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

Festus Underground: 45 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Fred Weber, Inc. · Underground
Festus, Jefferson County, MO  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 2302480

Festus Underground has $7K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Festus Underground.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
9
Years on record
2018–2023
Latest incident
Jun 2023
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2017
45
citations
3
significant & substantial
$7,112
proposed penalties
$6,648
paid to date
93% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $464 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Fred Weber, Inc.'s full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2017
51
inspections on record
1,027
inspection hours
4.4
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.
45 citations across 1,027 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Festus Underground has $7K 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.
$7K
proposed penalties
$7K
current assessed
$7K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
42 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $700 in penalties contested before the Commission, $236 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-06-04.
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.
7.0%
significant & substantial
20.9%
high negligence or reckless
4.7%
reasonably likely or greater
34.9%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 2.3% none, 23.3% low, 53.5% moderate, 20.9% 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.
3 citations taken to the federal commission · 7% of citations on record
  • Settled 2 · 67%
  • Stood as issued 1 · 33%
50%
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 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
66%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$700 proposed, $236 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 2023-12-19.
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 2018-0384 Settlement Feldman 2019 $439 → $118
CENT 2024-0073 Dismissal Manning 2024 $143 → $0
CENT 2018-0375 Settlement Feldman 2019 $118 → $118
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: 2025-08-19
33%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
53
samples
39
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Diesel particulate (total carbon)257 over
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz156 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg8
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz4
Show the individual readings (100)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2021-05-12 TC @ 160 276 160 1.73 Truck Driver
2018-08-01 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.61 0.44 1.39 Blaster, Powder Gang
2018-08-01 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.84 0.59 1.42 Blaster, Powder Gang
2018-08-01 TC @ 160 185 160 1.16 Blaster, Powder Gang
2018-06-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.09 0.78 1.40 Blaster, Powder Gang
2018-06-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.91 0.69 1.32 Blaster, Powder Gang
2018-02-28 TC @ 160 395 160 2.47 Roof Bolter, Rock
2018-02-28 TC @ 160 258 160 1.61 Scaling (mechanical)
2018-02-28 TC from EC @ 160 243 160 1.52 Scaling (mechanical)
2018-02-28 TC @ 160 244 160 1.53 Blaster, Powder Gang
2018-02-28 EC @ 160 170 160 1.06 Blaster, Powder Gang
2018-02-28 TC from EC @ 160 299 160 1.87 Blaster, Powder Gang
2018-02-28 TC @ 160 165 160 1.03 Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2018-02-28 EC @ 160 224 160 1.40 Roof Bolter, Rock
2017-12-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.4 0.39 1.03 Blaster, Powder Gang
2017-12-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.37 0.32 1.16 Ground Control/Timberman
2017-11-29 TC @ 160 235 160 1.47 Roof Bolter, Mounted
2017-11-29 TC from EC @ 160 169 160 1.06 Roof Bolter, Mounted
2025-08-19 EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Miner, Drift
2025-08-19 ORGANIC CARBON 0 Miner, Drift
2025-08-19 TC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Miner, Drift
2025-08-19 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Miner, Drift
2024-09-19 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2022-11-08 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Roof Bolter, Rock
2022-11-08 EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Roof Bolter, Rock
2022-11-08 TC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Roof Bolter, Rock
2022-11-08 ORGANIC CARBON 0 Roof Bolter, Rock
2022-11-08 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2022-11-08 EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2022-11-08 TC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2022-11-08 ORGANIC CARBON 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2022-08-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.24 Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2022-08-16 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Blaster, Powder Gang
2022-08-16 EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Blaster, Powder Gang
2022-08-16 TC @ 160 77 160 0.48 Blaster, Powder Gang
2022-08-16 ORGANIC CARBON 51 Blaster, Powder Gang
2022-08-16 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Scaling (mechanical)
2022-08-16 EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Scaling (mechanical)
2022-08-16 TC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Scaling (mechanical)
2022-08-16 ORGANIC CARBON 0 Scaling (mechanical)
2022-08-16 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Roof Bolter, Rock
2022-08-16 EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Roof Bolter, Rock
2022-08-16 TC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Roof Bolter, Rock
2022-08-16 ORGANIC CARBON 0 Roof Bolter, Rock
2022-08-16 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2022-08-16 EC @ 160 70 160 0.44 Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2022-08-16 TC @ 160 108 160 0.68 Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2022-08-16 ORGANIC CARBON 38 Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2022-08-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.46 Truck Driver
2022-08-16 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Roof Bolter, Rock
2022-08-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.39 0.71 0.55 Front-end Loader Operator
2021-08-03 TC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2021-08-03 ORGANIC CARBON 0 Truck Driver
2021-08-03 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2021-08-03 EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2021-08-03 TC @ 160 47 160 0.29 Front-end Loader Operator
2021-08-03 ORGANIC CARBON 0.04 Front-end Loader Operator
2021-08-03 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2021-08-03 EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2021-08-03 TC @ 160 142 160 0.89 Truck Driver
2021-08-03 ORGANIC CARBON 0.14 Truck Driver
2021-08-03 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2021-08-03 EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2021-05-12 TC @ 160 34 160 0.21 Truck Driver
2021-05-12 EC @ 160 34 160 0.21 Truck Driver
2021-05-12 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2021-05-12 EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2021-05-12 TC from EC @ 160 55 160 0.34 Truck Driver
2021-05-12 ORGANIC CARBON 0.24 Truck Driver
2021-05-12 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2021-05-12 EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2021-05-12 TC @ 160 37 160 0.23 Front-end Loader Operator
2021-05-12 ORGANIC CARBON 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2021-05-12 ORGANIC CARBON 0 Truck Driver
2020-12-03 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2020-12-03 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.18 Truck Driver
2020-12-03 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.29 Front-end Loader Operator
2020-09-15 EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2020-09-15 TC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2020-09-15 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2020-09-15 EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2020-09-15 TC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2020-09-15 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2019-11-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2019-11-06 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.32 Truck Driver
2019-11-06 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.56 Truck Driver
2018-08-01 EC @ 160 92 160 0.58 Blaster, Powder Gang
2018-08-01 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Blaster, Powder Gang
2018-06-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.37 0.75 0.49 Scaling (hand)
2018-06-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.31 0.54 0.57 Diamond Drill Operator
2018-06-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 0.49 0.31 Scaling (mechanical)
2018-05-09 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Scaling (mechanical)
2018-05-09 EC @ 160 29 160 0.18 Scaling (mechanical)
2018-05-09 TC @ 160 64 160 0.40 Scaling (mechanical)
2018-02-28 EC @ 160 138 160 0.86 Scaling (mechanical)
2018-02-28 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Roof Bolter, Rock
2018-02-28 EC @ 160 97 160 0.61 Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2018-02-28 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2018-02-27 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.24 10 0.02 Truck Driver
2018-02-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
Showing 100 of 116 laboratory readings: every over-limit reading, then the most recent. MSHA reads one air sample several times, so readings outnumber the samples counted above. The full set is in MSHA's Personal Health Samples file.

Area samples (mill and shop air)

Last sampled: 2025-08-19
7
samples
Show the individual readings (17)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Area sampled
2025-08-19 TC @ 160 0 UG ACTIVE MINING
2025-08-19 EC @ 160 0 UG ACTIVE MINING
2022-11-08 EC @ 160 0 UG ACTIVE MINING
2022-11-08 TC @ 160 0 UG ACTIVE MINING
2022-08-16 EC @ 160 0 UG TRAVEL/HAULAGE
2022-08-16 TC @ 160 0 UG TRAVEL/HAULAGE
2021-08-03 EC @ 160 0 UG ACTIVE MINING
2021-08-03 TC from EC @ 160 0 UG ACTIVE MINING
2021-05-12 TC @ 160 132 UG ACTIVE MINING
2021-05-12 TC from EC @ 160 0 UG ACTIVE MINING
2021-05-12 EC @ 160 82 UG ACTIVE MINING
2018-02-28 TC @ 160 289 UG ACTIVE MINING
2018-02-28 EC @ 160 165 UG ACTIVE MINING
2018-02-28 TC from EC @ 160 0 UG ACTIVE MINING
2017-11-29 TC from EC @ 160 0 UG ACTIVE MINING
2017-11-29 TC @ 160 100 UG ACTIVE MINING
2017-11-29 EC @ 160 67 UG ACTIVE MINING
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.

Festus Underground recorded 8.71 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2023.

Injury rate, 2023
ⓘ 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.
8.71
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 1.78 and the all-US-mining average was 2.10 cases per 100 workers.
In Missouri, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 2.20 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
2023 * 8.71 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 * 9.01 4.51 0.000
2018 * 8.39 5.59 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. Bluff City Minerals, LLC 2014 to 2018
  2. Fred Weber, Inc. 2018 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 9
2025 4
2024 2
2023 24
2022 23
2021 19
2020 19
2019 18
2018 36
2017 38
2015 2
2014 5
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Festus Underground sits in Jefferson County, Missouri, where the Census mining category is 0.2% 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.
Jefferson County, Missouri · Population 228,227
0.2%
Mining share of county employment
$80,522
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 4,671 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 1,797 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 763 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 3,010 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 2,678 1 0 373.4
2025 Q1 599 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 889 1 0 1124.9
2024 Q3 544 0 0 0.0
Show 28 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 3,820 1 1 261.8
2023 Q3 11,602 2 0 172.4
2023 Q2 14,994 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 15,515 1 0 64.5
2022 Q4 12,981 1 0 77.0
2022 Q3 13,158 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 15,369 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 13,111 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 12,213 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 12,596 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 13,663 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 12,139 1 0 82.4
2020 Q4 13,608 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 10,811 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 8,702 1 0 114.9
2020 Q1 17,466 2 0 114.5
2019 Q4 6,598 4 1 606.2
2019 Q3 14,016 2 0 142.7
2019 Q2 9,647 2 0 207.3
2019 Q1 14,127 1 0 70.8
2018 Q4 12,339 2 0 162.1
2018 Q3 13,211 4 0 302.8
2018 Q2 25,760 8 0 310.6
2018 Q1 20,186 7 1 346.8
2017 Q4 22,306 1 0 44.8
2017 Q3 24,090 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 1,125 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 982 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

9 on file

2023 · 2 incidents

June 20, 2023 MO · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler POWERED HAULAGE
Fred Weber, Inc. · Struck against a moving object

EE was operating a 980 FEL when pain was felt in the lower back.

June 15, 2023 MO · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Fred Weber, Inc. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee states they were hand scaling and went to swing the hand bar at a rock when the bar slipped out of their hand and caught the right pinky finger between the hand bar and the top rail of the manlift basket. The pinky finger suffered a fracture.

2020 · 1 incident

December 11, 2020 MO · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Fred Weber, Inc. · Struck by falling object

Technician was removing a transmission plate from under a 980G loader when the plate fell on EE's left arm causing a fracture. The plate was held by one bolt which bent/broke causing the plate to fall.

2019 · 2 incidents

May 18, 2019 MO · Metal/Non-Metal truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Fred Weber, Inc. · Fall from machine

Employee stated was dismounting the haul truck, as EE approached the ladder on the front bumper EE fell to the ground EE lost balance and fell.

April 23, 2019 MO · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Fred Weber, Inc. · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee stated was lifting bags of ANFO and felt a strain in the left shoulder. Went to the doctor on 6/14/2019 and was referred to physical therapy. Was first aid until then.

2018 · 4 incidents

August 7, 2018 MO · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Fred Weber, Inc. · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Technician was installing a suspension cylinder on a 773 Off Road truck. While attempting to push the rigged cylinder in to place technician felt a pinch and pain in lower back.

May 31, 2018 MO · Metal/Non-Metal roof bolter, rock bolter, pinner, mobile roof support operator (mrs) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Fred Weber, Inc. · Struck against stationary object

The employee stated that when stacking bolts on the roof bolter the employee cut arm on a band.

March 24, 2018 MO · Metal/Non-Metal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey EXPLOSIVES AND BREAKING AGENTS
Fred Weber, Inc. · Struck by falling object

Employee stated that while loading a shot at the face, a hole above the employee ignited causing sand to fall on employee's back.

March 24, 2018 MO · Metal/Non-Metal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey EXPLOSIVES AND BREAKING AGENTS
Fred Weber, Inc. · Struck by flying object

Employee stated that while loading a shot at the face, a shot tube hooked on the lift basket, stretched, broke, and initiated the hole.