Gerken Materials Inc · Fall onto or against objects
Employee was exiting the scale house office and slipped on ice and fell on steps and fractured four ribs in their back.
Gerken Materials- Hillsdale Plant: 56 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal
Gerken Materials Inc
· Surface
Controlled by
Brent Gerken; Michael J Gerken
HILLSDALE,
Hillsdale County,
MI
·
Active
MSHA Mine ID: 2002344
Gerken Materials- Hillsdale Plant has $9K in proposed MSHA penalties and $302 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 13
- Years on record
- 1987–2026
- Latest incident
- Feb 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
56
citations
15
significant & substantial
$8,595
proposed penalties
$8,293
paid to date
96% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $302 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
48
inspections on record
683
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: 683 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Gerken Materials- Hillsdale Plant has $9K in proposed MSHA penalties and $302 outstanding across 1 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.$9K
proposed penalties
$9K
current assessed
$8K
paid to date
$302
outstanding
54 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $121 in penalties contested before the Commission, $121 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-16.
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.26.8%
significant & substantial
8.9%
high negligence or reckless
26.8%
reasonably likely or greater
26.8%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 17.9% low, 73.2% moderate, 8.9% 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.
1
citations taken to the federal commission · 2% of citations on record
- Settled 1 · 100%
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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$121 proposed, $121 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 2019-07-30.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAKE 2019-0343 | Settlement | Bulluck | 2019 | $121 → $121 |
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: 2025-09-30
ⓘ
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.7
samples
0
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
- Respirable dust, <.1mg6
- Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (7)
| Date | Contaminant | Concentration | Limit | Conc / limit | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-09-30 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | Utility Man | ||
| 2025-09-30 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | Utility Man | ||
| 2022-02-08 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | Front-end Loader Operator | ||
| 2022-02-08 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | Laborer, Bullgang | ||
| 2014-12-10 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | Front-end Loader Operator | ||
| 2014-12-10 | Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz | 0.14 | Truck Driver | ||
| 2014-12-10 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | 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.
Ownership history
- Hillsdale Sand & Gravel Inc 1950 to 2008
- Gerken Materials Inc 2008 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
| Year | Employees |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2023 | 8 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2000 | 4 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Gerken Materials- Hillsdale Plant sits in Hillsdale County, Michigan, where the Census mining category is 0.0% 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.Hillsdale County, Michigan · Population 45,658
0.0%
Mining share of county employment
$60,869
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 | 2,730 | 2 | 1 | 732.6 |
| 2026 Q1 | 1,895 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q4 | 2,871 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q3 | 3,647 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q2 | 3,685 | 1 | 0 | 271.4 |
| 2025 Q1 | 2,498 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q4 | 3,206 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q3 | 3,407 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
Show 98 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Q2 | 3,519 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q1 | 2,685 | 3 | 0 | 1117.3 |
| 2023 Q4 | 4,475 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q3 | 4,784 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q2 | 4,753 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q1 | 2,961 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q4 | 3,208 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q3 | 4,392 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q2 | 4,358 | 5 | 3 | 1147.3 |
| 2022 Q1 | 2,326 | 1 | 0 | 429.9 |
| 2021 Q4 | 4,418 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 Q3 | 4,982 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 Q2 | 4,983 | 2 | 1 | 401.4 |
| 2021 Q1 | 3,930 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 Q4 | 4,462 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 Q3 | 4,973 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 Q2 | 4,991 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 Q1 | 3,519 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q4 | 4,288 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q3 | 4,361 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q2 | 4,163 | 5 | 0 | 1201.1 |
| 2019 Q1 | 2,254 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q4 | 3,648 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q3 | 3,534 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q2 | 3,946 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q1 | 2,862 | 1 | 0 | 349.4 |
| 2017 Q4 | 3,640 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q3 | 3,945 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q2 | 4,097 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q1 | 3,119 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q4 | 4,302 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q3 | 5,940 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q2 | 4,937 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q1 | 3,048 | 1 | 1 | 328.1 |
| 2015 Q4 | 4,733 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q3 | 5,172 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q2 | 6,342 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q1 | 2,924 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q4 | 6,607 | 1 | 0 | 151.4 |
| 2014 Q3 | 4,947 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q2 | 4,028 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q1 | 1,511 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q4 | 3,128 | 1 | 0 | 319.7 |
| 2013 Q3 | 3,442 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q2 | 3,262 | 5 | 1 | 1532.8 |
| 2013 Q1 | 1,593 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q4 | 2,343 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q3 | 2,906 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q2 | 3,373 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q1 | 1,748 | 2 | 0 | 1144.2 |
| 2011 Q4 | 3,081 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q3 | 3,669 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q2 | 3,568 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q1 | 1,848 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q4 | 2,099 | 2 | 0 | 952.8 |
| 2010 Q3 | 2,702 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q2 | 2,950 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q1 | 2,249 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q4 | 3,263 | 8 | 2 | 2451.7 |
| 2009 Q3 | 3,746 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q2 | 2,532 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q1 | 1,575 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q4 | 1,863 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q3 | 1,819 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q2 | 1,961 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q1 | 1,790 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q4 | 1,624 | 2 | 0 | 1231.5 |
| 2007 Q3 | 2,040 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q2 | 2,078 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q1 | 1,656 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q4 | 2,091 | 2 | 2 | 956.5 |
| 2006 Q3 | 2,682 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q2 | 2,004 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q1 | 1,985 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q4 | 3,677 | 2 | 0 | 543.9 |
| 2005 Q3 | 3,962 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q2 | 4,588 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2005 Q1 | 2,457 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q4 | 3,501 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q3 | 4,155 | 1 | 1 | 240.7 |
| 2004 Q2 | 3,874 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2004 Q1 | 2,436 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q4 | 3,157 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q3 | 2,869 | 5 | 2 | 1742.8 |
| 2003 Q2 | 1,061 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2003 Q1 | 1,732 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q4 | 1,908 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q3 | 2,268 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q2 | 1,782 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2002 Q1 | 1,701 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q4 | 1,877 | 1 | 0 | 532.8 |
| 2001 Q3 | 2,440 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q2 | 1,692 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2001 Q1 | 1,524 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q4 | 2,743 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q3 | 3,162 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q2 | 2,630 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2000 Q1 | 165 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
13 on file2026 · 1 incident
2019 · 2 incidents
November 5, 2019
MI · Metal/Non-Metal
barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Gerken Materials Inc · Struck against stationary object
Employee stated that the guard from the dredge winch was removed to replace the cable, at some point the cable started to slide off the deck into the water and EE jumped over the guard to stop it and cut the back of EE's leg on the guard.
April 30, 2019
MI · Metal/Non-Metal
barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Gerken Materials Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
Employee was moving a bearing housing for installation on the screen plant and pinched gloved finger between two one hundred pound housings. When they removed glove they realized that they had severely cut a finger right behind the finger nail. Several days later the finger tip was removed.
2011 · 1 incident
April 4, 2011
MI · Metal/Non-Metal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Gerken Materials Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Connecting ladder chain together and cutting head flopped over and pinched EE's finger tip causing a laceration and fractured finger tip above his knuckle.
2000 · 2 incidents
May 26, 2000
MI · Metal/Non-Metal
front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator
MACHINERY
Hillsdale Sand & Gravel Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
THUMB PINCHED BETWEEN ROCK AND CHAIN WHILE OPERATING DREDGE. THUMB NAIL TORN OFF.
May 26, 2000
MI · Metal/Non-Metal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Hillsdale Sand & Gravel Inc · Fall from machine
EMPLOYEE WAS PUTTING NEW PIPE LINE ON THE BACK OF DREDGE, SLIPPED AND FELL ON PONTOON, DISLOCATING RIGHT SHOULDER.
1998 · 2 incidents
May 16, 1998
MI · Metal/Non-Metal
laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman
MACHINERY
Hillsdale Sand & Gravel Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
EE GRINDING A PIECE OF STEEL AT WORK BENCH AT TOOL TRAILER, FOREIGN BODY RIGHT EYE.
January 19, 1998
MI · Metal/Non-Metal
barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand
MACHINERY
Hillsdale Sand & Gravel Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EE GRINDING SLAG FROM STEEL PLATE, GLOVE GOT CAUGHT BY SLAG & GRINDING WHEEL CUT TOP SIDE OF RIGHT INDEX FINGER.
1993 · 1 incident
September 13, 1993
MI · Metal/Non-Metal
barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand
STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Hillsdale Sand & Gravel Inc · Struck against stationary object
EMPLOYEE INSPECTING EAST DRIVE FOR CLOSENESS TO WATERS EDGE, STEPPED ON ROCK TWISTED RIGHT ANKLE
1992 · 1 incident
April 20, 1992
MI · Metal/Non-Metal
barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand
SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Hillsdale Sand & Gravel Inc · Fall from machine
JUMPING FROM BOAT TO DREDGE JAMMED L THUMB
1987 · 3 incidents
Hillsdale Sand & Gravel Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
GATHERING UP PL5STIC USED TO COVER SAND BLASTING SAND, AND SLAG SAND IMBEDDED IN LEFT EYE
October 2, 1987
MI · Metal/Non-Metal
front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator
MACHINERY
Hillsdale Sand & Gravel Inc · Flash burns (welding)
EMP HOLDING PIP9 FOR WELDER, WAS NOT WEARING PROTECTIVE WELDING LENSES, BURNED EYES
April 3, 1987
MI · Metal/Non-Metal
barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand
HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Hillsdale Sand & Gravel Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
EMPLOYEE WAS CU7TING RUBBER MAT FOR WOOD STEP PLANK OF DREDGE, KNIFE SLIPPED , CUT LEFT HAND BETWEEN THUMB AND 1ST FINGER, REQUIRING STITCHES.