Mining Incidents

Cheto Mine Metal/Non-Metal

US Silica Company · Surface
Controlled by USS Holdings Inc
Sanders, Apache County, AZ  ·  Intermittent
MSHA Mine ID: 0200103

Cheto Mine has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
12
Years on record
2006–2023
Latest incident
Apr 2023
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
53
citations
4
significant & substantial
$5,744
proposed penalties
$5,474
paid to date
95% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $270 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
36
inspections on record
529
inspection hours
n/a
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: 529 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Cheto Mine has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$6K
proposed penalties
$5K
current assessed
$5K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
53 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2019-05-09.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.
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
2025 Q4 0 0 0
2025 Q2 57 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 15 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 16 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 16 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 0 0 0
2023 Q4 24 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 48 0 0 0.0
Show 78 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q2 96 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 8 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 16 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 100 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 40 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 40 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 30 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 45 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 48 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 525 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 60 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 112 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 72 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 48 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 72 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 90 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 90 1 0 11111.1
2019 Q1 72 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 95 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 72 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 90 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 550 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 525 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 623 1 0 1605.1
2013 Q2 550 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 600 1 1 1666.7
2012 Q4 600 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 550 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 600 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 650 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 625 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 600 2 0 3333.3
2011 Q2 650 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 600 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 2,239 2 0 893.3
2010 Q3 1,965 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 2,644 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 5,485 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 20,732 2 1 96.5
2009 Q3 24,980 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 24,900 7 0 281.1
2009 Q1 37,168 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 4,551 9 0 1977.6
2008 Q3 10,195 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 6,981 6 0 859.5
2008 Q1 6,400 1 0 156.2
2007 Q4 4,514 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 4,380 5 1 1141.6
2007 Q2 5,190 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 10,940 4 0 365.6
2006 Q4 6,664 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 5,340 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 4,868 4 0 821.7
2006 Q1 5,465 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 4,473 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 5,063 4 1 790.0
2005 Q2 5,155 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 4,348 1 0 230.0
2004 Q4 4,535 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 5,146 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 4,269 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 3,783 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 2,548 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 3,840 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 4,017 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 3,209 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 2,967 2 0 674.1
2002 Q3 2,960 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 3,190 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 3,213 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 2,757 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 3,713 1 0 269.3
2001 Q2 3,903 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 3,746 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 3,476 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 3,770 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 3,516 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 3,518 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

12 on file

2023 · 1 incident

April 12, 2023 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
US Silica Company · Fall from machine

Employee was dismounting equipment and fell and hit EE's head.

2009 · 2 incidents

July 16, 2009 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal motorman, motor person, swamper, switchman, locomotive operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
BASF Catalysts LLC · Fall down stairs

Employee was descending stairway carrying 4 empty 5 gal water bottles. He was not using the handrails provided. He missed the last step and fell forward onto both knees. He was eventually diagnosed having a "patellar dislocation quad tendon rupture" requiring surgery. Diagnosis did not occur until July 24, 2009. Surgery scheduled for July 28, 2009.

March 16, 2009 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
BASF Catalysts LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was in the shop working on a spray bar. He was installing a spray nozzle(approx. 3/4" x 11/2" long) into a 2" pipe. The wrench he was using to thread the nozzle into the pipe slipped off, causing him to twist his back. At the emergency room, he received an injection for the pain.

2008 · 4 incidents

November 30, 2008 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
BASF Catalysts LLC · Struck by falling object

EE was looking for a bucket to collect a sample from a stockpile. He lifted an equipment rim to pull the bucket out from under it. His hand slipped off the rim and it fell on his finger crushing it. He went to the emergency room in Gallup New Mexico where he was treated. His injury required two stitches and a splint to protect his finger.

October 8, 2008 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
BASF Catalysts LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While lifting a screen deck into place employee stepped on a bolt, slipped slightly (did not fall)and felt a pain in his lower back area. Employee has a sore muscle in his lower left back.

July 11, 2008 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec HANDLING OF MATERIALS
BASF Catalysts LLC · Struck by falling object

Installing conveyor tail guard section, it fell and pinched left middle finger.

March 27, 2008 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
BASF Catalysts LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was on a ladder adjusting the water flow to the dry scrubber, this valve is not within arms reach. On the 3rd step, EE fell backwards and her right leg wedged between the thrid and foeth steps causing her to receive a open compound fracture.

2007 · 2 incidents

August 4, 2007 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
BASF Catalysts LLC · Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee working with gasoline powered sludge pump used to transfer water. Employee noted pump operating but not producing flow (lost suction). Employee shut off gasoline engine driving pump and bled pressure. He slowly loosened plug at top of pump to further reduce pressure. Plug sprung loose and released hot water under pressure. His right forearm sprayed by hot water.

March 8, 2007 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
BASF Catalysts LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Indiv. moving folding chair w/ seat w/ accumul. about 20lbs wet sand. Chair slipped from his grasp and a leg of chair impacted top of his pinky toe at point that steel toe ended. First doctor visit didn't indicate fracture and individ placed on restricted duty and performed same job next day. Follow-on visit indicated fracture and thus reported now.

2006 · 3 incidents

October 4, 2006 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
BASF Catalysts LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was picking up tools/materials to relocate to another area when he stepped on a piece of tubing and fell striking his (L) ear on I-beam resulting in a laceration.

August 22, 2006 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal carpenter HANDLING OF MATERIALS
BASF Catalysts LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was installing forms. As he lifted a 6x2 form he felt pain in his middle back area. Employee returned to restricted duty.

August 4, 2006 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
BASF Catalysts LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Job was rained out. Employee was cleaning up site to leave when he stepped on 3/4" conduit and fell. His (R) elbow struck concrete foundation jamming his (R) shoulder. Employee was taken off work by dr. on 8/7/06 and has not returned.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Cheto Mine

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.