Chili Bar Slate has $27K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K outstanding across 6 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
29
Years on record
1989–2006
Latest incident
Aug 2006
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
155
citations
29
significant & substantial
$27,122
proposed penalties
$22,266
paid to date
82% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $4,856 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
69
inspections on record
903
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: 903 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘA Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2015-09-30.
On record since 2015.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Chili Bar Slate has $27K in proposed MSHA penalties and $2K 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.
$27K
proposed penalties
$24K
current assessed
$22K
paid to date
$2K
outstanding
146 assessments are final orders; 6 contested dockets.
Of $12K in penalties contested before the Commission, $9K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-10-08.
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.
20citations taken to the federal commission · 13% of citations on record
Settled
16 · 80%
Stood as issued
4 · 20%
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 8 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
23%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$12K proposed, $9K 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 2017-03-15.
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: 2025-10-15
88%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
33
samples
25
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz2622 over
Respirable dust, <.1mg6
Unlisted Particulate, total, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (33)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2006-12-05
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.75
0.54
1.39
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2006-12-05
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.96
0.54
3.63
Bagging Operator
2006-08-03
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.17
0.55
2.13
Forklift Operator
2006-08-03
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.8
0.53
1.51
Forklift Operator
2006-07-11
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.96
0.62
3.16
Bagging Operator
2006-05-11
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
2.21
0.61
3.62
Forklift Operator
2006-05-11
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.7
0.75
2.27
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2006-05-11
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
4.38
0.7
6.26
Bagging Operator
2004-09-08
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.63
0.45
1.40
Front-end Loader Operator
2004-09-08
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.68
0.42
1.62
Utility Man
2004-09-08
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.58
0.42
1.38
Utility Man
2004-09-08
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.18
0.54
2.19
Utility Man
2004-09-08
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
2.08
0.48
4.33
Utility Man
2003-02-27
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.52
0.52
1.00
Bagging Operator
2003-02-27
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.64
0.52
1.23
Utility Man
2002-06-26
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.08
0.41
2.63
Laborer, Bullgang
2002-06-26
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
3.69
0.61
6.05
Ball Mill Operator
2002-06-26
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
2.86
0.47
6.09
Ball Mill Operator
2002-06-25
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.74
0.39
1.90
Laborer, Bullgang
2002-01-30
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.8
0.43
1.86
Bagging Operator
2002-01-30
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.8
0.48
1.67
Crusher Oper/Worker
2002-01-30
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.44
0.55
2.62
Forklift Operator
2025-10-15
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2025-10-08
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Utility Man
2025-01-10
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Mechanic
2019-10-03
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.16
Laborer, Bullgang
2018-05-31
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Supervisor, Co. Official
2018-05-31
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2016-08-10
Unlisted Particulate, total, <1% Qtz
0.42
Mechanic
2013-08-28
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.13
0.64
0.20
Front-end Loader Operator
2013-08-28
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Mechanic
2006-08-03
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.27
0.59
0.46
Scale Man
2003-02-27
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.31
0.5
0.62
Utility Man
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.
Chili Bar Slate recorded 43.69 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2004.
Injury rate, 2004
ⓘ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.
43.69
total case rate
21.85
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 3.73 and the all-US-mining average was 4.33 cases per 100 workers.
In California, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 4.49 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
2004 *
43.69
21.85
0.000
2003 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2002 *
14.77
14.77
0.000
2001 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2000 *
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
5
2025
5
2024
6
2023
6
2022
6
2021
4
2020
3
2019
3
2018
3
2017
4
2016
3
2015
3
2014
2
2013
2
2012
3
2006
11
2005
5
2004
21
2003
13
2002
18
2001
12
2000
13
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Chili Bar Slate sits in El Dorado County, California, 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.
El Dorado County, California · Population 192,299
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$106,190
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
2,498
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
2,515
0
0
0.0
2025 Q4
2,652
2
0
754.1
2025 Q3
2,106
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
1,903
1
0
525.5
2025 Q1
1,881
3
0
1594.9
2024 Q4
2,106
0
0
0.0
2024 Q3
2,596
0
0
0.0
Show 73 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
2,682
1
0
372.9
2024 Q1
2,671
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
2,719
1
0
367.8
2023 Q3
2,749
2
0
727.5
2023 Q2
2,436
2
0
821.0
2023 Q1
2,344
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
2,324
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
2,650
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
2,288
1
0
437.1
2022 Q1
1,819
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
2,025
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
1,769
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
1,290
1
0
775.2
2021 Q1
1,188
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
1,382
3
0
2170.8
2020 Q3
1,251
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
1,416
1
0
706.2
2020 Q1
1,170
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
1,046
4
0
3824.1
2019 Q3
1,136
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
1,314
3
0
2283.1
2019 Q1
1,187
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
1,043
4
0
3835.1
2018 Q3
1,281
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
1,302
3
0
2304.1
2018 Q1
1,601
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
1,653
2
0
1209.9
2017 Q3
1,448
2
0
1381.2
2017 Q2
1,677
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
1,404
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
1,343
4
2
2978.4
2016 Q3
1,459
7
0
4797.8
2016 Q2
1,381
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
1,218
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
1,832
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
1,425
13
5
9122.8
2015 Q2
1,493
1
0
669.8
2015 Q1
1,153
6
2
5203.8
2014 Q4
875
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
1,065
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
884
6
1
6787.3
2014 Q1
0
0
0
2013 Q4
0
0
0
2013 Q3
1,991
5
3
2511.3
2013 Q2
1,617
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
1,302
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
3,340
7
2
2095.8
2006 Q3
4,758
5
0
1050.9
2006 Q2
5,160
7
1
1356.6
2006 Q1
6,094
4
0
656.4
2005 Q4
2,558
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
3,200
9
1
2812.5
2005 Q2
720
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
6,167
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
9,263
3
0
323.9
2004 Q2
7,272
1
0
137.5
2004 Q1
4,762
3
1
630.0
2003 Q4
5,538
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
6,206
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
5,684
9
3
1583.4
2003 Q1
5,160
5
2
969.0
2002 Q4
7,516
5
1
665.2
2002 Q3
9,055
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
5,158
3
1
581.6
2002 Q1
5,345
2
1
374.2
2001 Q4
5,798
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
6,270
2
0
319.0
2001 Q2
6,381
5
2
783.6
2001 Q1
4,834
2
0
413.7
2000 Q4
5,547
1
1
180.3
2000 Q3
5,965
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
4,628
0
0
0.0
2000 Q1
3,990
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
29 on file
2006 · 1 incident
August 31, 2006CA · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
Miner was attempting to deflect material from a moving conveyor belt with a shovel. The shovel was caught by the conveyor causing the miners hand to become stuck betwen the shovel and the frame of the machine. The miner was wearing a wedding ring which caused most of the injury. This consisted of laceration to the finger and avulsion of the skin.
2004 · 6 incidents
September 24, 2004CA · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Forklift was being driven, unloaded, back to the loadout area. The pavement had been wetted to suppress dust. Employee was traveling too fast, swerved to miss a pallet in the line of travel. Forklift spun 120 degrees. His right rear wheel slid into ditch and the left rear side of the forklift climbed a berm along side of ditch. Forklift overturned on its right side.
May 11, 2004CA · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
HAMMERING A BEARING POWER SCREEN, PIECE OF SLAG FLEW OFF HITTING MINER & LODGING A PIECE INTO RT. SIDE OF CHEEK REQUIRING BUTTERFLY STITCHES. MINER WAS WEARING SAFETY GLASSES & HARD HAT.
April 7, 2004CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
WAS LIFTING A ROCK (150 LB) WITH CO-WORKER WHEN FINGER GOT CAUGHT UNDER ROCK. PULLING HIS HAND OUT CAUSED MULTIPLE LACERATIONS TO LEFT INDEX FINGER. EE WAS GIVEN A TETNUS SHOT.
March 15, 2004CA · Metal/Non-Metalassayer, geologist, metallurgist, engineer, engineer managementSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
WAS TIGHTENING THE JAWS ON CRUSHER WHEN ROTATIONPULLED WRENCH OUT OF EMPLOYEES HAND. WRENCH SMASHED TOP OF FOOT.
September 28, 2002CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS WALKING AT THE REAR OF THE MILL AND TRIPPED ON A PIECE OF ANGLE IRON & FELL.
August 9, 2002CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS ADJUSTING JAW SCREEN AND MOVING ALONGSIDE EQUIPMENT WHEN HE LOST HIS BALANCE. HE REACHED OUT TO STEADY HIMSELF AND GRABBED A GUARD WHICH WAS INSECTURE. HE LET GO AND FELL FOUR FEET TO T HE GROUND. RT. UPPER ARM, RT. ROTATOR CUFF STRAIN.
1999 · 2 incidents
July 26, 1999CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
WHILE REMOVING METAL SHROIUD WITH COWORKER (SUPERVISOR) EE HAD SHROUD SLIP FROM HAND AND IT HIT HIS FOOT ABOVE STEEL TOE CAUSING SOME BRUISING & PAIN. XRAYS WERE NEGATIVE. DR. PRESCRIBED 1 DAY OFF PLUS 2 DAYS LIMITED WORK PLUS FULL TIME ON 7-30.
January 4, 1999CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
BAGGING SLATE INTO 100 LB PAPERBAGS. SORE NEXT DAY THOUGHT IT WAS FROM BAGGING THE SLATE. STIFF NECK, WAS ALREADY SEEING A CHIROPRACTOR PRIOR TO EMPLOYMENT WITH PLACERVILLE INDUSTRIES. HE REAL LY DIDN'T KNOW WHY HE WAS SORE. HE TOLD THE HOSPITAL THAT HE THOUGHT IT WAS FROM BAGGING.
August 7, 1997CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
DOING SOME REPAIR WORK AT THE WORK BENCH & PINCHED FINGER BETWEEN TWO PIECES OF METAL.
May 16, 1997CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
STEAM CLEANING A NEWLY ACQUIRED PIECE OF USED MACHINERY EE DROPPED THE STEAM CLEANER AND THE WAND POINTED AT HIS BOOT AND HOT WATER WENT INSIDE OF HIS RIGHT FOOT AND BURNED HIS FOOT NEXT TO HI S ARCH ABOUT 3" AROUND.
1995 · 1 incident
October 27, 1995CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
EMPLOYEE WAS USING HIS GRINDER & CAME APART & FLEW UP & HIT HIS FACE GRINDER HIT HIS PROTECTIVE GOGGLES THEN HIT RT ABOVE HIS EYE GOGGLES PROTECTED HIM FROM POSSIBLY LOSING HIS EYE EMPLOYEE RE CEIVED THREE STITCHES WHERE HE WAS SLIGHTLY CUT
1992 · 3 incidents
September 2, 1992CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorOTHER
PARTICULAR CUSTOMER WHO WANTS THEIR ORDERS STACKED SIX HIGH ON PALLETTS. WITH 105 LB BAGS THAT ARE ONLY MADE TO HOLD 100 LBS OF MATERIAL. LAST ROW IS TO HIGH & CASES EXCESS STRAIN BECAUSE OF H EIGHTH & MACHINE.
July 31, 1991CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS DISCONNECTING AN AIR HOSE. HE DID NOT HAVE A GOOD GRIP. HE ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE VALVE THAT TURNS THE AIR ON. THE HOSE FLEW ALL AROUND AND THE HOSE HIT BELOW THE EMPLOYEE'S EYE THA T REQUIRED TWO STITCHES.
1990 · 1 incident
April 12, 1990CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON