Mining Incidents

HICKORY QUARRY: 156 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Hickory, Catawba County, NC  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3100043

HICKORY QUARRY has $40K 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
12
Years on record
1988–2025
Latest incident
May 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
156
citations
33
significant & substantial
$39,758
proposed penalties
$39,758
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
84
inspections on record
1,789
inspection hours
8.7
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.
156 citations across 1,789 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

HICKORY QUARRY has $40K 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.
$40K
proposed penalties
$40K
current assessed
$40K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
154 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $662 in penalties contested before the Commission, $602 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-01-15.
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.
21.4%
significant & substantial
4.5%
high negligence or reckless
22.1%
reasonably likely or greater
45.5%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 5.2% low, 90.3% moderate, 4.5% 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.
5 citations taken to the federal commission · 3% of citations on record
  • Stood as issued 5 · 100%
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%
9%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$662 proposed, $602 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 2006-10-16.
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 2007-22M Dismissal Feldman 2007 $602 → $602
SE 2006-279M Dismissal Weisberger 2006 $60 → $0
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: 2025-07-01
9%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
55
samples
22
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz202 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg29
  • Asbestos 2.0f/ml3
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz2
Show the individual readings (55)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2004-04-28 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.49 0.43 1.14 Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-03-17 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.49 0.41 1.20 Crusher Oper/Worker
2025-07-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2025-07-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2025-07-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2025-07-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2024-09-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2024-09-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2024-09-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2024-09-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2024-09-24 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.38 1.22 0.31 Crusher Oper/Worker
2020-11-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.4 Crusher Oper/Worker
2020-11-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2020-11-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2020-11-18 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.15 Utility Man
2020-11-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2018-11-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2018-11-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2018-11-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2018-11-01 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.23 Utility Man
2018-06-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2018-06-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2018-06-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary
2018-06-20 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.18 0.4 0.45 Crusher Oper/Worker
2017-03-02 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2017-03-02 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.2 0.46 0.43 Crusher Oper/Worker
2017-03-02 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2017-03-02 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2017-03-02 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.25 0.63 0.40 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2016-03-16 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2016-03-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.31 0.44 0.70 Crusher Oper/Worker
2016-03-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.14 0.45 0.31 Utility Man
2016-03-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.77 1.73 0.45 Utility Man
2016-03-16 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2015-07-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Backhoe Operator
2015-07-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2015-07-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2015-07-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2015-07-28 Fibers, >5um 0 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2015-07-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mobile Crane Operator
2011-06-08 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.41 1.47 0.28 Crusher Oper/Worker
2011-06-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary
2011-06-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2008-09-17 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 0.33 0.58 Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-11-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.13 0.3 0.43 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2005-05-11 Asbestos 2.0f/ml 0 2 0.00 Drill Operator, Rotary
2005-05-11 Asbestos 2.0f/ml 0 2 0.00 Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-05-11 Asbestos 2.0f/ml 0 2 0.00 Utility Man
2004-02-11 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 0.44 0.43 Utility Man
2004-02-11 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.12 0.35 0.34 Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2001-02-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.5 0.67 0.75 Crusher Oper/Worker
2001-02-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.39 0.77 0.51 Front-end Loader Operator
2001-02-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 0.58 0.26 Utility Man
2001-02-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.18 0.68 0.26 Drill Operator, Rotary
2001-02-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.72 1.7 0.42 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.

HICKORY QUARRY recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.

Injury rate, 2025
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 1.65 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In North Carolina, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.14 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
2025 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2024 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2023 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2022 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2021 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2020 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2019 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2018 * 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. Martin Marietta Aggregates 1950 to 2005
  2. Martin Marietta Materials Inc 2005 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 20
2025 18
2024 18
2023 17
2022 16
2021 17
2020 21
2019 20
2018 20
2017 21
2016 21
2015 20
2014 21
2013 20
2012 19
2011 20
2010 20
2009 23
2008 25
2007 25
2006 25
2005 28
2004 28
2003 28
2002 28
2001 28
2000 28
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

HICKORY QUARRY sits in Catawba County, North Carolina, 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.
Catawba County, North Carolina · Population 162,051
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$64,544
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 11,742 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 10,398 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 9,546 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 8,020 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 10,263 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 9,880 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 10,458 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 9,310 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 9,594 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 8,860 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 8,814 2 0 226.9
2023 Q3 9,936 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 10,218 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 9,078 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 8,876 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 10,126 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 9,116 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 8,306 2 0 240.8
2021 Q4 8,846 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 9,536 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 9,881 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 9,050 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 9,111 1 0 109.8
2020 Q3 9,096 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 9,214 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 9,988 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 11,145 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 11,333 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 11,710 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 9,664 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 8,692 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 9,575 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 12,455 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 10,329 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 10,117 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 9,722 5 0 514.3
2017 Q2 11,343 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 11,290 1 0 88.6
2016 Q4 12,300 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 13,700 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 10,315 1 0 96.9
2016 Q1 9,180 1 0 108.9
2015 Q4 14,040 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 11,531 3 2 260.2
2015 Q2 10,887 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 10,651 1 0 93.9
2014 Q4 12,746 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 13,408 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 9,651 9 0 932.5
2014 Q1 8,645 4 0 462.7
2013 Q4 9,627 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 10,296 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 11,246 2 0 177.8
2013 Q1 9,206 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 9,548 7 2 733.1
2012 Q3 9,928 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 9,263 2 0 215.9
2012 Q1 7,940 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 9,342 1 0 107.0
2011 Q3 10,673 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 10,318 2 2 193.8
2011 Q1 7,196 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 10,360 1 0 96.5
2010 Q3 12,033 3 1 249.3
2010 Q2 10,991 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 8,651 1 1 115.6
2009 Q4 10,863 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 11,444 4 1 349.5
2009 Q2 10,991 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 11,486 12 1 1044.8
2008 Q4 12,660 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 13,154 4 3 304.1
2008 Q2 14,096 5 1 354.7
2008 Q1 14,134 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 15,130 3 0 198.3
2007 Q3 14,766 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 15,662 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 14,593 4 1 274.1
2006 Q4 14,714 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 15,535 6 0 386.2
2006 Q2 15,445 14 5 906.4
2006 Q1 15,401 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 15,244 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 17,250 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 17,180 2 1 116.4
2005 Q1 16,108 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 17,642 3 0 170.0
2004 Q3 15,996 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 16,366 2 0 122.2
2004 Q1 15,246 1 1 65.6
2003 Q4 15,378 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 14,788 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 13,503 1 0 74.1
2003 Q1 11,728 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 11,636 2 0 171.9
2002 Q3 15,670 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 18,088 2 1 110.6
2002 Q1 16,306 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 17,783 5 2 281.2
2001 Q3 16,158 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 18,663 4 1 214.3
2001 Q1 17,986 5 2 278.0
2000 Q4 18,734 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 15,970 2 1 125.2
2000 Q2 15,243 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 15,441 4 1 259.1
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

12 on file

2025 · 1 incident

May 14, 2025 NC · Metal/Non-Metal trespasser SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Martin Marietta Materials Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Trespasser entered mine property and while attempting to climb down from bench 5 to bench 6, slipped and fell approximately 40 feet breaking both legs.

2013 · 2 incidents

June 13, 2013 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator DISORDERS (PHYSICAL AGENTS)
Martin Marietta Materials Inc · Contact with heat

Employee was changing screen cloth on number 3 screen, when he became weak. He notified his coworkers at which point they stop working and attended to him. They believed his sugar was low, but it ended up being heat related.

May 3, 2013 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Martin Marietta Materials Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

An employee was changing v-belts on the portable plant. The motor was lowered to reduce tension, but some tension on the belts still remained. As the employee removed the belts the tip of his finger got caught in a pinch point between the belt and the wheel, this required the employee to have a couple of stitches on the tip of his finger.

2006 · 1 incident

October 30, 2006 NC · Metal/Non-Metal drill operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Martin Marietta Materials Inc · Struck against stationary object

The employee was putting an electrical wire on the solenoid of the fuel pump which had come off. In doing this process, the EE scraped his left forearm against a bolt which had weld on it, which sliced his arm open. He was taken to the DR. & received 6 stitches. He then returned to work with no restrictions. He was working on a Ingersol-Rand drill.

2005 · 1 incident

October 31, 2005 NC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Martin Marietta Materials Inc · Fall from machine

Employee fueled his haul truck at the end of his shift, and after he parked his equipment he did not dismount properly. He jumped from the step instead of climbing down landing on his left leg. Employee suffered a strained left knee, recieved medical treatment however this did not result in a lost time.

2000 · 2 incidents

September 14, 2000 NC · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE WORKING AT THE JAW CRUSHER, HE CUT HIS LEFT FOREARM ON A PIECE OF METAL BURR. IT REQUIRED 4 STITCHES.

July 10, 2000 NC · Metal/Non-Metal truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Struck against a moving object

OFF ROAD HAUL TRUCK ROLLED FROM PARKED POSITION ITNO LOAD OUT BIN AND SMITH SETZER AND SONS OCCUPIED CUSTOMER TRUCK. BIN AND CUSTOEMR'S TRUCK WERE DEMOLISHED.

1999 · 1 incident

July 26, 1999 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

ATTEMPTING TO REATTACH AIR CYLINDER TO FEEDER GATE IN TUNNEL. THE CYLINDER SLIPPED TO ONE SIDE & MASHED HIS THUMB BETWEEN THE END OF TRHE CYLINDER & THE BACK OF THE FEEDER.

1993 · 1 incident

February 12, 1993 NC · Metal/Non-Metal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant MACHINERY
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE INJURED PARTY WAS HOLDING A SHEET OF PLYWOOD (16 1/2" X 20") WHICH WAS BEING CUT BY AN OPERATOR WITH A SKILL SAW. THE BLADE ACCIDENTLY STRUCK THE INDEX FINGER OF THE HOLDER. THE DAMAGE INV OLVED A LACERATION OF THE INDEX FINGER OF THE LEFT HAND (EXTENSOR DIGITORIUM TENDON WAS SEVERED ) ALONG WITH A LACERATION OF THE THUMB ON THE LEFT HAND.

1990 · 1 incident

June 13, 1990 NC · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Struck by falling object

NEW EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING REMOVE LARGE TAIL PULLEY GUARD ON #1 CONVEYOR SO TAIL PULLEY BEARING COULD BE REPLACED. FOUR (4) BOLTS HELD GUARD TO UPRIGHT FLANGENUTS WERE REMOVED BUT GUARD WAS HELD IN PLACE BY ONE BOLT. AS MAN REACHED TO REMOVE BOLT, GUARD TIPPED DOWN CATCHING MAN'S LEFT THUMB BETWEEN GUARD FRAME AND UPRIGHT FLANGE.

1989 · 1 incident

September 19, 1989 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

LETTING OR LOWERING TOGGLE PLATE INTO JAW PLATE SLIPPED OFF X-BEAM BACK OF PLATE CAME UP MY HAND WAS ON TOP GUIDING PLATE INTO PLACE,CAUGHT INDEX FINGER ON RIGHT HAND BETWEEN PIECE OF ANGLE AN D PLATE.

1988 · 1 incident

May 31, 1988 NC · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Martin Marietta Aggregates · Struck by flying object

USING HAMMER ON PIECE OF METAL PREPARING TO WELD, PIECE OF FLYING METAL STRUCK HIM IN MIDDLE FINGER ON LEFT HAND, LODGED IN FINGER. WENT TO DR FOLLOWING EVENING. REMOVED METAL ON 6/02/88 AS OUTPATIENT AT DRS OFFICE.