Mining Incidents
Search Operators Mines Alerts Research Controllers Fatalgrams About
English Español
← Back to search

El Grande: 83 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

ANTONITO, Conejos County, CO  ·  Intermittent
MSHA Mine ID: 0500438

El Grande has $52K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at El Grande.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
13
Years on record
2003–2022
Latest incident
Nov 2022
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2003
83
citations
25
significant & substantial
$52,333
proposed penalties
$36,297
paid to date
69% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $16,036 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Dicaperl Minerals LLC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2003
34
inspections on record
910
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: 910 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

El Grande has $52K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 5 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.
$52K
proposed penalties
$36K
current assessed
$36K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
82 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $40K in penalties contested before the Commission, $24K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-04-29.
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.
30.5%
significant & substantial
15.9%
high negligence or reckless
32.9%
reasonably likely or greater
50.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 13.4% low, 70.7% moderate, 15.9% 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.
25 citations taken to the federal commission · 30% of citations on record
  • Settled 20 · 80%
  • Stood as issued 5 · 20%
90%
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 21 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
45%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$48K proposed, $26K 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 2005-09-21.
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 2005-30M Settlement Manning 2007 $34K → $22K
WEST 2005-357M Settlement Manning 2007 $3K → $500
WEST 2005-173M Settlement Manning 2007 $2K → $1K
WEST 2005-504M Dismissal Manning 2007 $725 → $724
WEST 2005-216-M Settlement Manning 2007 $400 → $400
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: 2024-10-23
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
23
samples
3
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz19
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz3
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg1
Show the individual readings (23)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2024-10-23 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.36 Bagging Operator
2024-10-23 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.19 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2024-10-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2024-10-23 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.42 Bagging Operator
2020-12-16 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.23 Bagging Operator
2020-12-16 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.9 Lab Technician
2020-12-16 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 1.21 Mechanic
2017-03-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.25 2.04 0.12 Mechanic
2017-03-23 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.4 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2014-10-22 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.43 Bagging Operator
2014-10-22 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.35 Bagging Operator
2013-12-12 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.36 Laborer, Bullgang
2013-12-12 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.29 Kiln/Dryer Operator
2013-12-12 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.58 Mechanic
2005-06-08 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.57 2.7 0.21 Forklift Operator
2004-09-02 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.97 Bagging Operator
2004-09-02 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.47 Forklift Operator
2004-09-02 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 4.88 Bagging Operator
2004-04-07 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.21 Forklift Operator
2004-04-07 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.27 Laborer, Bullgang
2003-12-03 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.94 Bagging Operator
2003-12-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.24 2.01 0.12 Forklift Operator
2003-12-03 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 1 Cleanup Man

Area samples (mill and shop air)

Last sampled: 2004-09-02, 21 years ago
1
samples
Show the individual readings (1)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Area sampled
2004-09-02 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 4.47 MP BAGGING/PA
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.

El Grande recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2014.

Injury rate, 2014
ⓘ 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 2.39 and the all-US-mining average was 2.93 cases per 100 workers.
In Colorado, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 3.26 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
2014 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2006 * 13.39 6.70 0.000
2005 * 8.97 0.00 0.000
2004 * 17.89 2.98 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. Grefco Inc 1950 to 2003
  2. Dicaperl Minerals LLC 2003 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 473
2025 3
2024 4
2023 4
2022 7
2021 6
2020 3
2019 1
2018 3
2017 3
2016 3
2015 8
2014 11
2013 12
2008 0
2007 2
2006 14
2005 25
2004 37
2003 40
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

El Grande sits in Conejos County, Colorado, where the Census mining category is 0.7% 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.
Conejos County, Colorado · Population 7,536
0.7%
Mining share of county employment
$47,209
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 2 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 980 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 824 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 1,040 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 2,112 2 0 947.0
2025 Q1 2,388 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 2,146 4 1 1863.9
2024 Q3 1,884 0 0 0.0
Show 60 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 1,544 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 1,660 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 2,236 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 1,744 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 1,558 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 2,523 3 0 1189.1
2022 Q4 2,619 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 2,151 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 2,298 5 1 2175.8
2022 Q1 4,021 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 3,136 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 2,495 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 2,276 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 2,386 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 786 6 1 7633.6
2020 Q1 520 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 440 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 120 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 512 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 496 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 841 1 0 1189.1
2018 Q3 1,386 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 1,500 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 1,415 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 2,701 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 1,434 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 1,404 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 1,336 6 2 4491.0
2016 Q4 1,149 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 1,546 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 1,006 6 1 5964.2
2016 Q1 2,799 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 2,805 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 3,104 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 6,075 4 3 658.4
2015 Q1 6,323 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 5,750 3 2 521.7
2014 Q3 5,558 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 6,330 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 5,781 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 7,646 5 2 653.9
2013 Q3 7,152 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 5,566 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 0 0 0
2008 Q2 0 0 0
2008 Q1 0 0 0
2007 Q1 1,040 1 0 961.5
2006 Q4 5,911 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 6,851 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 7,228 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 9,875 2 0 202.5
2005 Q4 10,974 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 10,623 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 11,535 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 11,467 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 12,056 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 16,179 10 4 618.1
2004 Q2 18,541 1 0 53.9
2004 Q1 20,310 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 19,868 24 8 1208.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

13 on file

2022 · 1 incident

November 2, 2022 CO · Metal/Non-Metal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Dicaperl Minerals LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee tripped demounting a platform in a packaging area hurting their knee. Employee finished working the shift and returned to work the following day to complete their weekly work schedule. On Nov. 7th employee sent for medical evaluation due to pain. Employee removed from work due to fractured left patella.

2015 · 1 incident

June 10, 2015 CO · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Dicaperl Minerals LLC · Fall onto or against objects

EE was on top of railroad car to move storm lids from opening on the car to prepare to move the car to the next loading position. He stated that he was moving the lid and slipped falling into the hopper car partially loaded. he did not have his safety belt on at the time of the incident.

2006 · 2 incidents

September 8, 2006 CO · Metal/Non-Metal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger OTHER
Dicaperl Minerals LLC · Struck by flying object

Employee was hauling pallets to warehouse and wind blew perlite into his eyes.

January 9, 2006 CO · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Dicaperl Minerals LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS TAKING A FINISHED BAG OF PRODUCT TO WAREHOUSE, BAG STARTED TO FALL OFF FORKLIFT & EE TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN BAG ON PALLET. EE PULLED A MUSCLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS ABDOMEN RESULTING IN A HERNIA.

2005 · 2 incidents

December 15, 2005 CO · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Dicaperl Minerals LLC · Struck by flying object

Employee got a perlite rock in eye while filling bulk bag.

December 12, 2005 CO · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Dicaperl Minerals LLC · Struck by flying object

Got a perlite rock in eye while loading trucks in warehouse.

2004 · 6 incidents

September 27, 2004 CO · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator OTHER
Dicaperl Minerals LLC · Struck by flying object

PERLITE BLEW INTO RIGHT EYE WHILE CHANGING BAG ON FURNACE #5. EMPLOYEE WAS WEARING SAFETY GLASSES. WIND PICKED UP.

August 16, 2004 CO · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Dicaperl Minerals LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was packing material in bags then lifting bag and placing on conveyer.

July 28, 2004 CO · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Dicaperl Minerals LLC · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE WAS COMING BACK DOWN STEEL LADDER AFTER CLEARING #6 ORE TRANSFER SCREW CONVEYOR ON DECK NEXT TO #6 FURNACE AND MISSED A STEP AND FELL. INJURIES TO LEFT SHOULDER, LEFT LOWER SIDE/BACK AND HEAD AND ELBOW.

July 21, 2004 CO · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator OTHER
Dicaperl Minerals LLC · Struck by flying object

Employee was changing plus material bag on #7 system. Wind blew perlite particle into left eye.

January 27, 2004 CO · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Dicaperl Minerals LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE WAS BREAKING LOOSE A FROZEN AIR LINE. TAKING FROZEN LINE APART, PULLING ON WRENCH TO DISCONNECT PIPE. PAIN IN LOWER BACK AND RIGHT SIDE GROIN AREA.

January 20, 2004 CO · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
Dicaperl Minerals LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS BLOWING OFF THE FORK LIFT AND SLIPPED, ACCIDENTALLY HITTING TRIGGER ON AIR HOSE. THE AIR HIT HIS LEFT EAR, CAUSING SOME PAIN AND DISCOMFORT. THE ROOF HAS A LEAK AND THERE WAS ICE IN THA T CORNER.

2003 · 1 incident

November 20, 2003 CO · Metal/Non-Metal
Dicaperl Minerals LLC · -

STANDING ON A PALLET OF PRODUCT NEXT TO THE DOUBLE STACKED PALLET AND TRYING TO STRAIGHTEN PALLET THAT HAD TRIPPED BACKWARD. EE WAS TRYING TO PUT A STRAP AROUND TOP PALLET, AND STEPPED OFF PALLET AND FELL TO FLOOR.