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Corson Sand Plant / Quarry: 94 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Knife River Corporation
Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, SD  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3901478

Corson Sand Plant / Quarry has $13K in proposed MSHA penalties and $151 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
14
Years on record
2006–2026
Latest incident
Jul 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2004
94
citations
6
significant & substantial
$13,373
proposed penalties
$13,222
paid to date
99% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $151 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Knife River - South Dakota's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2003
60
inspections on record
1,264
inspection hours
7.4
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.
94 citations across 1,264 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Corson Sand Plant / Quarry has $13K in proposed MSHA penalties and $151 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.
$13K
proposed penalties
$13K
current assessed
$13K
paid to date
$151
outstanding
94 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $100 in penalties contested before the Commission, $100 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-04-07.
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.
6.4%
significant & substantial
3.2%
high negligence or reckless
6.4%
reasonably likely or greater
41.5%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 23.4% low, 73.4% moderate, 3.2% 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.
1 citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
  • Settled 1 · 100%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$100 proposed, $100 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 2010-07-28.
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
CENT 2010-1076M Settlement Lesnick 2011 $100 → $100
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: 2024-12-11
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
23
samples
4
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg14
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz5
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz4
Show the individual readings (23)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2024-12-11 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2024-12-11 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Backhoe Operator
2024-12-11 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-12-12 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-12-12 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2020-06-03 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2020-06-03 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Screen/Scalper Operator
2020-06-03 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.15 Front-end Loader Operator
2020-06-03 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bulldozer Operator
2016-06-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2016-06-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bulldozer Operator
2016-06-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2016-06-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-06-29 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.12 Front-end Loader Operator
2012-07-25 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.37 2.32 0.16 Front-end Loader Operator
2012-07-25 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.14 Front-end Loader Operator
2012-07-25 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2006-07-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.24 0.41 0.59 Mechanic
2006-07-19 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.32 Mechanic
2006-07-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.36 0.52 0.69 Mechanic
2004-11-09 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.16 Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-11-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.24 1.82 0.13 Laborer, Bullgang
2003-08-26 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
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.

Corson Sand Plant / Quarry recorded 8.67 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.
8.67
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above 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 South Dakota, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 2.39 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 * 8.67 0.00 0.000
2024 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2023 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2022 * 14.90 14.90 0.000
2021 * 8.47 8.47 0.000
2020 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2019 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2018 * 19.13 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. Knife River - South Dakota 2003 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 16
2025 15
2024 15
2023 15
2022 15
2021 14
2020 13
2019 16
2018 15
2017 15
2016 11
2015 12
2014 9
2013 8
2012 9
2011 8
2010 10
2009 10
2008 15
2007 9
2006 7
2005 7
2004 7
2003 7
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Corson Sand Plant / Quarry sits in Minnehaha County, South Dakota, 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.
Minnehaha County, South Dakota · Population 200,689
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$76,074
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 8,057 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 4,154 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 3,443 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 6,392 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 7,529 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 5,708 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 6,150 3 0 487.8
2024 Q3 7,376 0 0 0.0
Show 85 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 7,834 1 0 127.6
2024 Q1 5,537 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 6,470 2 0 309.1
2023 Q3 8,267 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 9,096 3 0 329.8
2023 Q1 5,646 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 6,373 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 8,017 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 8,473 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 3,989 1 0 250.7
2021 Q4 5,938 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 6,887 1 0 145.2
2021 Q2 7,833 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 2,954 1 0 338.5
2020 Q4 6,184 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 7,911 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 8,706 3 0 344.6
2020 Q1 5,573 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 7,007 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 10,191 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 9,505 9 0 946.9
2019 Q1 5,392 4 0 741.8
2018 Q4 6,868 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 8,971 5 1 557.4
2018 Q2 9,363 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 6,168 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 7,408 5 0 674.9
2017 Q3 9,600 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 9,385 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 5,395 1 0 185.4
2016 Q4 5,944 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 8,251 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 7,674 4 2 521.2
2016 Q1 3,994 3 0 751.1
2015 Q4 5,292 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 6,095 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 5,505 3 0 545.0
2015 Q1 4,320 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 3,993 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 4,924 1 1 203.1
2014 Q2 5,059 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 3,628 1 0 275.6
2013 Q4 3,894 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 5,039 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 4,178 2 0 478.7
2013 Q1 3,230 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 3,735 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 3,909 2 0 511.6
2012 Q2 4,421 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 4,071 2 0 491.3
2011 Q4 4,150 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 4,069 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 3,935 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 3,330 1 1 300.3
2010 Q4 3,631 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 4,575 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 5,019 2 0 398.5
2010 Q1 3,172 1 0 315.3
2009 Q4 4,191 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 4,108 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 4,631 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 3,449 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 4,140 1 0 241.5
2008 Q3 6,025 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 4,580 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 3,901 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 3,422 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 4,236 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 4,037 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 1,805 5 0 2770.1
2006 Q4 8,570 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 5,465 3 0 548.9
2006 Q2 4,867 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 3,387 1 0 295.2
2005 Q4 5,773 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 5,215 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 5,668 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 4,377 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 5,184 1 0 192.9
2004 Q3 5,761 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 5,563 1 0 179.8
2004 Q1 3,720 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 4,178 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 5,025 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 5,694 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

14 on file

2026 · 2 incidents

July 15, 2026 SD · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman DISORDERS (PHYSICAL AGENTS)
Knife River - South Dakota · Contact with heat

Employee setting concrete forms reported feeling ill after lunch. Supervisor suspected heat-related symptoms, placed employee in vehicle with cool air, provided water and electrolytes, and observed EE for the remainder of the shift. Symptoms returned that evening; employee went to the ER, was diagnosed with dehydration, and received treatment and observation.

2025 · 1 incident

August 6, 2025 SD · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Knife River - South Dakota · Struck by falling object

Team member installing new exhaust gaskets, bolting up the flanges when debris fell onto and behind safety glasses, into right eye. Flushed eyes at the shop, debris remained behind eyelid.

2022 · 2 incidents

April 4, 2022 SD · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Knife River - South Dakota · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

On 04/04/2022 EE climbed down the ladder on the loader that EE was operating to close the gates to the haul road. As EE stepped down on the lower rung of the ladder, it broke away from this support. EE grabbed the ladder as EE fell straining left arm bicep when EE caught self from falling. PT wasn't ordered until 06/13/2022.

January 26, 2022 SD · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Knife River - South Dakota · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee received a cortisone shot to EE's left shoulder on 2/4/22 for an injury that occurred on 1/26/22.

2021 · 1 incident

May 26, 2021 SD · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec POWERED HAULAGE
Knife River - South Dakota · Struck against a moving object

Mixing materials with loader on 5/26/21, strained shoulder when driving into pile. Treated injury with stretching exercises. On 9/1/21, employee sought treatment with orthopedist, diagnosed with overextension of shoulder and prescribed physical therapy and given a cortisone shot.

2018 · 3 incidents

November 7, 2018 SD · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Knife River - South Dakota · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE using sledgehammer to dislodge frozen material from feeder, sledgehammer ricocheted back, hitting EE right foot, slamming the foot into the side of the feeder.

August 4, 2018 SD · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Knife River - South Dakota · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee strained muscle in left hip when moving a water hose out of the way.

January 10, 2018 SD · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Knife River - South Dakota · Struck by falling object

Employee was assisting in removing the poly screens from the main north screen. A screen fell back on the screen deck, striking the employee's left ring finger. (Fracture to the left ring finger distal 4th tip.)

2016 · 1 incident

July 27, 2016 SD · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer OTHER
Knife River - South Dakota · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee had an allergic reaction after being stung by three wasps while retrieving a vehicle hitch from a steel dumpster located on the north side of the shop.

2013 · 1 incident

June 14, 2013 SD · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Knife River - South Dakota · Struck against stationary object

EE was attempting to free a stuck bucket latch pin on skid steer 15-918. The extension that he placed on the latch handle slipped off and his right elbow was cut when it struck the loader frame.

2010 · 2 incidents

August 13, 2010 SD · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Knife River - South Dakota · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

EE was removing a rock from the feeder grizzly. The sledge hammer head came off the the handle causing the handle to strick the rock which over extended ee left elbow. (acute strain).

July 12, 2010 SD · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Knife River - South Dakota · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE was lifting a ratchet chain hoist in place to raise the gravity take-up weight for the Pit Long Belt Unit # 34-135-S. While lifting the ratchet chain hoist in place he strained a muscle in his right shoulder.

2006 · 1 incident

March 14, 2006 SD · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Knife River - South Dakota · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Grinding slag off steel. EE turned off grinder & wheel was still turning. Went to change positions on grinder - his hand slipped and he contacted grinder wheel.