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CLEARLAKE LAVA: 99 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Clearlake Lava Inc · Surface
Controlled by Donald W Van Pelt
CLEARLAKE, Lake County, CA  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0401036

CLEARLAKE LAVA has $13K 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
15
Years on record
1989–2022
Latest incident
Aug 2022
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
99
citations
17
significant & substantial
$13,155
proposed penalties
$12,972
paid to date
99% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $183 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Clearlake Lava Inc's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
79
inspections on record
955
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: 955 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: 2018-02-08.
On record since 2018.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.

CLEARLAKE LAVA has $13K 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.
$13K
proposed penalties
$13K
current assessed
$13K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
95 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $651 in penalties contested before the Commission, $468 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-02-11.
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.
17.7%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
17.7%
reasonably likely or greater
47.9%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 20.8% low, 79.2% moderate, 0.0% high, 0.0% 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.
4 citations taken to the federal commission · 4% of citations on record
  • Settled 4 · 100%
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 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
28%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$651 proposed, $468 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 2013-06-10.
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
WEST 2013-888M Settlement Miller 2013 $334 → $151
WEST 2009-1137M Settlement Lesnick 2010 $317 → $317
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: 2025-09-23
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
13
samples
5
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz6
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg4
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz2
  • Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (13)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2025-09-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.17 1.06 0.16 Laborer, Bullgang
2025-09-23 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.13 10 0.01 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-01-25 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.14 0.16 0.88 Laborer, Bullgang
2023-01-25 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Building Repair/Maint.
2021-04-27 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.64 Mechanic
2021-04-27 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 Bulldozer Operator
2014-07-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.74 1.57 0.47 Front-end Loader Operator
2009-12-09 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.3 Laborer, Bullgang
2009-12-09 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2009-05-20 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.29 Laborer, Bullgang
2009-05-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2002-11-21 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.17 1.21 0.14 Front-end Loader Operator
2002-11-21 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader 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.

CLEARLAKE LAVA recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2007.

Injury rate, 2007
ⓘ 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 3.30 and the all-US-mining average was 3.77 cases per 100 workers.
In California, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 3.87 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
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
2002 * 0.00 0.00 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.
Ownership history
  1. Red Lava Products Of California 1950 to 1979
  2. Clearlake Lava 1979 to 1994
  3. Clearlake Lava Inc 1994 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 9
2025 9
2024 8
2023 8
2022 8
2021 8
2020 8
2019 7
2018 7
2017 6
2016 7
2015 8
2014 9
2013 9
2012 9
2011 9
2010 9
2009 9
2008 9
2007 12
2006 13
2005 12
2004 12
2003 12
2002 12
2001 11
2000 11
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

CLEARLAKE LAVA sits in Lake County, California, where the Census mining category is 0.5% 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.
Lake County, California · Population 68,139
0.5%
Mining share of county employment
$58,738
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 4,964 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 3,596 1 0 278.1
2025 Q4 4,080 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 3,950 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 4,721 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 4,003 1 0 249.8
2024 Q4 3,937 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 3,576 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 3,942 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 3,564 4 1 1122.3
2023 Q4 4,193 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 3,502 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 4,245 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 2,979 1 0 335.7
2022 Q4 4,469 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 3,715 4 0 1076.7
2022 Q2 3,367 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 3,382 3 0 887.0
2021 Q4 3,857 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 4,583 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 3,968 1 0 252.0
2021 Q1 3,841 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 4,145 2 0 482.5
2020 Q3 4,744 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 3,683 2 0 543.0
2020 Q1 3,908 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 3,681 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 3,888 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 3,294 2 0 607.2
2019 Q1 3,553 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 3,210 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 3,779 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 3,311 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 3,811 8 3 2099.2
2017 Q4 3,113 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 3,252 6 0 1845.0
2017 Q2 2,558 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 2,250 5 0 2222.2
2016 Q4 2,462 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 3,025 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 3,308 3 0 906.9
2016 Q1 2,709 2 1 738.3
2015 Q4 4,213 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 2,944 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 2,867 4 0 1395.2
2015 Q1 4,685 4 0 853.8
2014 Q4 4,386 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 3,934 1 1 254.2
2014 Q2 4,464 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 4,262 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 4,491 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 4,463 1 0 224.1
2013 Q2 4,342 3 1 690.9
2013 Q1 4,080 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 4,315 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 4,566 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 5,900 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 4,494 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 4,820 2 0 414.9
2011 Q3 4,302 1 0 232.5
2011 Q2 4,603 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 4,191 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 4,596 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 4,266 2 0 468.8
2010 Q2 4,383 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 3,458 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 4,381 1 0 228.3
2009 Q3 4,216 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 4,354 3 1 689.0
2009 Q1 3,991 5 1 1252.8
2008 Q4 4,566 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 5,030 1 0 198.8
2008 Q2 4,836 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 5,195 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 5,644 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 5,764 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 7,277 1 1 137.4
2007 Q1 7,496 2 1 266.8
2006 Q4 8,202 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 7,974 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 7,127 4 2 561.2
2006 Q1 6,849 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 6,001 3 1 499.9
2005 Q3 6,767 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 5,996 2 1 333.6
2005 Q1 6,438 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 6,821 2 0 293.2
2004 Q3 6,408 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 6,424 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 6,605 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 8,256 2 0 242.2
2003 Q3 6,239 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 4,799 3 0 625.1
2003 Q1 6,176 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 6,540 1 1 152.9
2002 Q3 7,030 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 7,372 2 1 271.3
2002 Q1 6,677 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 4,446 1 0 224.9
2001 Q3 6,621 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 6,555 2 0 305.1
2001 Q1 6,232 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 5,858 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 6,111 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 5,685 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 5,233 1 0 191.1
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

15 on file

2022 · 1 incident

August 30, 2022 CA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Clearlake Lava Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee performing maintenance under the cone crusher and while pushing on a roller felt a pop in right knee. Initially declined medical evaluation but soreness persisted

2018 · 1 incident

January 12, 2018 CA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Clearlake Lava Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Left & right ear: Moderate severe high frequency impairment w/low frequency w/in normal limits per BIOACOUSTICAL Corp.

2015 · 1 incident

May 9, 2015 CA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Clearlake Lava Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Lifting stair twisted body felt tear in right side. Muscle strain.

2010 · 1 incident

March 4, 2010 CA · Metal/Non-Metal gathering arm loader operator, loading machine operator, joy loader operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clearlake Lava Inc · Fall from machine

When climbing into loader, missed hand grip and fell.

1995 · 1 incident

May 30, 1995 CA · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clearlake Lava Inc · Fall onto or against objects

WAS LIFTING DECK OF FORKLIFT & SLIPPED WHEN HE TRIED TO GAIN CONTROL HIS RT SIDE HIT CORNER OF FUEL TANK

1994 · 2 incidents

September 12, 1994 CA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Clearlake Lava Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

TENDONITUS IN ELBOW CAUSED BY REPETITIVE USE NOTIFIED BY WORKERS COM ON 4-6-95.

February 7, 1994 CA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Clearlake Lava · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

LIFTINT TOGGLE PLAE IN POSITION ON EAGLE JAW CRUSHER, 5/8 CABLE SLIP OFF HOIST EYE. DROPPING TOGGLE PLATE ON BELT.

1993 · 2 incidents

July 31, 1993 CA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Clearlake Lava · Struck against stationary object

SPRAINED RIGHT ANKLE WHEN STEPPING OFF LOADER STEP. STEPPED ON ROCK WITH ANKLE AND TWISTED.

January 24, 1993 CA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Clearlake Lava · Over-exertion in lifting objects

LIFTING BATTERY WITH 1 OTHER PERSON FROM P/UP TO GENERATOR VAN, HURT BACK TAKING BATTERY UP STEPS.

1992 · 2 incidents

August 7, 1992 CA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Clearlake Lava · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

28655LING ROCKS FROM PATH, HIT FENCE RAILING, CRUSHING THUMB BETWEEN RAILING AND SHOVEL.

August 4, 1992 CA · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Clearlake Lava · Struck by flying object

65349NG & GRINDING WHEN SOMETHING BLEW INTO EYE.PIECE OF METAL-FOREIGN BODY. DR REMOVED PARTICLE AND NO PERMANENT DAMAGE TO EYE.

1989 · 4 incidents

June 29, 1989 CA · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Clearlake Lava · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPL WAS USING PRY BAR WHEN LITTLE FINGER WAS PINCHED BETWEEN PRY BAR & 2X2 METAL TUBING.

May 22, 1989 CA · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Clearlake Lava · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPL WAS OPERATING A DRILL BIT WHEN ARM WAS TWISTED

March 20, 1989 CA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Clearlake Lava · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS SHOVELING WHEN GOT PAIN IN HIS RIGHT ARM.

March 15, 1989 CA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Clearlake Lava · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

RAN UP SOME STAIRS SHUT OFF FEED TO PLANT TRIPPED TWISTED BACK