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.
152 citations across 1,039 inspection hours.
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.
2
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2023-08-08.
On record since 2018.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Kermit Sand has $75K in proposed MSHA penalties and $7K 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.
$75K
proposed penalties
$75K
current assessed
$68K
paid to date
$7K
outstanding
142 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $1K in penalties contested before the Commission, $472 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-02-25.
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.
11citations taken to the federal commission · 7% of citations on record
Settled
4 · 36%
Vacated or withdrawn
2 · 18%
Still open
5 · 45%
0%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 3 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
57%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$1K proposed, $472 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2026-05-26.
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: 2026-03-03
9
samples
0
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Respirable dust, <.1mg8
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (9)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2026-03-03
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2026-03-03
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2026-03-03
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-06-11
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
117.93
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-06-11
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Building Repair/Maint.
2025-06-11
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Cleanup Man
2025-06-11
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2023-07-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2023-07-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Dry Screen Plant 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.
Kermit Sand recorded 2.81 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.
2.81
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above 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 Texas, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.17 cases per 100 workers that year.
Year
total case rate
days-away
fatal
2025
2.81
0.00
0.000
2024
2.53
1.26
0.000
2023
4.10
4.10
0.000
2022
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021
1.98
0.00
0.000
2019
3.63
2.72
0.000
2018
0.00
0.00
0.000
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
66
2025
62
2024
71
2023
68
2022
60
2021
49
2020
48
2019
93
2018
68
2017
1
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Kermit Sand sits in Winkler County, Texas, where the Census mining category is 17.6% 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.
Winkler County, Texas · Population 7,540
17.6%
Mining share of county employment
$91,898
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
Employee rolled EE's ankle after EE stepped on a 2" hose that was laying on the concrete floor after stepping down from the crossover platform steps. Medical professionals were notified and employee released to full duty. On 9/27/25, employee felt discomfort return and advised EE to get an evaluation at a medical facility where EE was diagnosed with "other fracture of the fibula".
July 19, 2025TX · Metal/Non-Metalbelt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was re-installing a bearing for a conveyor belt when EE felt something go in EE's eye. EE thought it was sand and didn't report it thinking it would flush itself out. On 7/21 employee's eye had become irritated and slightly swollen. EE was taken to MCH ER on 7/21 where a foreign object was removed. EE was given a full release.
2024 · 2 incidents
July 19, 2024TX · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee used a 2.5lb hammer to hit a wrench, when they inadvertently missed and hit their left hand causing a .5in laceration. Employee received 2 stitches.
March 16, 2024TX · Metal/Non-Metaldryer operator, kiln operator, dry plant operator, fluid operator, bed dryer operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee was cleaning scales with a skid steer when EE hit the gap in the panels with the bucket causing the machine to stop suddenly, jarring the employee forward causing EE's head to hit the cab.
2023 · 3 incidents
November 20, 2023TX · Metal/Non-Metalsilo operator, bin puller, truck loaderHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
FML Sand LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects
Loadout Operator had to clear a plugged chute for damp loadout. They used an 8' aluminum pipe to poke the material from the top when they felt a strain in their right shoulder. Employee was taken to a medical facility where they were told to rest it for 4 days.
Employee was using a cutting torch to cut I-beams at the metal scrap yard, when they stepped back to let the cut piece drop, they tripped and fell on to an I-beam hitting their tail bone against it.
2022 · 1 incident
March 28, 2022TX · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techOTHER
Employee felt chest pains during lunch. Employee was previously greasing the plant and went to lunch just after noon. Employee did not feel any better and was taken to the ER. Employee was evaluated and the next morning, found to have suffered a heart attack. Employee never lost consciousness.
2021 · 1 incident
March 8, 2021TX · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Maintenance was unloading an empty oxygen bottle from the maintenance truck to replace it with a full one. As they attempted to lift the bottle, they felt a sharp sensation in lower back and numbness in right leg and toes. Employee was taken to a local medical facility and evaluated. Employee was returned to full duty and upon a follow up appt, changed to modified duty.
Party injured left shoulder while trying to lift the lid on one of the sand-trucks. Lid was bound close and the 3ft' pry bar-like tool was used. Employee stated EE may have jerked back EE's arm to hard and felt EE's shoulder pop. Later that night it started causing EE pain.
March 30, 2019TX · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanPOWERED HAULAGE
1 Driver and 5 Passengers were riding in a UTV during non-work related activities. The driver lost control of the UTV and the vehicle ended up on its side. The bump to the head is believed to happen at some point during this time.
February 6, 2019TX · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Maintenance person tried to lift a sheave from the motor at sump 11. Once EE removed the sheave, EE turned to the right with the sheave in hand and felt a pinch in the back. Two co-workers did a beam lift to free EE of the sheave and notified the supervisor.
January 11, 2019TX · Metal/Non-Metaldry screening plant operator, screen house operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
FML Sand LLC · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects
Employee experienced severe back and chest pain while shoveling sand spilling from a dryer belt. The employee collapsed onsite, EMS transported them to the Kermit Memorial Hospital. Employee was evaluated and released to return to work on Jan. 14th. The employee sought additional medical evaluation; subsequently treated for muscle spasms with followup scheduled for 1/23/19
2018 · 2 incidents
February 26, 2018TX · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was tightening a ratchet strap, the strap slipped off and hit EE in the face causing a laceration to EE's chin which required several stitches.
February 10, 2018TX · Metal/Non-Metalcrane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, riggerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Contracted employee started shift and went to climb into the crane. Contractor used the outrigger arms to access the cab. The contractors safety vest snagged on the hydraulic valve box and caused the contractor to fall. The contractor fell and landed with their shoulder on a job box. The contractor was taken to er by ambulance for evaluation. Fall caused a broken Clavicle.