Mining Incidents

GPS River Rock Products Co: 67 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

GPS River Rock Products Co · Surface
Controlled by Rusty Risi
Ventucopa, Santa Barbara County, CA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 0404898

GPS River Rock Products Co has $8K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
5
Years on record
1987–2002
Latest incident
Jun 2002
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
67
citations
11
significant & substantial
$8,030
proposed penalties
$7,840
paid to date
98% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $190 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2001
46
inspections on record
704
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: 704 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
A Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2012-10-16.
On record since 2012.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.

GPS River Rock Products Co has $8K 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.
$8K
proposed penalties
$8K
current assessed
$8K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
66 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $3K in penalties contested before the Commission, $509 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2021-03-09.
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.
16.7%
significant & substantial
6.1%
high negligence or reckless
16.7%
reasonably likely or greater
37.9%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 16.7% low, 77.3% moderate, 6.1% 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.
10 citations taken to the federal commission · 15% of citations on record
  • Settled 6 · 60%
  • Stood as issued 4 · 40%
100%
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%
81%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$3K proposed, $509 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 2003-03-25.
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
WEST20030164M Settlement Manning 2003 $3K → $344
WEST20030208M Dismissal Manning 2003 $165 → $165
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: 2019-04-30, 7 years ago
8
samples
0
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg8
Show the individual readings (8)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2019-04-30 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2015-01-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2015-01-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Screen/Scalper Operator
2012-05-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2012-05-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dump Operator
2003-10-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Shovel Operator
2003-10-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2003-10-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
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.

GPS River Rock Products Co recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2007.

Injury rate, 2007
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
No reportable injury cases in any year shown. Employee-hours were reported in each of those years, so these are true zeros rather than missing data. Citations, listed in the compliance record above, are inspector-found violations and are counted separately from worker injuries.
Below average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 3.30 and the all-US-mining average was 3.77 cases per 100 workers.
In California, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 3.87 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
2007 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2006 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2005 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2004 * 0.00 0.00 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.
Ownership history
  1. Southwest Ready Mix Inc 1987 to 2002
  2. GPS River Rock Products Co 2002 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2020 4
2019 7
2018 7
2017 7
2016 6
2015 6
2014 5
2013 5
2012 6
2011 5
2010 5
2009 5
2008 8
2007 10
2006 8
2005 9
2004 10
2003 10
2002 7
2001 6
2000 5
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

GPS River Rock Products Co sits in Santa Barbara County, California, 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.
Santa Barbara County, California · Population 443,975
0.2%
Mining share of county employment
$95,977
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
2020 Q4 916 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 1,095 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 2,440 1 0 409.8
2020 Q1 4,024 1 0 248.5
2019 Q4 3,534 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 3,681 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 3,996 4 1 1001.0
2019 Q1 4,045 2 1 494.4
Show 76 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2018 Q4 4,255 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 3,541 1 0 282.4
2018 Q2 3,827 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 4,124 2 1 485.0
2017 Q4 3,883 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 3,932 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 3,417 2 1 585.3
2017 Q1 3,026 2 0 660.9
2016 Q4 3,604 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 3,488 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 3,474 3 0 863.6
2016 Q1 4,152 2 1 481.7
2015 Q4 4,738 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 4,324 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 3,326 1 0 300.7
2015 Q1 3,262 1 0 306.6
2014 Q4 3,427 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 4,363 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 3,025 1 0 330.6
2014 Q1 2,757 1 0 362.7
2013 Q4 2,591 1 0 386.0
2013 Q3 3,032 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 2,570 3 1 1167.3
2013 Q1 3,531 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 3,685 4 1 1085.5
2012 Q3 4,063 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 3,661 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 3,561 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 3,309 1 0 302.2
2011 Q3 3,721 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 3,629 1 0 275.6
2011 Q1 3,220 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 3,592 1 0 278.4
2010 Q3 3,294 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 3,958 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 1,043 1 1 958.8
2009 Q4 3,271 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 2,972 1 0 336.5
2009 Q2 3,087 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 2,899 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 3,893 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 3,865 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 4,232 1 0 236.3
2008 Q1 5,642 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 6,971 1 0 143.5
2007 Q3 5,990 2 0 333.9
2007 Q2 6,903 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 6,086 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 6,077 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 5,280 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 5,576 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 5,196 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 6,302 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 6,371 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 5,791 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 5,265 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 7,057 4 0 566.8
2004 Q3 7,534 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 7,118 1 0 140.5
2004 Q1 7,265 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 6,995 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 8,327 1 0 120.1
2003 Q2 6,116 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 6,186 3 0 485.0
2002 Q4 4,982 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 5,209 6 1 1151.9
2002 Q2 3,516 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 3,722 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 3,849 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 4,201 10 2 2380.4
2001 Q2 4,430 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 3,618 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 3,390 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 3,295 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 3,618 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 3,396 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

5 on file

2002 · 1 incident

June 4, 2002 CA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
Southwest Ready Mix Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EE WAS WORKING NEAR THE CRUSHER FEED CONVEYOR. HE WAS DISCOVERED ON THE GROUND, BUT DID NOT LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS. IT IS BELIEVED A ROCK MAY HAVE HIT HIS HEAD. THE MINER WAS WEARING A HARD HA T AND HEARING PROTECTION AT THE TIME. HE WAS TREATED AT THE HOSPITAL AND RELEASED.

1991 · 1 incident

April 2, 1991 CA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Southwest Ready Mix Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INJURED WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SECURING A FRONT END LOADER ON A L-BOY TRAILER.HE BENT OVER TO PICK UP A CHAIN BINDER AND DISLOCATED HIS LEFT HIP.HE HAD RECONSTRUCTIVE HIP SURGERY APPROX FOUR YE ARS AGO.THE PROTHESIS LIMITS HIS MOTOR FUNCTION ABILITIES.WHEN HE BENT OVER TO PICK UP THE CHAIN BINDER,HIS LEFT LEG WAS FORWARD WHICH SHIFTED HIS BODY WEIGHT ONTO HIS LEFT SIDE RESULTING IN

1987 · 3 incidents

November 10, 1987 CA · Metal/Non-Metal refuse truck driver, backfill truck driver, stock pile truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Southwest Ready Mix Inc · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

I,NAME SLIPPED ON SOME ROCK AND TRIED TO CATCH HIMSELF, WHEN HE WENT TO GRAB ON TO THE RAIL HIS ARM WENT INTO THE CONVEYOR BELT AND PULLED ARM IN.

November 4, 1987 CA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Southwest Ready Mix Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

I,NAME HAD BEEN LIFTING ALL DAY (PIPE) AND WHEN HE REACHED DOWN TO PICK UP SOME TOOLS HE FELT A PAIN IN HIS BACK.

September 18, 1987 CA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Southwest Ready Mix Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WORKING ON CASE LOADER-TRYING TO TIGHTEN HYDRAULIC LINE AND SCREWDRIVER SLIPPED INJURING MIDDLE FINGER ON RIGHT HAND.