Fairmount Quarry has $67K in proposed MSHA penalties and $3K outstanding across 4 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
42
Years on record
1984–2025
Latest incident
Dec 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
202
citations
35
significant & substantial
$66,953
proposed penalties
$63,340
paid to date
95% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $3,613 gap.
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.
202 citations across 2,060 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Fairmount Quarry has $67K in proposed MSHA penalties and $3K outstanding across 4 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.
$67K
proposed penalties
$66K
current assessed
$63K
paid to date
$3K
outstanding
195 assessments are final orders; 4 contested dockets.
Of $5K in penalties contested before the Commission, $1K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-29.
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.
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.
7citations taken to the federal commission · 3% of citations on record
Settled
5 · 71%
Vacated or withdrawn
2 · 29%
0%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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%
78%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$5K proposed, $1K 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 2025-01-08.
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: 2025-09-24
11%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
27
samples
18
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz132 over
Respirable dust, <.1mg7
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz5
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (27)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2018-05-23
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz
26.31
10
2.63
Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-03-10
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz
17.45
10
1.75
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2025-09-24
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2025-09-24
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Drill Operator, Rotary
2025-09-24
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2025-09-24
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Dragline Operator
2019-10-16
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Shovel Operator
2019-10-16
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.14
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2019-10-16
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.44
Laborer, Bullgang
2019-10-16
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Dragline Operator
2018-09-25
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz
2.35
10
0.24
Crusher Oper/Worker
2018-05-23
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz
0.63
10
0.06
Crusher Oper/Worker
2015-05-27
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.27
2.13
0.13
Crusher Oper/Worker
2015-01-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Dragline Operator
2015-01-22
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.18
10
0.02
Bulldozer Operator
2012-08-16
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.37
2.53
0.15
Crusher Oper/Worker
2012-08-16
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.38
2.21
0.17
Utility Man
2007-03-20
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz
5.83
10
0.58
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2007-03-20
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz
8.87
10
0.89
Cleanup Man
2007-03-20
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz
1.13
10
0.11
Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-08-31
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz
2.47
10
0.25
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2004-03-10
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz
2.73
10
0.27
Drill Operator, Rotary
2004-03-10
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz
8.98
10
0.90
Cleanup Man
2002-08-07
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz
1.96
10
0.20
Shovel Operator
2002-08-07
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz
1.2
10
0.12
Truck Driver
2002-08-07
Nuisance dust, total, <1% Qtz
3.79
10
0.38
Cleanup Man
2002-08-07
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.75
2.26
0.33
Drill Operator, Rotary
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.
Fairmount Quarry recorded 4.74 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.
4.74
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 Illinois, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.41 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 *
4.74
0.00
0.000
2024 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2023 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2022 *
4.12
4.12
0.000
2021 *
4.07
0.00
0.000
2020 *
7.21
0.00
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
4.24
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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2026
23
2025
22
2024
24
2023
22
2022
22
2021
24
2020
24
2019
22
2018
22
2017
22
2016
22
2015
24
2014
21
2013
22
2012
24
2011
23
2010
23
2009
21
2008
22
2007
24
2006
25
2005
25
2004
22
2003
24
2002
25
2001
23
2000
23
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Fairmount Quarry sits in Vermilion County, Illinois, 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.
Vermilion County, Illinois · Population 73,179
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$54,537
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
14,327
7
1
488.6
2026 Q1
9,678
2
1
206.7
2025 Q4
10,424
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
13,024
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
11,664
10
2
857.3
2025 Q1
7,058
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
12,243
10
3
816.8
2024 Q3
14,727
0
0
0.0
Show 98 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
11,946
8
0
669.7
2024 Q1
10,203
6
0
588.1
2023 Q4
12,046
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
14,282
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
14,123
5
0
354.0
2023 Q1
10,255
4
1
390.1
2022 Q4
12,940
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
13,807
1
0
72.4
2022 Q2
13,272
3
2
226.0
2022 Q1
8,529
3
0
351.7
2021 Q4
13,245
15
1
1132.5
2021 Q3
12,748
3
0
235.3
2021 Q2
12,161
0
0
0.0
2021 Q1
10,995
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
17,458
3
3
171.8
2020 Q3
15,395
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
14,245
7
3
491.4
2020 Q1
8,346
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
11,309
8
0
707.4
2019 Q3
14,571
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
12,684
2
2
157.7
2019 Q1
6,008
1
0
166.4
2018 Q4
12,404
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
13,595
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
12,969
5
2
385.5
2018 Q1
8,225
1
0
121.6
2017 Q4
11,542
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
14,105
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
12,950
5
2
386.1
2017 Q1
9,149
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
9,145
2
0
218.7
2016 Q3
13,218
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
14,353
2
0
139.3
2016 Q1
9,256
4
0
432.2
2015 Q4
9,951
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
17,382
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
15,969
4
0
250.5
2015 Q1
8,791
2
0
227.5
2014 Q4
9,842
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
15,816
2
1
126.5
2014 Q2
13,907
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
5,816
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
8,597
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
13,479
3
0
222.6
2013 Q2
13,090
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
8,165
3
1
367.4
2012 Q4
9,148
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
13,677
3
0
219.3
2012 Q2
16,302
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
11,876
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
13,871
2
0
144.2
2011 Q3
15,687
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
14,455
2
0
138.4
2011 Q1
9,485
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
11,882
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
15,479
2
0
129.2
2010 Q2
15,093
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
8,787
2
0
227.6
2009 Q4
8,123
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
14,698
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
12,763
1
0
78.4
2009 Q1
9,949
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
7,954
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
14,800
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
13,740
3
0
218.3
2008 Q1
8,939
2
1
223.7
2007 Q4
12,565
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
14,387
3
1
208.5
2007 Q2
13,393
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
11,976
7
1
584.5
2006 Q4
13,281
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
14,974
11
1
734.6
2006 Q2
14,526
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
13,584
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
12,950
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
16,844
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
16,503
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
11,912
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
7,672
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
13,088
11
2
840.5
2004 Q2
13,527
1
0
73.9
2004 Q1
12,137
1
0
82.4
2003 Q4
11,943
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
15,649
1
0
63.9
2003 Q2
15,753
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
14,206
0
0
0.0
2002 Q4
15,444
5
2
323.8
2002 Q3
17,672
6
0
339.5
2002 Q2
17,483
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
13,349
3
1
224.7
2001 Q4
13,203
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
16,276
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
16,395
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
11,087
0
0
0.0
2000 Q4
12,845
1
0
77.9
2000 Q3
14,521
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
12,345
0
0
0.0
2000 Q1
10,422
1
0
96.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
42 on file
2025 · 1 incident
December 15, 2025IL · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee was attempting to clear a blockage in a chute with a pry bar and missed the chute striking their right ring finger on the side of the chute wall. Initially first aid only, doctor visit on 12/23 found fracture in finger on x-ray making it reportable.
EE was hooking up home made cable trailer to the Ford F-350 shop truck. EE placed left hand on trailer coupler and right hand on trailer frame pulling forward when the coupler slid down over the ball, EE left ring finger was pulled in between ball and coupler.
The working foreman suffered a strain to EE's right shoulder while loading a 6" rubber suction line for a portable pump into the back of a pickup truck. EE did not request medical treatment until August 7th and was released back to modified work.
March 2, 2020IL · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
The Plant Operator sustained a laceration to left wrist while cutting a rubber hose off a fitting. The injured was wearing gloves and long sleeves and using a retractable blade safety knife. The knife blade failed to retract as the cut was being attempted and resulted in a wound that needed to be closed with sutures.
2018 · 1 incident
August 28, 2018IL · Metal/Non-Metalcrane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, riggerSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
The Dragline operator sustained a sprain to the left ankle while exiting the Dragline. The injured miner was stepping off the ladder onto the Dragline shoe and rolled ankle when EE stepped on an object on the shoe.
2015 · 1 incident
April 13, 2015IL · Metal/Non-Metalmaster mechanic, foreman, supervisorMACHINERY
A mechanic suffered an avulsion injury to the pad of his left long finger. The injured was installing a hoist motor in a Marion 7400 Dragline. While using an electric hoist to raise the motor into place the chain hooked to the load suddenly rolled. His gloved hand was pinched by the chain causing the injury to his finger.
A miner suffered a sprain to his right knee during the unloading of dragline parts. The miner was traveling by foot and stepped on a small piece of wood (4x4) resulting in a slip causing an injury to his right knee.
A Working Foreman suffered a low back strain while manually moving the trailing cable for the Marion 7400 Dragline. The incident occurred on Friday May 25th however the employee did not report or request medical treatment until Tuesday May 29th.
2011 · 3 incidents
August 12, 2011IL · Metal/Non-Metalmaster mechanic, foreman, supervisorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
A Mechanic sustained a fracture and laceration to the middle finger on his right hand while installing a hoist cylinder on a Haul Truck. When the cylinder slipped the injured attempted to steady it causing his right middle finger to get caught between the cylinder and fuel tank on the Haul Truck.
August 4, 2011IL · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
An operator sustained a laceration to right hand requiring sutures to close the wound. The injured employee was moving a section of pipe by hand into a position to reconnect it to another pipe when a metal band on the pipe struck his hand causing the wound. The metal band is used to secure a section of flexible to solid pipe.
February 28, 2011IL · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
A Plant Operator suffered a strain to his low back and abdominal area while replacing a section of wear plate in a vibratory feeder located in the surge tunnel.
2009 · 3 incidents
October 29, 2009IL · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorMACHINERY
Excessive rainfall over the past two days has allowed enough water to collect in the pit such that normal operations in the pit have been stopped. No personnel or equipment were affected as result of this excessive water in the pit.
January 9, 2008IL · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
The employee was cleaning a bin using a long steel tamping rod when the material inside the bin broke loose striking the steel rod. The rod fell down straining the employee's shoulder. This is now a lost time injury as of November 7, thus making it a recordable injury.
July 5, 2005IL · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
The injured was prying bolts down on bolt flange with a pry bar. His hands slipped and the pry bar struck him under his lip. This injury required sutures.
June 30, 2005IL · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
An excessive rainfall overnight, June 10, 2004, caused flooding of the quarry at this location. We do not know at this time when normal operation is expected to rusume.
May 14, 2004IL · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS LIFTING A BOX OVER THE SIDE OF A PICKUP TRUCK WHEN HE FELT A STRAIN IN HIS LOWER BACK AND SHOULDER. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED AT THAT TIME. AFTER FURTHER MEDICAL EXAM ON 8/30/04, A TORN ROTATOR CUFF WAS DISCOVERED REQUIRING SURGERY. THIS IS NOW A RECORDABLE INJURY.
May 11, 2004IL · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
An excessive rainfall on Friday, March 26, 2004, caused flooding of the quarry at this location. We do not know at this time when normal operation is expected to resume.
ON AUGUST 19, 2002, AFTER AN EIGHT INCH RAINFALL, THE QUARRY AT THIS LOCATION HAS BECOME FLOODED. AT THIS TIME AN ESTIMATE OF CONTINUED PRODECTION IS UNDETERMINED.
THE INJ & COWORKERS WERE REPLACING THE DUMP CABLE FOR THE DRAGLINE AFTER THE CABLE WAS CUT TO LENGTH IT STARTED TO UNWIND FROM THE DRUM THE END OF THE CABLE STRUCK THE EE'S HARD HAT, KNOCKING IT OFF & LACERATING HIS SCALP AREA.
October 21, 1999IL · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
THE INJ WAS ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR A FROZEN SHAFT ON A PUMP. THE EE REMOVED THE TOP NUT & THE SHAFT SLIPPED INTO HOUSING LACERATING HIS LEFT LITTLE FINGER
1995 · 1 incident
July 19, 1995IL · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanPOWERED HAULAGE
WHILE CLEANING 4ATERIAL OFF ROOF OF BUILDING A FROZEN PIECE OF MATERIAL CAME LOOSE PINNING MAN AGAINST CONVEYOR BEAM. SEVEN CRACKED RIBS AND CRACKED COLLAR BONE
1984 · 2 incidents
September 6, 1984IL · Metal/Non-Metalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
MOISTURE ON HOOD & FENDER WHILE CLEANING WINDSHIELD ON HAUL TRUCK, STEPPED FROM HOOD TO FENDER & FELL BETWEEN FEND & ENFINE COMPARTMENT- BRODEN LEFT LEG.