Mining Incidents

Elkin: 34 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Vulcan Materials Company
Elkin, Surry County, NC  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3100092

Elkin has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
12
Years on record
1988–2019
Latest incident
Jan 2019
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
34
citations
6
significant & substantial
$5,787
proposed penalties
$5,352
paid to date
92% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $435 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
64
inspections on record
902
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: 902 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Elkin has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 3 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.
$6K
proposed penalties
$5K
current assessed
$5K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
32 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $1K in penalties contested before the Commission, $720 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2022-01-25.
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.
18.2%
significant & substantial
0.0%
high negligence or reckless
23.1%
reasonably likely or greater
46.2%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 7.7% low, 92.3% moderate, 0.0% 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.
4 citations taken to the federal commission · 12% of citations on record
  • Settled 3 · 75%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 1 · 25%
67%
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 3 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
43%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$1K proposed, $720 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 2015-09-02.
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
SE 2013-548M Settlement Barbour 2014 $585 → $150
SE 2008-894M Settlement Miller 2009 $570 → $570
SE 2015-0445 Withdrawal Rae 2016 $100 → $0
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: 2026-07-22
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
27
samples
8
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg18
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz7
  • Fibers, >5um1
  • Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (27)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2026-07-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2026-07-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2026-07-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2024-07-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2024-07-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary
2024-07-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2024-07-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2024-07-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 0.53 0.42 Utility Man
2023-07-06 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 4.53 10 0.45 Welder, etc.
2023-07-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Lab Technician
2023-07-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.44 1.61 0.27 Utility Man
2023-07-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2023-07-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2020-07-15 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2020-07-15 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Sampler, Dust
2016-07-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-07-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Sampler, Dust
2010-10-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2010-10-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Shovel Operator
2007-06-26 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 0.88 0.25 Utility Man
2007-06-26 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary
2007-06-26 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.29 2.46 0.12 Front-end Loader Operator
2006-06-08 Fibers, >5um 0.03 Utility Man
2000-10-24 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.3 0.57 0.53 Truck Driver
2000-10-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2000-10-24 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.58 0.87 0.67 Crusher Oper/Worker
2000-10-24 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 1.13 0.17 Front-end Loader Operator
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.

Elkin 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 North Carolina, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.14 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 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2020 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2019 * 5.73 5.73 0.000
2018 * 0.00 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. Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC 1950 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 15
2025 16
2024 16
2023 16
2022 14
2021 15
2020 16
2019 15
2018 11
2017 9
2016 9
2015 9
2014 8
2013 9
2012 12
2011 11
2010 12
2009 11
2008 11
2007 10
2006 10
2005 15
2004 16
2003 18
2002 19
2001 21
2000 19
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Elkin sits in Surry County, North Carolina, where the Census mining category is 0.3% 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.
Surry County, North Carolina · Population 71,407
0.3%
Mining share of county employment
$56,095
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 7,522 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 7,818 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 8,170 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 7,905 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 7,766 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 9,187 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 7,068 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 8,840 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 8,059 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 9,329 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 9,163 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 8,792 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 8,746 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 7,562 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 7,327 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 7,741 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 8,125 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 5,324 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 6,272 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 8,069 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 9,219 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 8,953 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 8,266 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 7,338 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 7,427 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 8,218 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 9,532 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 8,141 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 9,257 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 7,950 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 7,274 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 6,299 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 6,500 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 5,500 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 5,908 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 5,137 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 5,641 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 3,497 1 0 286.0
2016 Q4 4,904 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 5,148 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 5,746 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 4,771 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 4,445 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 5,118 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 6,937 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 4,952 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 5,099 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 5,384 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 5,569 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 3,917 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 4,294 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 4,149 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 4,234 1 0 236.2
2013 Q1 4,598 2 0 435.0
2012 Q4 4,643 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 4,393 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 3,303 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 5,251 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 5,041 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 4,583 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 5,487 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 5,823 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 4,563 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 6,476 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 6,076 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 4,671 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 5,594 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 5,091 1 1 196.4
2009 Q2 4,826 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 3,091 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 3,582 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 5,985 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 6,831 5 3 732.0
2008 Q1 7,297 2 0 274.1
2007 Q4 6,583 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 7,376 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 5,625 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 4,426 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 4,588 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 3,574 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 6,978 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 5,043 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 4,336 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 8,251 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 8,464 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 3,085 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 6,766 1 0 147.8
2004 Q3 8,808 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 8,772 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 5,614 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 8,558 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 10,045 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 10,758 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 4,045 1 0 247.2
2002 Q4 7,963 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 10,550 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 11,138 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 8,182 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 10,089 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 11,889 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 12,675 2 1 157.8
2001 Q1 10,930 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 10,383 6 1 577.9
2000 Q3 12,070 2 0 165.7
2000 Q2 12,066 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 9,601 7 0 729.1
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

12 on file

2019 · 1 incident

January 16, 2019 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Contact with hot objects or substances

Burnt right index finger while cleaning slag off torch.

2014 · 1 incident

May 1, 2014 NC · Metal/Non-Metal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While performing maintenance a welding lead slipped off tower above employees head. Employee attempted to catch stinger causing a dislocated thumb.

2012 · 1 incident

2001 · 1 incident

July 11, 2001 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS STANDING NEAR BY WHEN ANOTHER EE WAS USING A 8 LB HAMMER TO KNOCK THE BUSHING DOWN IN THE HUB OF THE KELLY DRIVE ON THE DM-25 DRILL. A SMALL FRAGMENT APPROX 1/8" IN SIZE CAME OFF THE EA R OF THE BUSHING AND STRUCK HIM IN THE STOMACH. EE USING THE SLEDGE HAMMER SAID HE COULD ONLY SWING ABOUT 6 INCH, WHICH IS VERY LITTLE FORCE. THEY THINK EAR WAS ALREADY CRACKED.

1997 · 2 incidents

November 11, 1997 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Struck by flying object

WATER HOSE VALVE CAME OPEN, CAUSING HOSE TO FLY UP AND HIT EMPLOYEE.

September 2, 1997 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INJURED EE WAS HOLDING SPIKE HAMMER. SECOND EE STRUCK SPIKE HAMMER WITH ANOTHER HAMMER. A PIECE OF THE HAMMER BROKE OFF, STRIKING EE IN THE NECK.

1994 · 1 incident

November 5, 1994 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A HOIST SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED TO HANDLE THE PIN. LEFT INDEX FINGER WAS SEVERED ABOVE 1ST JOINT. THE FIGNER WAS RE-ATTACHED AND DISABILITY, IF ANY, SHOULD BE MINOR.

1992 · 3 incidents

November 3, 1992 NC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE ABC CRUSHER RUN BIN PLUGGED UP. INJURED WAS USING A STEEL BAR TO BEAT THE OUTSIDE OF THE BIN. HE HAD HIS HAND CUPPED OVER THE END OF THE BAR, WHEN HE SWUNG BACK THE BAR HIT A STEEL BEAM. H IS HAND HIT BETWEEN THE BEAM AND THE BAR.

August 17, 1992 NC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

85061S CLIMBING UP INTO HIS TRUCK R-35 EUCLID, WHEN HE FELT A PULLING FEELING IN HIS LEFT SIDE.

August 6, 1992 NC · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor POWERED HAULAGE
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

95149ED WAS USING A SCREW DRIVER TO INSTALL VEEBELTS ON A CRUSHER SHEAVE AS TWO OTHER MEN ROTATED THE CRUSHER SHEAVE EE WAS USING A SCREWDRIVER AT THE METER SHEAVE TO MOVE THE BELTS OVER IN TH 50796OVES EE GOT HIS FINGER CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BELT & THE SHEAVE IT CUT THE VERY END OF HIS FINGER RT INDEX OFF THERE WAS NO BONE LOSE OR DAMAGE

1991 · 1 incident

June 24, 1991 NC · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WORKERS WERE REMODELING #2 SCREEN TOWER SCREEN CLOTH WALKWAY HAD BEEN REMOVED IN SOME SPOTS IN ORDER FOR THE CONDUIT TO CONNECT TO THE MOTOR WHILE TWO EMPLOYEES WERE INSTALLING V-BELT GUARD ON E OF THEM STEPPED IN A HOLE & FELL SCRAPING HIS LEFT LEG & BRUISING HIS KNEE

1988 · 1 incident

December 7, 1988 NC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE HANGING A CHUTE ON 489 CONE CRATPLANT SUBJECT WAS PRYING AGAINST CHUTE SO IT WOULD ALINE IN WITH BOLT HOLE CHUTE RELOOSNED & PRY BAR CAME OUT KNOCKING THE SUBJECT OFF BALANCE HE STARTED TO FALL & GRABBED A PIECE OF ANGLE IRON & THE CHUTE SLIDE AGAINST HIS FINGER