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: 958 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
HIGHLAND PIT has $36K in proposed MSHA penalties and $3K 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.
$36K
proposed penalties
$36K
current assessed
$34K
paid to date
$3K
outstanding
114 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $577 in penalties contested before the Commission, $577 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-04-27.
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.
1citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
Settled
1 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$577 proposed, $577 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2017-10-25.
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.
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: 2025-10-22
24%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
27
samples
17
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz174 over
Respirable dust, <.1mg10
Show the individual readings (27)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2025-09-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.42
0.38
1.11
Laborer, Bullgang
2022-10-26
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.6
0.52
1.15
Front-end Loader Operator
2022-09-28
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.74
0.56
1.32
Laborer, Bullgang
2004-07-22
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.37
0.3
1.23
Crusher Oper/Worker
2025-10-22
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.33
0.45
0.73
Mechanic
2025-10-22
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.13
0.44
0.30
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-10-22
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.28
0.36
0.78
Crusher Oper/Worker
2025-09-18
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Bulldozer Operator
2022-09-28
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2018-06-08
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.16
0.4
0.40
Crusher Oper/Worker
2018-06-08
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2014-07-30
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.16
0.53
0.30
Laborer, Bullgang
2014-07-30
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.12
0.58
0.21
Front-end Loader Operator
2014-07-30
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Bulldozer Operator
2014-07-30
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2011-06-22
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.15
0.45
0.33
Crusher Oper/Worker
2011-06-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Bulldozer Operator
2011-06-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2011-06-22
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.35
0.55
0.64
Laborer, Bullgang
2008-07-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.23
0.65
0.35
Laborer, Bullgang
2008-07-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.56
1.86
0.84
Utility Man
2004-12-01
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.13
0.71
0.18
Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-07-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2004-07-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Bulldozer Operator
2004-07-22
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.37
0.38
0.97
Laborer, Bullgang
2001-03-21
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.2
0.29
0.69
Crusher Oper/Worker
2001-03-21
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Cleanup Man
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.
HIGHLAND PIT 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
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 Utah, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.89 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 *
7.88
0.00
0.000
2023 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
6.91
0.00
0.000
2020 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
7.41
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
2026
13
2025
10
2024
12
2023
9
2022
12
2021
11
2020
11
2019
11
2018
10
2017
8
2016
8
2015
8
2014
9
2013
10
2012
7
2011
6
2010
6
2009
6
2008
7
2007
15
2006
11
2005
10
2004
8
2003
7
2002
8
2001
7
2000
7
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
HIGHLAND PIT sits in Utah County, Utah, 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.
Utah County, Utah · Population 683,622
0.2%
Mining share of county employment
$96,877
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
Highland city started to fill the canal earlier than what was communicated. When the canal was filled (pressurized) the valve that feeds water to the plant was in an open position to prevent water from freezing over the winter months. With the canal being pressurized and the valve in the open position, water started to flow into the pond causing the damn embankment to fail.
March 16, 2026UT · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Kilgore Contracting · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EE was rotating the sand screws manually by grabbing a hold of the V-belts, as the EE was rotating the sand screws the EE's middle and ring finger was caught between the V-belt and Sheeve causing a Turf Fracture to the tip of the ring finger.
January 28, 2026UT · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
EE was Hammering a head pulley bearing Gear box on west screen feed, when a small sliver piece of metal broke off and lodged into the right side of EE's chin.
2021 · 1 incident
October 23, 2021UT · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSTRIKING OR BUMPING
EE was exiting surge tunnel and took off hard hat to scratch head and while turning, struck a piece of metal located above, causing a small laceration requiring 4 stitches to close.
2018 · 1 incident
August 21, 2018UT · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Employee was cutting conveyor belt with razor knife. The employee was cutting the belt perpendicular to himself and as the employee was cutting the belt, the knife slipped while applying pressure. Puncturing his lower right thigh. Resulting in 8 stitches to close.
February 9, 2015UT · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
Kilgore Contracting · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
Employee was forming urethane flashing for a belt conveyor with a hand grinder and started not feeling very good during the task. It was thought the employee may have been feeling ill from some of the fumes from the cutting process, but when brought to the clinic it was diagnosed with the flu and fumes may have contributed to accelerating his flu symptoms.
One of our employees approached a vehicle that was parked just inside our entrance, he found an unknown female (trespasser) that had committed suicide with a handgun inside of her vehicle. She had drove her vehicle just inside of our entrance gate located off of SR-92. 911 was called immediately and Alpine Police Dept responded to the scene.
2012 · 1 incident
August 8, 2012UT · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Scooping up rip rap on unstable and unleveled ground, caused loader to move side to side, causing it to injure his back. Did not inform Supervisor about injury until 8-15-12.
2011 · 1 incident
August 9, 2011UT · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Miner was moving fence posts. While pounding a post in the ground. The post pounder came off the top of the post, the miner fell back and the pounder hit him on the top of his head.
Westroc, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
Changing a screen and pounding it into place, he smashed his thumb between hammer and screen.
2006 · 1 incident
November 28, 2006UT · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE leaned on the hand rail of the dry plant. The rail broke and he fell about 4 feet into the hopper of the under belt. His hard hat came off and the rail hit him in the head.
2003 · 1 incident
April 16, 2003UT · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Westroc, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
CUTTING PLASTIC SCREEN, BLADE SLIPPED, CUT LEFT ARM (KNIFE). (DOCTOR CLOSED 5 SIMPLE SUTURES.)
2002 · 1 incident
October 3, 2002UT · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
ROCK FELL OFF CONVEYOR, AND HIT EE ON THE LEFT HAND.
April 16, 1996UT · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanPOWERED HAULAGE
Westroc, Inc. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)
LABOR WS ADJUSTING AND CLEANING ROLLERS WHEN THE HAMMER HE WS USING GOT PULLED INTO BELT. CAUGHT HIS ARM BETWEEN RETURN ROLLER AND FRAME OF CONVEYOR BELT SCRAPED AND BRUISED LEFT ARM AND SHOUL DER. NO BROKEN BONES.