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: 844 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 $19K in proposed MSHA penalties and $67 outstanding across 1 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.
$19K
proposed penalties
$19K
current assessed
$19K
paid to date
$67
outstanding
108 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $76 in penalties contested before the Commission, $76 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-02-17.
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.
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: 2025-05-07
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
23
samples
6
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Respirable dust, <.1mg15
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz4
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz2
Arsenic fumes1
Show the individual readings (35)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2025-05-07
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2025-05-07
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2022-04-26
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Scraper Operator
2022-04-26
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2020-05-06
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2020-05-06
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2015-06-23
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Utility Man
2015-06-23
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Utility Man
2015-06-23
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.55
2.05
0.27
Utility Man
2015-06-23
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.12
Washer Operator
2010-04-14
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Backhoe Operator
2010-04-14
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Cleanup Man
2010-04-14
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Belt Cleaner
2007-08-02
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.29
1.21
0.24
Truck Driver
2007-08-02
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.13
0.48
0.27
Bulldozer Operator
2007-08-02
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.18
1.53
0.12
Truck Driver
2007-05-09
Vanadium fumes
0
50
0.00
Welder, etc.
2007-05-09
Arsenic fumes
0
1500
0.00
Welder, etc.
2007-05-09
Beryllium fumes
0
6
0.00
Welder, etc.
2007-05-09
Cadmium oxide fumes
0
100
0.00
Welder, etc.
2007-05-09
Chromium, insoluble
0
3
0.00
Welder, etc.
2007-05-09
Cobalt fumes
0
300
0.00
Welder, etc.
2007-05-09
Copper fumes
0
300
0.00
Welder, etc.
2007-05-09
Iron oxide fumes
0.12
20
0.01
Welder, etc.
2007-05-09
Lead fumes
0
450
0.00
Welder, etc.
2007-05-09
Magnesium oxide fumes
0.04
20
0.00
Welder, etc.
2007-05-09
Manganese fumes
0.01
5
0.00
Welder, etc.
2007-05-09
Molybdenum fumes
0
20
0.00
Welder, etc.
2007-05-09
Nickel fumes
0
3
0.00
Welder, etc.
2007-05-09
Zinc oxide fumes
0
10
0.00
Welder, etc.
2004-07-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-07-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2004-07-20
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.23
Dragline Operator
2004-07-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2004-07-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Belt Cleaner
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 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.
Injury rate, 2025
ⓘ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
Below average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 1.65 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Texas, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.17 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
2025 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2024 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2023 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
3.34
0.00
0.000
2020 *
5.73
0.00
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
3.01
3.01
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
23
2025
26
2024
34
2023
37
2022
25
2021
20
2020
22
2019
23
2018
20
2017
21
2016
16
2015
19
2014
15
2013
18
2012
17
2011
11
2010
14
2009
16
2008
24
2007
29
2006
28
2005
25
2004
25
2003
21
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Columbus Plant sits in Colorado County, Texas, where the Census mining category is 3.2% 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.
Colorado County, Texas · Population 20,736
3.2%
Mining share of county employment
$68,554
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
18,839
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
20,178
1
0
49.6
2025 Q4
19,101
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
17,890
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
19,541
3
0
153.5
2025 Q1
18,780
1
0
53.2
2024 Q4
18,668
0
0
0.0
2024 Q3
19,634
0
0
0.0
Show 86 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
19,430
0
0
0.0
2024 Q1
17,582
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
18,030
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
20,130
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
20,977
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
19,961
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
20,139
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
19,430
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
16,131
2
0
124.0
2022 Q1
18,926
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
16,109
1
0
62.1
2021 Q3
13,358
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
14,784
1
0
67.6
2021 Q1
15,653
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
14,047
1
0
71.2
2020 Q3
10,864
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
22,818
3
0
131.5
2020 Q1
22,118
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
20,818
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
24,598
5
1
203.3
2019 Q2
16,945
0
0
0.0
2019 Q1
15,722
2
1
127.2
2018 Q4
15,757
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
17,827
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
17,750
2
0
112.7
2018 Q1
15,024
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
15,272
6
1
392.9
2017 Q3
12,723
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
12,880
4
1
310.6
2017 Q1
12,148
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
11,705
3
1
256.3
2016 Q3
12,227
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
12,038
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
11,857
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
13,270
2
0
150.7
2015 Q3
15,770
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
15,773
1
1
63.4
2015 Q1
13,267
4
0
301.5
2014 Q4
12,481
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
12,408
9
5
725.3
2014 Q2
12,037
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
9,823
1
1
101.8
2013 Q4
10,818
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
14,014
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
13,704
1
1
73.0
2013 Q1
12,427
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
13,276
1
0
75.3
2012 Q3
15,098
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
13,169
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
9,376
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
4,884
1
1
204.8
2011 Q3
6,054
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
8,668
3
1
346.1
2011 Q1
9,483
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
8,663
1
0
115.4
2010 Q3
9,832
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
10,721
3
0
279.8
2010 Q1
9,632
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
10,051
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
10,308
2
1
194.0
2009 Q2
9,146
8
4
874.7
2009 Q1
11,830
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
11,674
4
3
342.6
2008 Q3
13,409
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
20,357
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
20,578
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
18,461
3
1
162.5
2007 Q3
22,100
1
0
45.2
2007 Q2
21,931
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
23,530
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
19,914
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
23,065
8
2
346.8
2006 Q2
21,903
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
18,200
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
15,340
3
2
195.6
2005 Q3
13,561
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
19,939
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
18,928
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
20,849
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
19,848
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
16,035
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
16,274
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
18,338
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
16,092
1
0
62.1
2003 Q2
16,515
2
1
121.1
2003 Q1
10,521
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
12 on file
2026 · 1 incident
April 3, 2026TX · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE stepped on platform of an isolated catwalk that collapsed beneath them causing them to fall approximately 7 feet to the next level. EE sustained superficial lacerations and bruising/soreness.
2021 · 1 incident
March 23, 2021TX · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerPOWERED HAULAGE
A Haul truck operator was loaded coming out of the pit struck a haul truck going into the pit to be loaded. The haul truck that was hit swerved abruptly to try and avoid being hit. The operator that was hit suffered low back pain, prescribed PT, pain meds and muscle relaxers. Damage to front left of one haul truck and both tires on the other.
2020 · 4 incidents
December 3, 2020TX · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee operating loader under supervision when EE became stuck in sand stockpile being jarred and bounced causing lower back and tailbone pain, no report of any injury until 12/7/20, sent to clinic, prescribed lodine, terminated 12/7 for non-reporting
While operating scraper, contractor began operating on a slope and recognized it was becoming steep. Contractor attempted to cut downhill; the right tire and side slipped while the left tire lost contact with the ground. Cab flipped onto right side. Contractor, who was wearing safety belt, was uninjured and able to exit the cab through the door.
Contractor was operating scraper. While loading, the operator realized the slope was getting steep. EE turned out of the cut downhill. The (R)front tire slipped downhill and the (L)front tire came off the ground. The cab of the truck flipped over. EE turned the ignition off and was able to crawl out of the cab through the door. Operator was wearing the seatbelt and had no injuries.
Employee was cutting a hose to length of a water line with a utility knife when the blade slipped and cut EE's left middle finger. EE was wearing gloves and cutting away from EE. EE was kneeling on the ground, cutting with EE's right hand, holding the hose with EE's left hand. EE was taken to the hospital and received one stitch on EE's left middle finger.
2018 · 1 incident
September 13, 2018TX · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS