Golden Sunlight Underground Mine has $20K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 11 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
13
Years on record
2002–2018
Latest incident
Sep 2018
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2002
144
citations
26
significant & substantial
$19,534
proposed penalties
$19,152
paid to date
98% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $382 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.
144 citations across 1,255 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Golden Sunlight Underground Mine has $20K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 11 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.
$20K
proposed penalties
$19K
current assessed
$19K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
143 assessments are final orders; 11 contested dockets.
Of $5K in penalties contested before the Commission, $3K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2019-01-09.
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.
38citations taken to the federal commission · 26% of citations on record
Settled
25 · 66%
Stood as issued
4 · 11%
Vacated or withdrawn
9 · 24%
56%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 9 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
30%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$5K proposed, $3K 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 2018-09-06.
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: 2018-07-24, 8 years ago
54%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
15
samples
13
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Diesel particulate (total carbon)63 over
Total Carbon,calculated from elemental carbon.43 over
Total Carbon,TC43 over
TC as EC @ 35031 over
Show the individual readings (34)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2018-04-03
TC @ 160
180
160
1.13
Mucking Mach. Operator
2018-04-03
TC @ 160
278
160
1.74
Roof Bolter, Rock
2018-04-03
EC @ 160
224
160
1.40
Roof Bolter, Rock
2018-04-03
TC @ 160
296
160
1.85
Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2018-04-03
EC @ 160
248
160
1.55
Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2007-11-04
TC as EC @ 350
380.42
350
1.09
Miner, Drift
2003-11-13
Total Carbon,TC
619.85
400
1.55
Mucking Mach. Operator
2003-11-13
Total Carbon,calculated from elemental carbon.
701.28
400
1.75
Truck Driver
2003-11-13
Total Carbon,TC
656.11
400
1.64
Truck Driver
2003-11-13
Total Carbon,calculated from elemental carbon.
748.16
400
1.87
Mucking Mach. Operator
2002-11-26
Total Carbon,TC
458.06
400
1.15
Supervisor, Co. Official
2002-11-26
Total Carbon,calculated from elemental carbon.
526.96
400
1.32
Supervisor, Co. Official
2018-07-24
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2018-06-26
TC from EC @ 160
0
160
0.00
Roof Bolter, Rock
2018-06-26
EC @ 160
47
160
0.29
Roof Bolter, Rock
2018-06-26
TC @ 160
73
160
0.46
Roof Bolter, Rock
2018-06-26
TC from EC @ 160
0
160
0.00
Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2018-06-26
EC @ 160
34
160
0.21
Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2018-06-26
TC @ 160
40
160
0.25
Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2018-04-03
EC @ 160
149
160
0.93
Mucking Mach. Operator
2018-04-03
TC from EC @ 160
0
160
0.00
Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2018-04-03
TC from EC @ 160
0
160
0.00
Roof Bolter, Rock
2018-04-03
TC from EC @ 160
0
160
0.00
Mucking Mach. Operator
2015-08-12
EC @ 160
3
160
0.02
Front-end Loader Operator
2015-08-12
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.62
Roof Bolter, Rock
2015-08-12
TC @ 160
3
160
0.02
Front-end Loader Operator
2015-08-12
TC from EC @ 160
0
160
0.00
Front-end Loader Operator
2007-11-04
TCarbon @ 350
0
350
0.00
Miner, Drift
2007-11-04
TC as EC @ 350
0
350
0.00
Miner, Drift
2007-11-04
TCarbon @ 350
337.96
350
0.97
Miner, Drift
2007-11-04
TCarbon @ 350
212.82
350
0.61
Roof Bolter, Mounted
2007-11-04
TC as EC @ 350
172.92
350
0.49
Roof Bolter, Mounted
2003-11-13
Total Carbon,TC
186.02
400
0.47
Truck Driver
2003-11-13
Total Carbon,calculated from elemental carbon.
200.97
400
0.50
Truck Driver
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.
Golden Sunlight Underground Mine recorded 1.65 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2018.
Injury rate, 2018
ⓘ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.
1.65
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 1.95 and the all-US-mining average was 2.33 cases per 100 workers.
In Montana, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 3.51 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year
total case rate
days-away
fatal
2018
1.65
0.00
0.000
2017
0.00
0.00
0.000
2016
1.68
0.00
0.000
2008 *
4.07
0.00
0.000
2007 *
6.39
3.19
0.000
2003 *
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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2019
35
2018
57
2017
55
2016
57
2015
35
2009
27
2008
49
2007
30
2004
10
2003
33
2002
16
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Golden Sunlight Underground Mine sits in Jefferson County, Montana, where the Census mining category is 1.4% 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, Montana · Population 12,501
1.4%
Mining share of county employment
$76,576
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
Night shift crews were entering the underground at the start of shift through portal four. The crew sensed a bitter acid taste as they entered. The crew immediately retreated out of the mine and contacted management. The mine was left to ventilate, MSHA 1-800 number was called. Mine rescue team determined a sulfide dust explosion occurred during day shift blasting.
February 8, 2018MT · Metal/Non-Metalelectrician, linemanMACHINERY
The electrician was removing de-energized power cable from #1 portal. While using a cordless band saw to cut the cables the electrician's hand slipped making contact with the blade. The result was a laceration to the left index finger.
Employee was loading wire into the back of a truck, the wire caught on an obstruction causing it to spring back. The wire struck the employee's right pinky finger. Causing an oblique fracture to the right pinky finger. Currently the employee is working on restricted duty.
2015 · 1 incident
September 20, 2015MT · Metal/Non-Metalbelt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Miner was replacing striker bar on jumbo, when flushing head slipped and impacted right ring finger. Miner received a fractured finger and five stitches.
Employee was walking up the incline to notify the shop that he blew a hydraulic hose. He felt a pop in his left ankle, leg area. Employee was taken to the doctor for evaluation and x-rays showed a hairline fracture. Employee was released to restricted duty.
2008 · 2 incidents
November 19, 2008MT · Metal/Non-Metalledgeman/hand, quarry manPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee was dumping truck outside lower portal when he ran over a rock causing the operator to strike his head on the roof of the cab. Employee not wearing hard hat.
August 7, 2008MT · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was changing flushing head on the Cannon Jumbo drill. He then unscrewed the drill steel and tried to beat the retainer ring to get it loose. He pulled the hoses using his left arm against the slide, which wasn't a good location. He let go of the hoses and noticed his left arm was bleeding but he felt no pain. He had a laceration which required 3 sutures to the left forearm.
2007 · 2 incidents
October 5, 2007MT · Metal/Non-Metalledgeman/hand, quarry manPOWERED HAULAGE
While installing a new rod on the Cubex Drill the employee placed his hand on the bottom of the rod. The rod slipped and caught his hand between the two rods. The injury required one suture.
2003 · 1 incident
August 24, 2003MT · Metal/Non-Metalminer, necMACHINERY
MINER WAS DRIVING A BEAM HOLE RAISE, ON A STEEL LADDER AND WORKING FROM A 2' X 2' DRILL DECK. AS JACKLEG CAME DOWN FROM A HOLE IT CAME INTO CONTACT WITH LEFT INDEX FINGER ON THE LADDER RUNG.
EMPLOYEE WAS TYING IN A ROUND, WHEN HE PULLED ON A NON-ELECTRICAL TUBE TO TIE IN, A SMALL ROCK ROLLED OFF THE FACE AND HIT HIM IN THE TOOTH, CHIPPING IT.
November 29, 2002MT · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerPOWERED HAULAGE