American Gilsonite Company · Over-exertion in lifting objects
A miner was removing 3"x8"x6' boards from the cage. When the miner turned with boards in their hands, they injured their lower back.
COTTONWOOD MINES: 48 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal
AMERICAN GILSONITE COMPANY
· Underground
Controlled by
American Gilsonite Company
Randlette,
Uintah County,
UT
·
Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4202044
COTTONWOOD MINES has $7K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 14
- Years on record
- 1995–2026
- Latest incident
- Aug 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
48
citations
3
significant & substantial
$6,550
proposed penalties
$6,550
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
76
inspections on record
1,977
inspection hours
2.4
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.48 citations across 1,977 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
COTTONWOOD MINES has $7K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 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.$7K
proposed penalties
$7K
current assessed
$7K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
48 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-09-03.
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.6.2%
significant & substantial
2.1%
high negligence or reckless
6.2%
reasonably likely or greater
66.7%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 16.7% low, 81.2% moderate, 2.1% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, 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: 2025-11-18
ⓘ
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.20%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
10
samples
5
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
- Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz41 over
- Respirable dust, <.1mg4
- Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz2
Show the individual readings (10)
| Date | Contaminant | Concentration | Limit | Conc / limit | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-11-18 | Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz | 52.61 | 10 | 5.26 | Miner, Drift |
| 2025-11-18 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | Hoist Operator | ||
| 2025-11-18 | Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz | 1.78 | 10 | 0.18 | Miner, Drift |
| 2025-11-18 | Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz | 0.32 | 10 | 0.03 | Miner, Drift |
| 2025-11-18 | Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz | 1.7 | 10 | 0.17 | Miner, Drift |
| 2025-09-03 | Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz | 0.77 | Miner, Drift | ||
| 2025-09-03 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | Hoist Operator | ||
| 2025-09-03 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | Hoist Operator | ||
| 2025-09-03 | Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz | 1.1 | 2.33 | 0.47 | Miner, Drift |
| 2019-05-06 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | Hoist Operator |
Area samples (mill and shop air)
Last sampled: 2015-06-03, 11 years ago2
samples
Show the individual readings (2)
| Date | Contaminant | Concentration | Limit | Conc / limit | Area sampled |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-06-03 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | UG SHAFT/STATION | ||
| 2015-06-03 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | SF GENERAL |
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.
COTTONWOOD MINES recorded 9.72 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.9.72
total case rate
9.72
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 Utah, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.89 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 * | 9.72 | 9.72 | 0.000 |
| 2009 * | 12.03 | 12.03 | 0.000 |
| 2008 * | 5.37 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2007 * | 6.21 | 6.21 | 0.000 |
| 2006 * | 5.91 | 5.91 | 0.000 |
| 2005 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2004 * | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.000 |
| 2003 * | 7.15 | 7.15 | 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
- Lexco Inc 1989 to 2009
- American Gilsonite Company 2009 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
| Year | Employees |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 |
| 2025 | 12 |
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2022 | 19 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2009 | 18 |
| 2008 | 20 |
| 2007 | 19 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2005 | 19 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2002 | 13 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2000 | 11 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
COTTONWOOD MINES sits in Uintah County, Utah, where the Census mining category is 12.5% 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.Uintah County, Utah · Population 36,458
12.5%
Mining share of county employment
$69,861
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 | 6,009 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2026 Q1 | 4,488 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q4 | 6,243 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q3 | 4,670 | 1 | 0 | 214.1 |
| 2025 Q2 | 4,686 | 3 | 0 | 640.2 |
| 2025 Q1 | 4,971 | 3 | 0 | 603.5 |
| 2024 Q4 | 4,349 | 2 | 0 | 459.9 |
| 2024 Q3 | 4,514 | 1 | 0 | 221.5 |
Show 66 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Q2 | 5,029 | 3 | 1 | 596.5 |
| 2024 Q1 | 5,293 | 3 | 1 | 566.8 |
| 2023 Q4 | 3,592 | 3 | 0 | 835.2 |
| 2023 Q3 | 2,844 | 2 | 0 | 703.2 |
| 2023 Q2 | 830 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q1 | 1,521 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q4 | 2,392 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q3 | 2,310 | 1 | 0 | 432.9 |
| 2022 Q2 | 2,764 | 1 | 0 | 361.8 |
| 2022 Q1 | 1,659 | 1 | 0 | 602.8 |
| 2021 Q4 | 711 | 1 | 0 | 1406.5 |
| 2021 Q3 | 260 | 1 | 0 | 3846.2 |
| 2020 Q2 | 1,063 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 Q1 | 2,340 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q4 | 3,472 | 1 | 0 | 288.0 |
| 2019 Q3 | 4,233 | 2 | 0 | 472.5 |
| 2019 Q2 | 2,545 | 2 | 0 | 785.9 |
| 2019 Q1 | 2,097 | 1 | 0 | 476.9 |
| 2018 Q4 | 4,720 | 1 | 0 | 211.9 |
| 2018 Q3 | 1,548 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q2 | 1,227 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q1 | 1,062 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q4 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 31250.0 |
| 2015 Q3 | 1,064 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q2 | 1,145 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q1 | 140 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q4 | 5,469 | 5 | 0 | 914.2 |
| 2009 Q3 | 8,551 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q2 | 9,335 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q1 | 9,906 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q4 | 10,021 | 1 | 0 | 99.8 |
| 2008 Q3 | 8,305 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q2 | 9,433 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q1 | 9,456 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q4 | 7,897 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q3 | 8,218 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q2 | 8,449 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q1 | 7,623 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q4 | 8,353 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q3 | 8,752 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q2 | 8,286 | 1 | 0 | 120.7 |
| 2006 Q1 | 8,439 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q4 | 8,190 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q3 | 8,062 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q2 | 8,280 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q1 | 9,005 | 1 | 0 | 111.0 |
| 2004 Q4 | 8,849 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q3 | 9,556 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q2 | 8,106 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q1 | 8,117 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q4 | 7,271 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q3 | 7,457 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q2 | 7,233 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q1 | 5,993 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q4 | 5,452 | 1 | 0 | 183.4 |
| 2002 Q3 | 5,676 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q2 | 5,592 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q1 | 5,807 | 1 | 0 | 172.2 |
| 2001 Q4 | 6,304 | 1 | 0 | 158.6 |
| 2001 Q3 | 7,355 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q2 | 7,345 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q1 | 5,869 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q4 | 5,533 | 2 | 0 | 361.5 |
| 2000 Q3 | 5,220 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q2 | 4,501 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q1 | 4,350 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
14 on file2026 · 1 incident
2025 · 1 incident
American Gilsonite Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
A miner was installing a ground support timber, and when attempting to reposition the timber with an axe, the miner pinched their right index finger between the axe and the timber, fracturing the finger. The finger required stitches.
2024 · 2 incidents
American Gilsonite Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Miner sinking shaft when miner came down small slope, they stepped off bottom bench and planted their foot when they did, the bottom half of their leg stayed planted while the rest of their bottom leaned to the side.
American Gilsonite Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
Miner was using jack lag to drill, jack leg tipped to one side and smashed miners thumb between drill and rock wall. cut required 7 stitches.
2009 · 2 incidents
American Gilsonite Company · Fall onto or against objects
While mining, slipped and fell inbetween boards and injured ribs.
Lexco Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects
Miner was lifting a piece of air lift pipe. The pipe slipped causing the miner to strain his left arm and shoulder.
2008 · 1 incident
2007 · 1 incident
October 3, 2007
UT · Metal/Non-Metal
prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Lexco Inc · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
While cleaning an airless paint sprayer with paint thinner, employee sprayed the tip of his left index finger injecting paint thinner under the skin.
2006 · 1 incident
Lexco Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface
Miner was standing on floor at top of face. A loose board twisted causing miner to fall on his side. Miner was examined by a dr and found to be bruised.
2003 · 1 incident
Lexco Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
MINER PINCHED HIS RIGHT THUMB BETWEEN THE SUCTION PIPE AND THE ATTACHING CLAMP WHILE ATTEMPTING TO UNPLUG AN ELBOW.
2002 · 2 incidents
Lexco Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface
TWO MINERS WERE REPLACING BOARDS ON FLOOR #6 WEST. EE WAS USING A HAND SAW TO CUT A BOARD. THE BOARD BROKE CAUSING HIM TO FALL. HE LANDED ON HIS RIGHT SIDE CAUSING BRUISING AND A TORN AC JOINT IN HIS RIGHT SHOULDER.
August 12, 2002
UT · Metal/Non-Metal
laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Lexco Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)
MINER WAS WORKING ON SLOPE & SLIPPED. WHEN HE CAUGHT HIMSELF HE TWISTED HIS BACK. THE ACCIDENTAL SLIP WAS NOT REPORTED UNTIL 8/19/02.
1998 · 1 incident
May 26, 1998
UT · Metal/Non-Metal
continuous miner operator, coal mole operator
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Lexco Inc · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms
MINER BRUSHED UP AGAINST A METAL PIPE THAT HAD A SHARP EDGE PROTRUDING FROM IT. THE SHARP EDGE CUT HIS RIGHT FOREARM. THE CUT REQUIRED STITCHES.
1995 · 1 incident
Lexco Inc · Struck by falling object
MINER WAS UNDER AND OVER A BLOCK OF ARE AND ROCK TO CONNECT UP HIS PRODUCTION SLOPE. MINER FAILED TO IDENTIFY AND REMOVE A PIECE OF LOOSE ROCK EMBEDDED IN THE ORE. WHEN THE MINER WENT BACK TO MINING ON HIS SLOPE, THE ROCK FELL, STRIKING THEBACK OF HIS RIGHT HAND. THE HAND BONE LEADING TO THE RIGHT INDEX FINGER WAS BROKEN AND SURROUNDING TISSUE WAS DAMAGED.