IMI Bluffton Quarry has $40K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
21
Years on record
1984–2026
Latest incident
Feb 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
79
citations
13
significant & substantial
$39,723
proposed penalties
$21,206
paid to date
53% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $18,517 gap.
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: 908 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: 2023-11-15.
On record since 2023.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
IMI Bluffton Quarry has $40K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 3 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
$21K
current assessed
$21K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
78 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $28K in penalties contested before the Commission, $9K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-03-04.
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.
7citations taken to the federal commission · 9% of citations on record
Settled
7 · 100%
60%
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 5 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
67%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$28K proposed, $9K 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 2024-06-26.
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: 2026-06-30
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
15
samples
6
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Respirable dust, <.1mg7
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz4
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz3
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (15)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2026-06-30
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2026-06-30
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2023-11-16
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2021-05-24
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.13
Laborer, Bullgang
2021-05-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.52
1.27
0.41
Crusher Oper/Worker
2021-05-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.31
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2019-09-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.97
2.09
0.46
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2019-09-17
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2015-04-07
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2011-01-27
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.14
10
0.01
Mechanic
2011-01-27
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2008-05-20
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.25
10
0.03
Crusher Oper/Worker
2008-05-20
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.19
10
0.02
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2004-05-11
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2004-05-11
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.15
10
0.02
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.
IMI Bluffton 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
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 Indiana, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.61 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 *
14.70
14.70
0.000
2023 *
9.28
0.00
0.000
2021 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2020 *
9.39
9.39
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
9.09
0.00
0.000
2016 *
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
12
2025
11
2024
11
2023
10
2022
10
2021
10
2020
10
2019
10
2018
10
2017
10
2016
9
2015
8
2014
8
2013
7
2012
7
2011
7
2010
6
2009
6
2008
9
2007
10
2006
10
2005
9
2004
9
2003
11
2002
16
2001
15
2000
16
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
IMI Bluffton Quarry sits in Wells County, Indiana, where the Census mining category is 0.0% 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.
Wells County, Indiana · Population 28,261
0.0%
Mining share of county employment
$69,741
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
8,801
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
6,652
1
0
150.3
2025 Q4
5,760
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
7,735
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
7,135
1
0
140.2
2025 Q1
6,110
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
5,577
0
0
0.0
2024 Q3
6,283
0
0
0.0
Show 98 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
10,615
6
2
565.2
2024 Q1
4,731
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
5,036
9
1
1787.1
2023 Q3
5,139
5
2
973.0
2023 Q2
5,710
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
5,662
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
4,357
7
0
1606.6
2022 Q3
5,127
4
2
780.2
2022 Q2
5,220
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
4,759
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
4,414
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
5,647
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
6,047
1
0
165.4
2021 Q1
5,200
3
0
576.9
2020 Q4
4,118
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
5,763
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
6,230
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
5,199
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
5,596
2
1
357.4
2019 Q3
5,728
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
6,137
0
0
0.0
2019 Q1
4,836
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
5,317
4
1
752.3
2018 Q3
5,849
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
6,026
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
4,807
2
0
416.1
2017 Q4
3,159
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
6,503
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
5,267
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
4,962
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
4,451
0
0
0.0
2016 Q3
5,558
1
0
179.9
2016 Q2
5,501
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
4,691
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
3,826
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
4,813
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
5,388
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
3,991
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
4,442
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
4,919
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
5,462
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
2,817
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
3,615
2
0
553.3
2013 Q3
3,689
4
0
1084.3
2013 Q2
3,933
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
2,369
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
3,499
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
4,011
1
0
249.3
2012 Q2
3,292
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
2,378
3
0
1261.6
2011 Q4
2,651
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
2,650
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
3,257
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
1,951
4
1
2050.2
2010 Q4
2,435
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
3,229
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
2,730
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
2,342
3
0
1281.0
2009 Q4
2,726
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
3,285
1
0
304.4
2009 Q2
2,702
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
2,808
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
4,166
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
4,767
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
4,663
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
4,478
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
4,853
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
5,145
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
5,215
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
4,527
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
5,616
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
5,926
1
0
168.7
2006 Q2
5,322
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
4,135
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
5,029
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
3,412
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
5,288
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
4,508
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
4,726
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
5,132
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
5,310
3
0
565.0
2004 Q1
4,227
3
0
709.7
2003 Q4
4,981
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
5,539
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
5,571
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
4,804
0
0
0.0
2002 Q4
5,549
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
5,876
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
5,944
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
5,658
1
0
176.7
2001 Q4
5,217
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
5,753
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
5,959
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
6,073
0
0
0.0
2000 Q4
6,119
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
6,731
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
6,347
5
2
787.8
2000 Q1
5,544
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
21 on file
2026 · 2 incidents
February 19, 2026IN · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The miner was performing regular maintenance, including welding, cutting, grinding, and torching. Sometime during this process, they got a piece of debris in their eye.
2024 · 2 incidents
June 5, 2024IN · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was working with another employee picking up the 92lbs shoes for the VSI crusher. The injured EE was picking up the shoe from the crate and handing it to the 2nd employee to put in place. As the injured EE bent over to pick up the shoe, they had intense pain in their groin and abdomen.
January 18, 2024IN · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The EE was asked to unplug the crusher. During this process, the EE LOTO the crusher and began to dig out the stone that was causing the issue. While performing this task a piece of stone came loose and struck the EE's right hand. The EE was then taken to urgent care and then referred to the ER. At the ER the EE was sent to Ortho to address the issue.
2020 · 1 incident
December 7, 2020IN · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
While cutting a hopper with a circular saw, employee finished the cut and took their safety glasses off. Upon taking safety glasses off, a particle of steel fell into eye. Particle was irrigated out on site, but employee was still seen by physician. Employee received RX for injury.
2004 · 1 incident
February 27, 2004IN · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Irving Materials Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EE WAS MOVING A TOGGLE BLOCK FOR THE JAW CRUSHER. HE AND ANOTHER EE TIPPED THE BLOCK BACK TO MOVE SOME WOOD CRIBBING AND WHEN THEY LET THE BLOCK DOWN EE'S RIGHT THUMB WAS UNDER IT. THE WEIGHT OF THE BLOCK WAS SUCH THAT THEY HAD TO TIP IT BACK TO RELEASE HIS THUMB.
2000 · 1 incident
August 2, 2000IN · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanPOWERED HAULAGE
EMPLOYEE LOST CONTROL OF A TRASH CONTAINER AND IT FELL INTO THE DUMPSTER. HE CLIMBED UP ON THE EDGE OF THE DUMPSTER TO RETRIEVE THE CONTAINER. WHEN THE CONTAINER WAS PULLE DUP THE EMPLOYE EL OST HIS BALANC EAND FELL TOT HE GORUND @ 4' AND LANDED ON IHS RIGHT SHOULDER.
February 24, 1994IN · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEES WERE LOADING CRANE ONTO LOWBOY TRAILER FOR TRANSPORT.WHEN THEY WENT TO SHIFT COUNTER-WEIGHTS,CRANE TIPPED OVER ON ITS SIDE.EMPLOYEE DRIVING CRANE JUMPED CLEAR OF CAB AND SPRAINED LEG
1989 · 2 incidents
July 26, 1989IN · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)