Higgins Ranch · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Employee was drilling rock and pushing down on the drill. The steel broke off and hit EE in the right foot behind the steel toes towards the outside of EE's foot.
Higgins Ranch, LLC & Shults Quarry: 116 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal
Higgins Ranch, LLC & Shults Quarry has $64K in proposed MSHA penalties and $453 outstanding across 4 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 1
- Years on record
- 2019
- Latest incident
- Jul 2019
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2005
116
citations
47
significant & substantial
$64,368
proposed penalties
$42,475
paid to date
66% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $21,893 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2005
76
inspections on record
540
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: 540 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: 2019-08-09.
On record since 2019.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Higgins Ranch, LLC & Shults Quarry has $64K in proposed MSHA penalties and $453 outstanding across 4 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.$64K
proposed penalties
$43K
current assessed
$42K
paid to date
$453
outstanding
110 assessments are final orders; 4 contested dockets.
Of $40K in penalties contested before the Commission, $18K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-03-24.
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.41.2%
significant & substantial
12.3%
high negligence or reckless
41.2%
reasonably likely or greater
44.7%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 1.8% none, 2.6% low, 83.3% moderate, 12.3% 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.
20
citations taken to the federal commission · 17% of citations on record
- Settled 20 · 100%
83%
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 12 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
54%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$40K proposed, $18K 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 2019-10-22.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CENT 2020-0018 | Settlement | Manning | 2020 | $32K → $13K |
| CENT 2016-0087 | Settlement | Lesnick | 2016 | $4K → $3K |
| CENT 2006-258M | Settlement | Manning | 2007 | $3K → $2K |
| CENT 2006-134M | Settlement | Manning | 2006 | $1K → $825 |
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: 2020-06-17, 6 years ago
ⓘ
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.0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
4
samples
1
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
- Respirable dust, <.1mg2
- Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz1
- Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (4)
| Date | Contaminant | Concentration | Limit | Conc / limit | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-06-17 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | Bulldozer Operator | ||
| 2020-06-17 | Respirable dust, <.1mg | 0 | Forklift Operator | ||
| 2006-03-08 | Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz | 0.15 | Backhoe Operator | ||
| 2006-03-08 | Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz | 0.14 | 1.13 | 0.12 | Bulldozer 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
- Higgins Ranch 2005 to 2011
- Higgins Ranch 2011 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
| Year | Employees |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2005 | 5 |
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Higgins Ranch, LLC & Shults Quarry sits in Wabaunsee County, Kansas, where the Census mining category is 1.9% 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.Wabaunsee County, Kansas · Population 6,961
1.9%
Mining share of county employment
$70,536
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 | 2,311 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2026 Q1 | 1,320 | 3 | 0 | 2272.7 |
| 2025 Q4 | 1,783 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q3 | 1,934 | 2 | 0 | 1034.1 |
| 2025 Q2 | 1,910 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,485 | 2 | 0 | 1346.8 |
| 2024 Q4 | 2,575 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,230 | 3 | 1 | 1345.3 |
Show 74 earlier quarters Hide earlier quarters
| Quarter | Hours worked | Citations | S&S | Per 1M hrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Q2 | 2,459 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2024 Q1 | 2,161 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q4 | 3,428 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q3 | 3,460 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q2 | 3,329 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2023 Q1 | 2,280 | 5 | 1 | 2193.0 |
| 2022 Q4 | 1,722 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q3 | 2,754 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q2 | 2,946 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2022 Q1 | 531 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 Q4 | 1,150 | 2 | 0 | 1739.1 |
| 2021 Q3 | 1,125 | 3 | 0 | 2666.7 |
| 2021 Q2 | 1,147 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2021 Q1 | 851 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 Q4 | 1,135 | 2 | 0 | 1762.1 |
| 2020 Q3 | 1,085 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2020 Q2 | 1,932 | 5 | 3 | 2588.0 |
| 2020 Q1 | 1,222 | 10 | 4 | 8183.3 |
| 2019 Q4 | 1,170 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q3 | 3,422 | 15 | 6 | 4383.4 |
| 2019 Q2 | 1,600 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2019 Q1 | 1,417 | 4 | 3 | 2822.9 |
| 2018 Q4 | 2,151 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q3 | 2,751 | 6 | 2 | 2181.0 |
| 2018 Q2 | 2,628 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2018 Q1 | 2,650 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q4 | 3,229 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q3 | 3,645 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2017 Q2 | 3,607 | 1 | 0 | 277.2 |
| 2017 Q1 | 2,510 | 1 | 0 | 398.4 |
| 2016 Q4 | 3,033 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q3 | 4,239 | 1 | 0 | 235.9 |
| 2016 Q2 | 3,389 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2016 Q1 | 3,392 | 2 | 0 | 589.6 |
| 2015 Q4 | 2,370 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q3 | 2,593 | 7 | 5 | 2699.6 |
| 2015 Q2 | 2,114 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2015 Q1 | 2,104 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q4 | 2,032 | 3 | 3 | 1476.4 |
| 2014 Q3 | 1,798 | 11 | 9 | 6117.9 |
| 2014 Q2 | 2,166 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2014 Q1 | 1,562 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q4 | 2,390 | 1 | 0 | 418.4 |
| 2013 Q3 | 1,966 | 2 | 2 | 1017.3 |
| 2013 Q2 | 1,658 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2013 Q1 | 971 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q4 | 1,412 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q3 | 1,481 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q2 | 1,324 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2012 Q1 | 856 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q4 | 1,895 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q3 | 1,313 | 1 | 1 | 761.6 |
| 2011 Q2 | 2,110 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2011 Q1 | 1,751 | 3 | 2 | 1713.3 |
| 2010 Q4 | 1,991 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q3 | 1,858 | 2 | 0 | 1076.4 |
| 2010 Q2 | 2,255 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2010 Q1 | 1,836 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q4 | 2,908 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q3 | 3,861 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q2 | 3,304 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2009 Q1 | 2,688 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q4 | 2,689 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2008 Q3 | 2,648 | 1 | 0 | 377.6 |
| 2008 Q2 | 2,630 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q4 | 2,408 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q3 | 875 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q2 | 2,603 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2007 Q1 | 2,130 | 4 | 1 | 1877.9 |
| 2006 Q4 | 2,087 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q3 | 1,560 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 |
| 2006 Q2 | 1,695 | 3 | 0 | 1769.9 |
| 2006 Q1 | 2,134 | 1 | 0 | 468.6 |
| 2005 Q4 | 2,705 | 4 | 2 | 1478.7 |
No fatalities recorded at this mine.