0
193.4
2006 Q1
3,528
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
3,690
2
0
542.0
2005 Q3
5,887
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
6,560
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
6,536
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
6,444
6
1
931.1
2004 Q3
7,189
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
8,472
2
0
236.1
2004 Q1
1,524
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
694
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
326
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
561
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
4,654
1
0
214.9
2002 Q4
1,605
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
720
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
648
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
3,715
2
2
538.4
2001 Q4
705
1
0
1418.4
2001 Q3
281
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
624
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
4,483
0
0
0.0
2000 Q4
4,467
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
2,296
1
0
435.5
2000 Q2
3,868
0
0
0.0
2000 Q1
3,820
5
4
1308.9
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
19 on file
2010 · 3 incidents
September 3, 2010SD · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was unhooking a 50-100lb light plant from a pickup truck. As ee lifted the plant from the pickup, he pulled his lower back. EE visited a chiropractor where they realigned a slipped disk.
March 10, 2010SD · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was walking from the office to the plant. Ground was covered with snow and ice. Employee slipped and fell to the ground. Employee was taken to the doctor and diagnosed with a broken ankle.
February 4, 2010SD · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee parked her truck, climbed down, walked 5 feet, slipped on the ice, and fell to the ground. This action caused a hip to fracture. Weather was light to moderate snow falling all day.
2009 · 1 incident
May 12, 2009SD · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS WALKING ACROSS THE STOCKPILE YARD AREA TO GET HELP STARTING THE WATER TRUCK. (DEAD BATTERIES) EE TRIPPED ON A ROCK AND FELL, STRIKING HER FACE AND LEFT ELBOW ON THE GROUND, DISLOCATING HER LEFT ELBOW AND DAMAGING HER LEFT SHOULDER.
October 28, 1999SD · Metal/Non-Metalbelt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS CLIMBING ONTO A FLATBED TRAILER TO HELP LOAD IT. AFTER GETTING UP ON THE BED, HE STOOD UP AND TURNED ALL AT ONE TIME WRENCHING HIS BACK. HE CONTINUED TO WORK, THINING IT WAS JUST A KINK IN HIS BACK.
EE WAS CUTTING WITH TORCH AND THE HOSE BLEW UP. HE WAS USING AN OXY/ACETYLENE TORCH SET. THE TORCH WAS LIGHTED AND THE OXYGEN HOSE IMMEDIATELY BURST AT THE REPAIR NEAR CONNECTION TO HAND SET. EE RECEIVED 3RD DEGREE BURNS TO HIS LEFT FOREARM AND STOMACH.
September 16, 1998SD · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorOTHER
EE HAS AN EXTENSIVE HISTORY OF GASTROINTESTIANALPROBLEMS AND HAS SEEN SEVERAL SPECIALITS IN COLOFOR THESE PROBLEMS. HIS SYMPTONS INTENSIFIED AT WORK ON 9/16/98 TO WHERE HE WAS UNABLE TO FUNCTI ON. HIS DR SAW HIM ON 9/17/98 & STATED AFTER DISCUSSING HIS SITUATION WITH HIM, IT BECAME MY OPINION THAT THIS WAS SOMEWHAT WORK RELATED. EE WAS PUT ON MEDICAL LEAVE AT THAT TIME
June 15, 1998SD · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE AND OTHER WERE REPLACING 6 BELTS ON THE CONE CRUSHER. EE WAS PULLING ON THE LARGE PULLEY CONNECTED TO THE MAIN MOTOR WHILE OTHER PULLED ON THE BELTS. HE PULLED TOO HARD IN A BENT POSITION A ND FELT HIS LOWER BACK GIVE.
March 16, 1998SD · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
EQUIPMENT WAS SUSPENDED (HOPPER)-BY A 988 LOADER-THE HOPPER SLID ACROSS THE TRAILER AND SWEPT THE EMPLOYEE OFF HIS FEET.HE STRUCK THE GROUND HEAD FIRST.THIS RESULTED IN A CHEST CONTUSION.
1996 · 1 incident
April 30, 1996SD · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING TO REMOVE A JAW CRUSHER FEEDER WING AND WAS REMOVING THE BOLTS HOLDING THE WING TO THE FEEDER. HE WAS INSIDE THE BUCKET OF 988B LOADER AND THE WING WAS NOT SECURED TO THE BUCKET. SEVERAL BOLTS WERE REMOVED AND THE REMAINING 2 BOLTS BROKE, ALLOWING THE WING TO FALL SEVERAL INCHES ONTO THE TOP OF THE BUCKET. THE EMPLOYEE WAS STRUCK ON HIS HEAD BY THE WING. SAFETY
1995 · 3 incidents
November 29, 1995SD · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
EE WAS PREPARING A SCREEN DECK FOR 9" SIDE GRINDER. THE GRINDER DISK MADE CONTACT IN A 90 DEGREECORNER & SKIPPED FROM THE MATERIAL'S SURFACE CAUSING THE EE'S WRIST TO BE TWISTED. THE GRINDER K DISK CAME IN CONTACT WITH EE'S WRIST. ABRASION REQUIRED SUTURES.
August 3, 1995SD · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE WAS FOLDING IN RADIAL STACKING CONVEYOR TO BE MOVED. USING A COME-ALONG TO ALIGN CONVEYOR IN IN BRACES. COME-ALONG HOOK SLIPPED OFF OF CONVEYOR STRIKING EMPLOYEE IN THE HEAD ABOVE RIG HT EYE CAUSING A 1 1/2" CUT.
CRAWLED UNDER TRAILER TO FIND THE HOLE TO RUN WIRES THROUGH. WHEN HE CAME OUT, THE BACK DOOR WAS ABOVE WHERE HE WAS WORKING AND WHEN HE RAISED HIS HEAD, THE BAR TO LATCH THE DOOR HIT HIM ABO VE THE EAR. RESULTED IN: SORE RIGHT EAR.