Lake Wales Sand Mine has $4K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 1 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
Watch this mine
Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Lake Wales Sand Mine.
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
9
Years on record
2000–2021
Latest incident
Sep 2021
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
39
citations
6
significant & substantial
$4,487
proposed penalties
$4,487
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 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: 790 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Lake Wales Sand Mine has $4K 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.
$4K
proposed penalties
$4K
current assessed
$4K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
39 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $100 in penalties contested before the Commission, $0 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2022-11-30.
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 · 3% of citations on record
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 100%
100%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$100 proposed, $0 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2009-12-22.
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.
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: 2023-08-29
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
22
samples
2
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Respirable dust, <.1mg18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz3
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (22)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2023-08-29
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.13
Front-end Loader Operator
2023-08-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2023-08-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Mechanic
2023-08-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Utility Man
2020-12-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2020-12-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Scale Man
2019-12-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2019-12-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Hydrating Plant Operator
2019-12-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2019-12-05
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.25
0.75
0.33
Truck Driver
2014-10-01
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2014-10-01
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2014-10-01
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2014-10-01
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2012-03-30
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.46
2.79
0.16
Truck Driver
2012-03-30
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Washer Operator
2009-10-06
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2009-10-06
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Supervisor, Co. Official
2004-11-10
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2004-11-10
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2004-11-10
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.17
Flotation/Concentrator Oper.
2004-11-10
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.
Lake Wales Sand Mine 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 Florida, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.33 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 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2023 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
4.56
0.00
0.000
2020 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
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
16
2025
17
2024
18
2023
18
2022
17
2021
18
2020
15
2019
14
2018
13
2017
12
2016
12
2015
12
2014
13
2013
12
2012
11
2011
12
2010
12
2009
12
2008
13
2007
16
2006
20
2005
20
2004
15
2003
13
2002
12
2001
12
2000
7
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Lake Wales Sand Mine sits in Polk County, Florida, where the Census mining category is 0.1% 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.
Polk County, Florida · Population 760,961
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$63,644
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
10,250
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
10,383
0
0
0.0
2025 Q4
11,278
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
10,791
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
11,690
0
0
0.0
2025 Q1
12,681
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
12,291
0
0
0.0
2024 Q3
12,469
0
0
0.0
Show 98 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
12,347
0
0
0.0
2024 Q1
12,501
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
11,703
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
11,377
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
13,159
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
12,045
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
10,809
1
0
92.5
2022 Q3
11,817
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
12,638
1
0
79.1
2022 Q1
11,217
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
11,115
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
11,440
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
10,954
1
0
91.3
2021 Q1
10,322
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
11,205
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
10,059
2
0
198.8
2020 Q2
9,186
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
10,430
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
9,335
2
0
214.2
2019 Q3
9,154
1
0
109.2
2019 Q2
9,604
0
0
0.0
2019 Q1
9,227
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
8,543
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
8,278
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
8,898
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
8,406
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
8,188
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
7,556
1
0
132.3
2017 Q2
8,130
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
8,558
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
7,320
5
0
683.1
2016 Q3
7,870
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
8,078
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
8,102
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
8,586
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
7,502
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
8,433
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
7,911
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
7,995
1
0
125.1
2014 Q3
8,424
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
8,004
1
0
124.9
2014 Q1
7,494
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
7,744
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
7,587
1
0
131.8
2013 Q2
7,174
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
6,161
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
6,678
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
6,855
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
7,076
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
7,031
1
0
142.2
2011 Q4
7,500
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
7,637
1
0
130.9
2011 Q2
6,889
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
6,996
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
5,651
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
6,404
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
6,231
1
1
160.5
2010 Q1
6,909
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
6,774
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
6,873
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
6,861
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
8,136
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
8,146
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
8,088
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
6,705
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
5,383
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
7,320
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
9,542
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
9,364
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
11,772
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
14,065
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
14,665
3
0
204.6
2006 Q2
13,876
2
0
144.1
2006 Q1
13,539
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
14,183
2
1
141.0
2005 Q3
13,577
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
12,487
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
11,807
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
9,058
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
8,200
1
0
122.0
2004 Q2
7,970
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
7,560
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
8,937
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
8,919
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
9,474
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
9,538
0
0
0.0
2002 Q4
9,161
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
8,390
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
9,764
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
7,104
0
0
0.0
2001 Q4
9,332
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
8,461
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
8,249
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
8,028
3
1
373.7
2000 Q4
6,093
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
6,046
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
4,510
3
0
665.2
2000 Q1
3,621
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
9 on file
2021 · 1 incident
September 24, 2021FL · Metal/Non-Metalbarge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck handSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
On 9/24/21 employee fell while working on dredge and hurt elbow and shoulder. The employee did not ask to see doctor at that time. For 3 weeks EE said EE's injury was getting better. On 10/20/2021 EE was still feeling pain in R Shoulder and asked to see a doctor where EE was placed on lifting restrictions which turned this into a Reportable Incident.
One electrician and one helper were working on a piece of mining cable. The electrician was stripping the mining cable with a razor knife and the helper was helping to hold the cable. The knife slipped off of the cable and cut the helper on the right forearm.
EE GOT UNIFORM FROM UNIFORM SHED AND CHANGED INTO UNIFORM PANTS. UNKNOWN TO HIM, A SPIDER WAS IN THE PANT LEG AND BIT HIS UPPER RIGHT THIGH. EE IS DIABETIC AND BITE WOULD NOT HEAL. HE WENT TO THE DR TO HAVE BITE CHECKED. DR GAVE HIM A TETANUS SHOT AND PRESCRIBED ANTIBIOTIC.
EE WAS PUSHING DREDGE WITH THE BOAT WHILE THE BOAT WAS IN GEAR, THE BOAT STRUCK THE LADDER PORTION OF THE DREDGE PINNING HIS LEG, CAUSING A LACERATION TO HIS LEFT LEG.