Mining Incidents

Fisher Industries Plant 20: 28 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Thomas G Fisher
Dickinson, Sanders County, MT  ·  Intermittent
MSHA Mine ID: 2401603

Fisher Industries Plant 20 has $5K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Fisher Industries Plant 20.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
23
Years on record
1988–2011
Latest incident
Nov 2011
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
28
citations
5
significant & substantial
$4,632
proposed penalties
$4,632
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
46
inspections on record
662
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: 662 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Fisher Industries Plant 20 has $5K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 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.
$5K
proposed penalties
$5K
current assessed
$5K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
28 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $373 in penalties contested before the Commission, $373 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-08-13.
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.
17.9%
significant & substantial
7.1%
high negligence or reckless
17.9%
reasonably likely or greater
64.3%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 14.3% low, 78.6% moderate, 7.1% 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 · 11% of citations on record
  • Settled 3 · 100%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$373 proposed, $373 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 2020-10-27.
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 2021-0019 Settlement Simonton 2021 $246 → $246
WEST 2010-537M Settlement 2010 $127 → $127
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: 2021-04-07, 5 years ago
35%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
26
samples
17
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz216 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg5
Show the individual readings (26)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2020-07-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.66 0.6 1.10 Crusher Oper/Worker
2020-07-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.53 0.37 1.43 Lab Technician
2019-06-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.66 0.66 1.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2019-05-15 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.77 0.59 1.31 Crusher Oper/Worker
2006-07-31 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.31 0.72 1.82 Crusher Oper/Worker
2002-10-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.61 0.53 1.15 Crusher Oper/Worker
2021-04-07 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2021-04-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 Lab Technician
2021-04-07 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2020-07-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.36 0.45 0.80 Front-end Loader Operator
2019-06-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.2 Crusher Oper/Worker
2019-06-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.21 Front-end Loader Operator
2019-06-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.41 0.89 0.46 Supervisor, Co. Official
2019-05-15 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 Front-end Loader Operator
2019-05-15 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Bulldozer Operator
2019-05-15 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.38 0.5 0.76 Crusher Oper/Worker
2016-10-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 0.99 0.19 Crusher Oper/Worker
2016-10-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.16 1.16 0.14 Lab Technician
2012-08-26 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2012-08-26 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.25 0.57 0.44 Crusher Oper/Worker
2012-08-26 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.37 0.68 0.54 Lab Technician
2006-07-31 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.13 0.68 0.19 Front-end Loader Operator
2006-07-31 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.12 1.15 0.97 Front-end Loader Operator
2001-10-03 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2001-10-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 0.34 0.65 Front-end Loader Operator
2001-10-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.36 0.39 0.92 Crusher Oper/Worker
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.

Fisher Industries Plant 20 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2005.

Injury rate, 2005
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 3.76 and the all-US-mining average was 4.21 cases per 100 workers.
In Montana, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 4.85 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
2005 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2004 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2002 * 4.91 4.91 0.000
2001 * 16.83 8.41 0.000
2000 * 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. Fisher Sand & Gravel Co 1981 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 8
2025 6
2024 8
2023 4
2022 5
2021 5
2020 4
2019 4
2018 6
2017 4
2016 5
2015 6
2014 5
2013 6
2012 5
2011 4
2010 4
2009 3
2008 4
2007 3
2006 5
2005 9
2004 15
2003 7
2002 15
2001 9
2000 11
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Fisher Industries Plant 20 sits in Sanders County, Montana, where the Census mining category is 0.8% 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.
Sanders County, Montana · Population 12,936
0.8%
Mining share of county employment
$54,035
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 6,613 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 57 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 2,557 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 1,032 1 1 969.0
2025 Q2 2,347 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 1,554 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 3,487 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 7,468 1 1 133.9
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 3,735 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 972 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 0 0 0
2023 Q3 2,247 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 2,429 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 615 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 894 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 1,710 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 3,113 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 1,438 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 2,659 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 2,452 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 3,008 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 590 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 1,663 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 2,500 2 0 800.0
2020 Q2 2,340 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 1,990 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 1,673 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 1,301 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 2,983 1 1 335.2
2019 Q1 662 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 1,948 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 2,432 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 2,964 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 1,007 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 480 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 2,582 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 2,357 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 207 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 1,494 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 2,178 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 2,543 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 2,434 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 2,998 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 3,523 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 2,767 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 2,838 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 2,447 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 3,329 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 3,403 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 2,651 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 3,589 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 3,369 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 3,064 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 4,387 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 3,057 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 3,040 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 3,256 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 4,667 2 0 428.5
2011 Q4 3,864 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 3,858 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 2,736 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 2,424 1 1 412.5
2010 Q4 3,517 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 3,459 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 3,157 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 1,796 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 1,706 3 0 1758.5
2009 Q3 3,475 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 2,828 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 1,114 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 3,001 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 2,673 1 0 374.1
2008 Q2 3,220 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 3,764 2 0 531.3
2007 Q4 1,538 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 3,052 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 1,101 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 2,716 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 3,308 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 4,234 3 0 708.5
2006 Q2 5,682 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 4,388 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 4,364 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 5,191 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 5,070 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 14,039 1 0 71.2
2004 Q4 14,360 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 9,963 1 0 100.4
2004 Q2 11,009 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 8,303 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 4,230 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 7,063 3 0 424.7
2003 Q2 5,761 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 857 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 16,090 1 0 62.2
2002 Q3 5,362 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 9,125 1 0 109.6
2002 Q1 10,179 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 6,214 2 0 321.9
2001 Q3 6,677 2 1 299.5
2001 Q2 3,938 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 6,945 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 6,367 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 5,861 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 7,129 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 9,098 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

23 on file

2011 · 1 incident

November 5, 2011 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Struck against stationary object

Employee was under loader greasing. When the employee got up, his hard hat fell off and he hit his head on the lifting arms. Employee was transported by his supervisor to the hospital for stitches.

2010 · 1 incident

April 12, 2010 MT · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Struck by falling object

Hammer fell on EE's head (EE was wearing a hard hat and safety glasses), needed 8 staples on top of his head. Bridge of nose and eyebrow were cut. EE works on crew that works 8 days on 6 days off.

2006 · 1 incident

July 18, 2006 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Was cutting belt on ground with knife and was cutting toward him. The knife slipped and cut his knee.

2003 · 1 incident

March 12, 2003 MT · Metal/Non-Metal

EMPLOYEE WAS TRYING TO TRAP DOOR ON TRAP DUE TO ROCK BEING STUCK, EMPLOYEE USED A PRYBAR TO MOVE ROCK. TRAP DOOR MOVED BACK INTO POSITION WHICH MADE PRY BAR COME DOWN AND PINCH EMPLOYEE'S THUM B.

2002 · 1 incident

2001 · 2 incidents

November 17, 2001 MT · Metal/Non-Metal miner, nec HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS CHANGING CUTTING EDGES ON LOADER. EE WAS HOLDING NUT WITH HAND AND THE NUT SPUN CUTTING EE PALM ON RIGHT HAND.

October 13, 2001 MT · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEES WERE CLEANING OUT TAIL PULLEY MATERIAL(CONVEYOR LOCKED OUT) BUT MATERIAL ON BELT CAUSED BELT TO ROLL BACKWARDS AND PINCH EE'S HAND IN PULLEY. HIS LEFT HAND HAS 2 BROKEN BONES IN FING ERS AND BRUISED MUSCLES.

1999 · 1 incident

September 7, 1999 MT · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Struck by flying object

EE WAS CHANGING SCREENS WHEN SOME MATERIAL GOT INTO HIS EYE AND IT SWELLED SHUT.

1998 · 2 incidents

September 8, 1998 MT · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS PICKING CLAY OFFOF A SCREEN BASKET A LARGER ROCK LANDED ON HIS FINGER AND SMASHED IT

March 19, 1998 MT · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator POWERED HAULAGE
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS TRING TO ADJUST A BELT SCRAPER WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION.

1995 · 1 incident

August 8, 1995 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

CREW WAS USING A HAMMER WRENCH TO LOOSEN BOLTS ON JAW CRUSHER-THIS EMPLOYEE REACHED UP TO READJUST THE WRENCH AND GOT HIS HAND HIT BY THE EMPLOYEE DOING THE HAMMERING.

1994 · 1 incident

January 20, 1994 MT · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

CRUSHER WAS PLUGGED WITH CLAY. HE WAS USING A BAR TO UNPLUG IT, SMASHED HIS FINGER BETWEEN BAR AND FRAME WORK OF CRUSHER.

1993 · 2 incidents

December 27, 1993 MT · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE CHAININGDOWN THE CONVEYOR AN DPREPARING TO HAND IT FOR TRASPORT THE EMPLOYEE SLIPPED.

September 30, 1993 MT · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator MACHINERY
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Struck against a moving object

WHILE BACKING THE DOZER THE DOZER DROPPED INTO A 2' DRAINAGE DITCH BUILT IN THE PIT TO DETOUR HIGH WATER TABLE.

1992 · 2 incidents

June 3, 1992 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Fall from machine

DISMOUNTING DOZER,SLIPPED AND FOOT GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN TRACK AND ARM PLATE OF DOZER.

March 10, 1992 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ICE & SNOW BUILD UP ON THE HBACK DOORS OF A TRAILER VAN EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING AROUND GENERATOR SLIPPED & FELL TO THE GROUND ABOUT 40IN IN HEIGHT

1991 · 2 incidents

March 14, 1991 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer POWERED HAULAGE
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

CONVEYOR WAS BEING HOISTED EE GOT HIS HAND FINGERS BETWEEN CHAIN AND CONVEYOR.

1990 · 1 incident

August 21, 1990 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS CLEANING THE TRAP- A ROCK ROLLED OVER AND HIT THE BAR FORCING IT INTO HIS LOWER STOMACH AREA.

1989 · 2 incidents

June 5, 1989 MT · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPL LOADING SCREENS ALONE AND INJURED HIS BACK.

June 3, 1989 MT · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Fall from machine

EMPL CLIMBED ONTO WET TIRE TO MAKE SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT ON EQUIPMENT & SLIPPED OFF.

1988 · 2 incidents

August 29, 1988 MT · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator POWERED HAULAGE
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

BELT WAS SLIPPING & EMPLOYEE TRIED TO APPLY A SPRAY BELT DRESSING-HIS ARM WAS CAUGHT IN THE HEAD PULLEY BRUISING HIS ARM.

April 12, 1988 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS
Fisher Sand & Gravel Co · Struck by falling object

PUTTING DOZER BLADE ON TRACTOR BLOCKING GAVE AWAY AND DOZER ARM FELL ON HIS FOOT