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

Harmony Blue Quarry: 119 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Elberton, Oglethorpe County, GA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 0900002

Harmony Blue Quarry has $44K in proposed MSHA penalties and $11K outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Harmony Blue Quarry.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
10
Years on record
1986–1997
Latest incident
May 1997
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
119
citations
41
significant & substantial
$44,403
proposed penalties
$33,434
paid to date
75% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $10,969 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Echols Mill Quarries's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
73
inspections on record
916
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: 916 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.
2
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2014-05-08.
On record since 2013.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.

Harmony Blue Quarry has $44K in proposed MSHA penalties and $11K 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.
$44K
proposed penalties
$44K
current assessed
$33K
paid to date
$11K
outstanding
114 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $2K in penalties contested before the Commission, $1K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2021-01-06.
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.
36.0%
significant & substantial
19.3%
high negligence or reckless
36.0%
reasonably likely or greater
53.5%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 1.8% low, 78.9% moderate, 18.4% high, 0.9% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
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
SE 20010100M Settlement Zielinski 2001 $2K → $1K
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: 2021-01-07, 5 years ago
43%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
43
samples
30
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz2913 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg9
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz4
  • Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (43)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2017-11-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.28 0.64 2.00 Laborer, Bullgang
2017-11-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.23 0.66 1.86 Laborer, Bullgang
2016-10-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.66 0.55 1.20 Jackhammer Operator
2015-09-17 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.58 0.56 1.04 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2015-09-17 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.98 0.71 1.38 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2013-10-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.38 0.52 2.65 Jackhammer Operator
2010-08-31 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.8 0.8 1.00 Cleanup Man
2005-01-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.82 0.75 1.09 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2005-01-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.94 0.74 1.27 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2002-12-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.89 0.57 1.56 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2002-12-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.61 0.71 2.27 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2002-12-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.21 0.47 2.57 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2001-09-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.71 0.55 1.29 Drill Operator, Jet Piercing
2021-01-07 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.19 Laborer, Bullgang
2021-01-07 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.18 Laborer, Bullgang
2021-01-07 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.28 Laborer, Bullgang
2017-12-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 0.51 0.37 Laborer, Bullgang
2017-12-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2017-11-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.18 0.78 0.23 Laborer, Bullgang
2016-10-19 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Jackhammer Operator
2016-10-19 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.13 10 0.01 Mobile Crane Operator
2016-10-19 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Jackhammer Operator
2016-06-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2016-06-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2015-11-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2015-11-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2015-11-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2015-09-17 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.36 0.59 0.61 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2014-01-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.29 0.6 0.48 Jackhammer Operator
2014-01-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.49 0.82 0.60 Jackhammer Operator
2014-01-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.4 0.55 0.73 Jackhammer Operator
2013-10-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.28 0.73 0.38 Jackhammer Operator
2012-07-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.31 1.51 0.87 Jackhammer Operator
2010-08-31 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.33 0.58 0.57 Jackhammer Operator
2005-03-02 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.2 0.87 0.23 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2005-03-02 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.21 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2005-01-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.62 0.7 0.89 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2003-04-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.32 0.6 0.53 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2003-04-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.46 0.63 0.73 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2003-04-16 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2001-11-20 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.35 0.73 0.48 Drill Operator, Jet Piercing
2001-09-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.62 0.67 0.93 Jet Piercing Chan. Operator
2001-09-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.18 0.52 0.35 Jet Piercing Chan. 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
  1. Bennie & Harvey Quarries Inc 1950 to 1996
  2. Worley Quarries Inc 1996 to 2020
  3. Echols Mill Quarries 2020 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2020 9
2019 8
2018 9
2017 9
2016 9
2015 8
2014 8
2013 8
2012 8
2011 8
2010 8
2009 8
2008 8
2007 9
2006 9
2005 9
2004 8
2003 9
2002 10
2001 8
2000 4
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Harmony Blue Quarry sits in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, where the Census mining category is 0.1% 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.
Oglethorpe County, Georgia · Population 15,221
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$69,784
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 3,283 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 3,954 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 5,067 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 4,472 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 3,863 3 0 776.6
2019 Q3 4,322 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 3,936 2 0 508.1
2019 Q1 3,507 1 0 285.1
Show 70 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2018 Q4 3,632 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 1,425 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 3,991 2 0 501.1
2018 Q1 3,857 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 4,042 3 1 742.2
2017 Q3 3,418 1 1 292.6
2017 Q2 3,385 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 3,522 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 3,609 2 1 554.2
2016 Q3 3,465 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 3,901 1 1 256.3
2016 Q1 3,710 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 4,008 3 1 748.5
2015 Q3 3,416 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 3,453 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 3,042 1 1 328.7
2014 Q4 3,866 1 0 258.7
2014 Q3 3,918 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 3,885 8 3 2059.2
2014 Q1 3,447 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 3,871 2 1 516.7
2013 Q3 4,191 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 3,914 4 3 1022.0
2013 Q1 2,967 1 0 337.0
2012 Q4 3,759 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 3,770 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 4,203 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 3,803 4 2 1051.8
2011 Q1 4,444 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 4,057 6 0 1478.9
2010 Q3 3,801 1 0 263.1
2010 Q2 3,694 4 3 1082.8
2010 Q1 3,634 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 3,823 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 3,760 3 1 797.9
2009 Q2 3,238 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 2,818 2 1 709.7
2008 Q4 3,612 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 3,068 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 3,207 2 0 623.6
2008 Q1 3,128 3 2 959.1
2007 Q4 3,836 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 3,462 7 4 2022.0
2007 Q2 4,030 1 1 248.1
2007 Q1 3,570 6 2 1680.7
2006 Q4 3,266 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 3,710 1 0 269.5
2006 Q2 4,035 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 3,566 3 1 841.3
2005 Q4 3,768 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 3,907 2 0 511.9
2005 Q2 4,432 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 4,245 4 1 942.3
2004 Q4 4,115 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 3,609 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 3,593 1 0 278.3
2004 Q1 3,609 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 4,169 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 3,757 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 4,007 1 0 249.6
2003 Q1 3,515 3 3 853.5
2002 Q4 4,068 3 0 737.5
2002 Q3 4,698 1 0 212.9
2002 Q2 4,277 2 1 467.6
2002 Q1 3,700 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 4,055 1 0 246.6
2001 Q3 3,744 6 0 1602.6
2001 Q2 4,026 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 2,050 7 3 3414.6
2000 Q1 1,797 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

10 on file

1997 · 1 incident

May 21, 1997 GA · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner MACHINERY
Worley Quarries Inc · Struck against a moving object

LIFTED BLOCK OF GRANITE OUT OF OPEN PIT INCORRECTLY. CRANE FELL INTO THE QUARRY.

1992 · 2 incidents

September 2, 1992 GA · Metal/Non-Metal drill operator MACHINERY
Bennie & Harvey Quarries Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A DRILL THE DRILL GOT HUNG ON A ROCK & INJURED HIS BACK

April 30, 1992 GA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Bennie & Harvey Quarries Inc · Struck against a moving object

EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING TRUCK WHEN LOAD SHIFTED CAUSING THE TRUCK TO TURN OVER QUARTER TURN, BRUISING RIGHT SIDE AND HIP.

1988 · 3 incidents

June 1, 1988 GA · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
Bennie & Harvey Quarries Inc · Struck by flying object

OPERATING BURNER ANDSOMETHING FLEW INTO LEFT EYE.

1987 · 3 incidents

November 30, 1987 GA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Bennie & Harvey Quarries Inc · Struck against a moving object

TRUCK TILTED AN8 BRUISED RT HAND

October 12, 1987 GA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bennie & Harvey Quarries Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

WORKING ON CRA3E AND CAUGHT HAND BETWEEN PULLEY AND CABLE. MASHED 3 FINGERS LEFT HAND

October 8, 1987 GA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Bennie & Harvey Quarries Inc · Struck against stationary object

ASSISTING MAINT9NANCE AND CUT LEFT HAND

1986 · 1 incident