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: 695 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Columbus Plant has $14K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 8 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.
$14K
proposed penalties
$14K
current assessed
$14K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
75 assessments are final orders; 8 contested dockets.
Of $5K in penalties contested before the Commission, $3K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-10-14.
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.
30citations taken to the federal commission · 38% of citations on record
Settled
9 · 30%
Stood as issued
15 · 50%
Vacated or withdrawn
6 · 20%
53%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 15 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
34%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$5K proposed, $3K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2025-05-07.
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: 2026-07-29
11
samples
0
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Respirable dust, <.1mg7
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz3
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (11)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2026-07-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Bobcat Operator
2026-07-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Sand Filler (Dry)
2022-03-28
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.24
Dredge/Barge Operator
2022-03-28
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2022-03-28
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.15
Laborer, Bullgang
2019-05-22
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.43
Front-end Loader Operator
2019-05-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Dredge/Barge Operator
2014-07-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Dredge/Barge Operator
2014-07-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2003-05-21
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2003-05-21
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.14
Laborer, Bullgang
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.
Columbus Plant recorded 9.72 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2000.
Injury rate, 2000
ⓘ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.
9.72
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 4.77 and the all-US-mining average was 5.64 cases per 100 workers.
In Indiana, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 5.15 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.
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
10
2025
9
2024
8
2023
7
2022
7
2021
8
2020
7
2019
8
2018
9
2017
8
2016
8
2015
9
2014
8
2013
7
2012
6
2011
7
2010
7
2009
8
2008
8
2007
8
2006
8
2005
8
2004
8
2003
8
2002
7
2001
7
2000
8
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Columbus Plant sits in Bartholomew County, Indiana, 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.
Bartholomew County, Indiana · Population 82,881
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$80,365
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
6,042
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
3,546
0
0
0.0
2025 Q4
5,307
1
0
188.4
2025 Q3
4,795
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
3,985
0
0
0.0
2025 Q1
2,713
9
4
3317.4
2024 Q4
3,111
0
0
0.0
2024 Q3
3,604
12
5
3329.6
Show 98 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
3,632
0
0
0.0
2024 Q1
2,974
5
2
1681.2
2023 Q4
3,184
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
3,417
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
3,472
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
3,024
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
3,555
1
0
281.3
2022 Q3
3,106
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
3,413
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
3,390
1
0
295.0
2021 Q4
3,679
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
4,078
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
3,232
0
0
0.0
2021 Q1
2,800
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
3,142
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
3,661
4
0
1092.6
2020 Q2
3,989
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
3,852
2
0
519.2
2019 Q4
3,701
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
4,554
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
4,664
1
0
214.4
2019 Q1
3,570
5
1
1400.6
2018 Q4
4,862
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
4,798
1
0
208.4
2018 Q2
4,575
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
4,000
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
4,192
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
5,243
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
3,965
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
3,122
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
3,088
0
0
0.0
2016 Q3
3,436
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
3,844
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
3,706
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
4,419
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
4,715
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
4,642
2
1
430.8
2015 Q1
3,149
1
0
317.6
2014 Q4
4,442
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
4,230
1
0
236.4
2014 Q2
4,171
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
3,608
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
3,870
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
3,831
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
4,035
1
0
247.8
2013 Q1
3,627
3
0
827.1
2012 Q4
3,614
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
3,840
1
0
260.4
2012 Q2
3,491
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
2,796
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
3,191
3
1
940.1
2011 Q3
3,748
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
3,931
4
1
1017.6
2011 Q1
2,631
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
3,474
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
3,503
1
0
285.5
2010 Q2
3,768
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
2,799
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
2,973
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
3,301
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
4,001
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
3,349
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
3,898
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
3,904
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
4,732
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
3,596
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
3,879
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
4,364
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
4,001
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
3,415
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
3,940
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
3,342
0
0
0.0
2006 Q2
4,082
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
3,450
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
3,865
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
4,010
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
3,815
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
3,460
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
3,579
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
3,949
2
0
506.5
2004 Q2
3,391
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
3,238
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
3,936
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
4,424
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
3,975
2
0
503.1
2003 Q1
3,208
0
0
0.0
2002 Q4
3,210
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
3,466
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
4,356
2
0
459.1
2002 Q1
4,693
0
0
0.0
2001 Q4
4,259
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
4,798
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
4,572
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
3,879
0
0
0.0
2000 Q4
5,469
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
5,141
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
5,388
3
1
556.8
2000 Q1
4,573
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
17 on file
2023 · 1 incident
September 13, 2023IN · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS USING UTILITY KNIFE TO STRIP ELECTRICAL WIRES WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR LIGHTS ON A SERVICE TRUCK. KNIFE SLIPPED AND CUT FINGER.
2003 · 2 incidents
October 22, 2003IN · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS TIGHTENING BOLTS ON THE ROTOVATOR ATTACHMENT WITH RATCHET WHEN WRENCH SLIPPED STRIKING EE IN FACE CAUSING SMALL CUT BETWEEN THE EYES ON FOREHEAD.
2000 · 1 incident
November 3, 2000IN · Metal/Non-Metalbarge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck handHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Nugent Sand Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
FOREMAN AND EE WERE IN WORKBOAT. EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO ALIGN 2 PIECES OF PIPE, WHEN FOREMAN MOVED CAUSING BOAT TO SHIFT. EE'S HAND WAS PINCHED BETWEEN PIPE AND WORKBOAT.
1998 · 1 incident
September 18, 1998IN · Metal/Non-Metalclerk, timekeeper, office worker, director of salesSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
HELPING EE LIFT CONTROL BOX TO STORE IN TRAILOR. HE FELT A PAIN IN LEG WHEN DOING THIS LIFTING. AT TIME HE THOUGHT IT WAS PAIN FROM ARTHRITIS. HE DID NOT KNOW OF LIGAMENT TEAR UNTIL RESULTS OF MRI RECEIVED WEEK OF 5-22-97.
1995 · 1 incident
June 6, 1995IN · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE DESCENDING METAL STEPS ON SAND PLANT. SLIPPED, FELL AND HIT METAL STEP WITH ELBOW.
1994 · 1 incident
April 14, 1994IN · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
REPLACING SCREENS ON SHAKER, CLEATS ON SHOE CAUGHT ON ANGLE IRON CAUSING EMPLOYEE TO SLIP & SHIN TO HIT AGAINST THE END OF THE SHAKER. THIS CAUSED A CUT ON THE LEG.
1993 · 3 incidents
September 29, 1993IN · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
ATTEMPTING TO CONNECT 2 PIECES OF PIPE & THOUGHT HE PULLED A MUSCLE. FINISHED WORKING SHIFT & HALF OF NEXT DAY. LEFT WORK THINKING HE HAD FLU. WENT TO HOSPITAL & FOUND COLLAPSED LUNG. DR. INDI CATED HE BLEW HOLE IN LUNG FROM STRAIN.
September 3, 1993IN · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
STEPPING DOWN FROM LOADER, WHEN RIGHT FOOT TOUCHED THE GROUND HIS KNEE TWISTED AND POPPED. EITHER PULLED TENDONS OR CARTILAGE DAMAGE.
March 3, 1993IN · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Spray Aggregates Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EMPLOYEE PUTTING BUCKE TON FRONT END LAODER. LINING UP PIN. SUPPORT CHAIN SLIPPED RESULTING IN TIP OF FINGER BEING PINCHED AND CUT REQUIRING STITHCES.
1991 · 2 incidents
June 15, 1991IN · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
BELT OVER FLOWED WITH MATERIAL EMPLOYEE TURNED POWER OFF REMOVED GUARD BELT SLIPPED TO ONE SIDE CLEANED MATERIAL FROM AROUND ROLLER TURNED BELT ON SOME MATERIAL STILL AROUND ROLLER WENT TO KNO CK OFF FINGERS AT LEFT HAND CAUGHT BY BELT & ROLER BOTTOM PART OF MIDDLE FINGER UNDER NAIL DAMAGED DOWN TO BONE SKIN GRAFTED OVER IT
1989 · 1 incident
July 31, 1989IN · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMP CHECKING BE8 OF TRUCK TO MAKE SURE ALL DIRT WAS OUT. SMALL CLUMP OF DIRT THAT HAD BEEN LODGED BROKE LOOSE HITTING HIM INKNEE. LEG DIDNT START TO HURT UNTIL SEVERAL DAYS LATER