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: 910 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: 2017-08-30.
On record since 2017.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Howell Sand Pits has $74K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$74K
proposed penalties
$57K
current assessed
$57K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
189 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $19K in penalties contested before the Commission, $2K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-02-10.
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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%
89%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$19K proposed, $2K 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 2018-07-17.
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: 2025-05-14
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
6
samples
1
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Respirable dust, <.1mg4
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (6)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2025-05-14
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2025-05-14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.18
Front-end Loader Operator
2020-07-28
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2020-07-28
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2020-07-28
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.14
10
0.01
Mechanic
2017-08-30
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader 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.
Howell Sand Pits recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2014.
Injury rate, 2014
ⓘ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 2.39 and the all-US-mining average was 2.93 cases per 100 workers.
In Texas, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 2.81 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
2014 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2013 *
4.21
4.21
0.000
2012 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2009 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2007 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2006 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2005 *
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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2026
5
2025
4
2024
4
2023
4
2022
4
2021
4
2020
4
2019
4
2018
4
2017
6
2016
6
2015
6
2014
20
2013
25
2012
9
2011
6
2010
10
2009
21
2008
24
2007
27
2006
27
2005
22
2004
10
2003
17
2002
17
2001
12
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Howell Sand Pits sits in Randall County, Texas, where the Census mining category is 0.7% 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.
Randall County, Texas · Population 143,791
0.7%
Mining share of county employment
$80,905
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
2,254
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
1,688
3
0
1777.3
2025 Q4
1,733
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
1,703
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
1,975
3
0
1519.0
2025 Q1
1,950
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
1,875
1
0
533.3
2024 Q3
1,791
2
0
1116.7
Show 91 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
1,707
0
0
0.0
2024 Q1
1,954
7
0
3582.4
2023 Q4
1,575
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
1,582
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
1,442
2
0
1387.0
2023 Q1
1,620
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
1,577
1
0
634.1
2022 Q3
1,536
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
1,468
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
1,428
1
0
700.3
2021 Q4
1,491
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
1,390
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
1,308
2
0
1529.1
2021 Q1
1,167
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
1,444
1
0
692.5
2020 Q3
1,418
1
0
705.2
2020 Q2
1,389
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
1,372
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
1,387
2
0
1442.0
2019 Q3
1,400
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
1,365
2
1
1465.2
2019 Q1
1,382
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
1,334
1
0
749.6
2018 Q3
1,384
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
1,260
2
1
1587.3
2018 Q1
4,069
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
3,420
12
5
3508.8
2017 Q3
3,220
3
2
931.7
2017 Q2
3,180
11
1
3459.1
2017 Q1
2,965
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
1,331
8
3
6010.5
2016 Q3
1,105
3
0
2714.9
2016 Q2
2,315
3
1
1295.9
2016 Q1
903
5
1
5537.1
2015 Q4
1,219
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
2,016
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
1,108
2
0
1805.1
2015 Q1
7,920
4
0
505.1
2014 Q4
8,102
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
12,384
1
1
80.7
2014 Q2
7,641
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
8,297
2
0
241.1
2013 Q4
10,598
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
12,733
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
13,145
2
1
152.1
2013 Q1
11,060
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
6,400
3
1
468.8
2012 Q3
5,473
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
6,552
2
1
305.3
2012 Q1
1,860
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
2,241
2
2
892.5
2011 Q3
1,545
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
1,912
1
0
523.0
2011 Q1
3,025
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
1,895
4
2
2110.8
2010 Q3
6,249
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
4,614
3
3
650.2
2010 Q1
6,722
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
8,484
7
2
825.1
2009 Q3
12,872
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
9,611
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
10,751
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
11,903
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
12,112
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
15,643
14
3
895.0
2008 Q1
13,654
17
3
1245.1
2007 Q4
20,093
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
17,759
8
4
450.5
2007 Q2
9,533
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
9,639
5
0
518.7
2006 Q4
15,096
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
17,905
0
0
0.0
2006 Q2
18,282
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
14,579
5
0
343.0
2005 Q4
14,050
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
13,755
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
11,719
8
2
682.7
2005 Q1
10,070
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
6,565
9
2
1370.9
2004 Q3
8,344
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
3,481
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
7,099
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
10,338
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
12,571
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
10,797
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
7,812
4
0
512.0
2002 Q4
6,401
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
9,568
1
1
104.5
2002 Q2
10,133
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
7,294
3
0
411.3
2001 Q4
6,080
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
13 on file
2013 · 1 incident
July 5, 2013TX · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Brace holding up bed of 12 yard dump truck was knocked loose while repairing a leak in the hose supplying oil under pressure to the lift cylinder. The mechanic endeavored to get out but his right forearm was caught between the truck bed and the frame rail.
2008 · 1 incident
July 10, 2008TX · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
EE was driving Cat 980B loader at top of stockpile. Skid loader died & rolled backward to sudden stop. He hit back of his head, got out of loader by himself but was dazed. Job foreman had him air lifted to Lubbock 602 Indiana Ave. Saw doctor and was released same day.
2002 · 1 incident
November 7, 2002TX · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE WAS CLIMBING DOWN OFF OF LOADER ON LADDER RUNGS AND MISSED A STEP AND SLIPPED AND FELL, TWISTING HSI ANKLE. ON 8-23-89. HE RETURNED TO WORK 11-27-89. HE WORKED FULL TIME FROM 11-27 -89 THRU 1-16-90. HE PHONE 1-17-90 TO SAY HIS FOOT WAS SWOLLEN ADN HE WOULD TRY NEW MEDICATION, AND HAS BEEN OFF WORK THIS TIME SINCE 1-17-90. HE DEVELOPED GOUT IN THAT FOOT FROM 8-23-89 IN
1989 · 1 incident
August 23, 1989TX · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE WAS CLIMBING DOWN OFF OF LOADER ON LADDER RUNGS AND MISSED A STEP AND SLIPPED AND FELL, TWISTING HIS ANKLE. HE WAS IN THE SHOP AREA.
1988 · 5 incidents
December 21, 1988TX · Metal/Non-Metalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
I,NAME WAS HAMMERING BOLT ON TRUCK ENGINE MOTOR MOUNT. HE WAS DOING SOME HAMMERING A CHIP OF METAL FLEW OFF AND HIT HIM ON THE LEFT HAND, IN THE WEBB BETWEEN THE THUMB AND INDEX FINGER. HE HAS A SMALL PIECE OF METAL ABOUT 2 MM IN LENGTH LODGED IN HIS LEFT HAND.