Little Mountain has $87K in proposed MSHA penalties and $13K outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
18
Years on record
1986–2022
Latest incident
Dec 2022
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
230
citations
69
significant & substantial
$86,999
proposed penalties
$73,303
paid to date
84% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $13,696 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.
230 citations across 1,349 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.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2012-07-03.
On record since 2012.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Little Mountain has $87K in proposed MSHA penalties and $13K 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.
$87K
proposed penalties
$86K
current assessed
$73K
paid to date
$13K
outstanding
225 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $24K in penalties contested before the Commission, $14K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-03-10.
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.
13citations taken to the federal commission · 6% of citations on record
Settled
12 · 92%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 8%
89%
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 9 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
43%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$24K proposed, $14K 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 2023-04-05.
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: 2022-09-22, 3 years ago
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
29
samples
15
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz15
Respirable dust, <.1mg14
Show the individual readings (29)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2022-09-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Backhoe Operator
2022-09-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2019-10-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.22
0.45
0.49
Crusher Oper/Worker
2019-10-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.14
0.46
0.30
Truck Driver
2019-10-09
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2019-10-09
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2016-05-31
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.12
0.5
0.24
Laborer, Bullgang
2016-05-31
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2013-06-26
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.13
0.47
0.28
Laborer, Bullgang
2013-06-26
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.25
0.71
0.35
Truck Driver
2013-06-26
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.21
0.69
0.30
Crusher Oper/Worker
2010-06-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2010-06-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2010-06-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2010-06-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2006-08-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2006-08-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2006-08-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2006-08-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Bulldozer Operator
2006-08-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2003-07-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.28
0.42
0.67
Crusher Oper/Worker
2003-07-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.19
0.48
0.40
Bulldozer Operator
2003-07-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.2
0.41
0.49
Front-end Loader Operator
2003-07-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.23
0.41
0.56
Front-end Loader Operator
2002-07-25
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.17
0.62
0.27
Front-end Loader Operator
2002-07-25
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.19
0.56
0.34
Front-end Loader Operator
2002-07-25
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.43
1.3
0.33
Crusher Oper/Worker
2001-07-03
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.17
1.3
0.13
Front-end Loader Operator
2001-07-03
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.13
0.67
0.19
Crusher Oper/Worker
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.
Little Mountain recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2023.
Injury rate, 2023
ⓘ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 1.78 and the all-US-mining average was 2.10 cases per 100 workers.
In Utah, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.66 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
2023 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2022 *
5.13
0.00
0.000
2021 *
0.00
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
2017 *
0.00
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
1
2025
0
2024
2
2023
8
2022
12
2021
12
2020
12
2019
11
2018
10
2017
9
2016
7
2015
7
2014
9
2013
12
2012
12
2011
13
2010
19
2009
15
2008
14
2007
14
2006
16
2005
19
2004
19
2003
26
2002
30
2001
24
2000
18
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Little Mountain sits in Box Elder County, Utah, where the Census mining category is 1.1% 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.
Box Elder County, Utah · Population 59,725
1.1%
Mining share of county employment
$77,865
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
931
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
0
0
0
2025 Q4
0
0
0
2024 Q1
832
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
8
3
1
375000.0
2023 Q3
10,964
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
9,695
8
5
825.2
2023 Q1
7,296
3
1
411.2
Show 92 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2022 Q4
9,330
1
1
107.2
2022 Q3
10,597
6
0
566.2
2022 Q2
10,197
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
8,878
2
0
225.3
2021 Q4
8,659
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
8,711
2
1
229.6
2021 Q2
8,248
0
0
0.0
2021 Q1
6,798
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
7,768
1
0
128.7
2020 Q3
8,752
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
7,151
1
0
139.8
2020 Q1
6,351
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
7,820
1
1
127.9
2019 Q3
7,885
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
6,296
0
0
0.0
2019 Q1
4,598
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
5,523
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
6,952
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
6,997
2
0
285.8
2018 Q1
5,581
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
6,662
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
7,609
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
6,152
1
0
162.5
2017 Q1
3,839
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
5,306
3
2
565.4
2016 Q3
5,317
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
6,037
1
0
165.6
2016 Q1
4,417
3
0
679.2
2015 Q4
4,009
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
4,312
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
6,543
1
0
152.8
2015 Q1
5,027
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
6,996
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
7,268
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
6,205
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
2,465
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
5,723
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
4,985
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
6,241
2
0
320.5
2013 Q1
3,631
1
0
275.4
2012 Q4
5,923
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
6,321
4
2
632.8
2012 Q2
5,415
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
4,365
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
4,540
1
0
220.3
2011 Q3
5,107
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
2,502
7
5
2797.8
2011 Q1
7,665
7
3
913.2
2010 Q4
7,664
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
10,042
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
10,625
10
3
941.2
2010 Q1
6,089
4
1
656.9
2009 Q4
7,302
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
7,636
4
0
523.8
2009 Q2
7,351
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
6,036
2
0
331.3
2008 Q4
9,798
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
6,823
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
6,205
6
0
967.0
2008 Q1
3,723
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
7,144
12
0
1679.7
2007 Q3
6,750
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
8,242
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
8,135
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
8,006
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
9,464
5
3
528.3
2006 Q2
9,964
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
9,498
14
8
1474.0
2005 Q4
8,769
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
12,263
6
3
489.3
2005 Q2
10,787
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
8,513
6
2
704.8
2004 Q4
10,272
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
11,193
6
0
536.0
2004 Q2
10,933
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
9,342
8
1
856.3
2003 Q4
10,530
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
9,473
8
0
844.5
2003 Q2
17,320
1
1
57.7
2003 Q1
12,315
8
1
649.6
2002 Q4
16,250
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
19,352
12
2
620.1
2002 Q2
18,846
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
11,572
7
1
604.9
2001 Q4
9,515
4
1
420.4
2001 Q3
11,925
22
10
1844.9
2001 Q2
12,249
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
8,154
0
0
0.0
2000 Q4
8,308
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
9,573
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
1,368
0
0
0.0
2000 Q1
5,824
12
5
2060.4
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
18 on file
2022 · 1 incident
December 12, 2022UT · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was walking to the maintenance truck to begin running welding leads to the work at the belt hopper. The employee tripped and fell on left hand, fracturing left wrist.
2007 · 1 incident
November 15, 2007UT · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Victim climbed approx. 3 feet up crusher cribbing and fell to the concrete head first Witness to the accident says he went limp before he fell. He had a small cut at the hair line and a bloody nose. Eyes were not dilated. He said his only pain was a headache.
2006 · 1 incident
January 9, 2006UT · Metal/Non-Metalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverHANDLING OF MATERIALS
A ROCK WAS WEDGED BETWEEN THE TAILGATE OF THE TRUCK AND EE TRIED TO REMOVE IT BY LIFTING THE GATE BY HAND INSTEAD OF RAISING THE BED. THE GATE CLOSED ON THE TIPS OF HIS LEFT FINGERS AND CRUSHED THEM BETWEEN THE GATE & SEALING EDGE WHICH CUT OF 2 FINGER TIPS
2005 · 1 incident
June 21, 2005UT · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
The operator was exiting a front end loader. When he turned to climb down ladder, his foot caught on step. He fell backwards to ground.
2003 · 1 incident
August 29, 2003UT · Metal/Non-Metalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
OPERATOR WAS DISCONNECTING MOTOR FROM GEAR BOX ON CONVEYOR APPROX. 5 FT OFF GROUND. HE UNHOOKED SAFETY LANIARD AND STARTED TO CLIMB DOWN. HE SLIPPED AND FELL ON HIS ARM AND BACK SIDE. IT WAS D ETERMINED WITH A DR VISIT THAT HIS LEFT WRIST WAS BROKEN, AND POSSIBLE BACK INJURY.
2002 · 1 incident
January 4, 2002UT · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EES WERE REPLACING GEAR BOX ON MAIN FEED CONVEYOR. THE LIFTING EYE BROKE, LETTING THE BOX ROLL SIDEWAYS. WHEN THE BOX ROLLED, IT PINNED EE'S FINGER BETWEEN PIPE & BOX. EE'S FINGER WAS SCRAPED RESULTING IN TWO STITCHES.
2001 · 1 incident
November 8, 2001UT · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techELECTRICAL
CRANE EXTENDED BOOM COMING IN CONTACT WITH OVERHEAD POWER LINES. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, EE WAS ELECTROCUTED WHILE STANDING IN THE TRAILER. DAMAGE TO BOTH ARMS, TORSO, HEAD, LEG. EXTENT AS YET UNK NOWN.
1998 · 1 incident
August 31, 1998UT · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
EE WAS SPLICING A CONVEYOR. WHENHE WAS POUNDING THE BELT PUNCH THROUGH THE CONVEYOR BELT, THE PUNCH BROKE OFF. ONE END FLIPPED UP & HIT HIS FACE ON THE CORNER OF HIS EYE. HE RECEIVED A SMALL S UPERFICIAL CUT ON FACE.
1996 · 4 incidents
December 9, 1996UT · Metal/Non-Metalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EE WAS CLEANIGN OUT UNDER CONVEYOR. HE KNOCKED DIRED FROM A RETURN ROLLER WITH A SHOVEL. THE SHOVEL ROLLED OVER THE ROLLER FLIPPING THE END OF THE HANDLE AGAINST HIS FACE. HE RECEIVED A SMA LL CUT OVE HIS LIP ON THE LEFT SIDE OF HIS FACE.
JUMPED FROM TOP OF CRUSHER ONTO THE SCREEN WALKWAY, BUT THE WALKWAY WAS MISSING A SECTION OF EXPANDED METAL THEREFORE I FELL TO THE GROUND ON MY BACK AND NOTICED THE EXPANDED METAL HAD RIPPED MY ARM.
March 29, 1996UT · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE WAS UNLOADING I BEAMS FROM A TRAILER. THE CHAIN WAS NOT HOOKED PROPERLY TO SECURE LOAD. WHEN THE CRANE LIFTED THE BEAM, THE CHAIN CAME OFF LETTING THE BEAM SLIDE AGAINST HIS RIGHT LEG. THE BEAM SCRAPED SOME SKIN FROM HIS RIGHT SHIN.
February 21, 1996UT · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
TWO MECHANICS WERE TIGHTENING FRAME BOLTS ON A CEMENT TRUCK ONE WAS HOLDING A WRENCH THE OTHER AN IMPACT GUN WHEN EE S TURNED ON THE GUN IT PULLED THE END WRENCH FROM THE OTHER MECH. HANDS THE WRENCH HIT EE ABOVE THE LEFT EYE, CAUSING A SMALL CUT, REGUIRING 4 STITCHES.
HE WAS HURRYING DOWN A STAIRCASE AND TRIPPED, LANDING FACE FIRST ON THE METAL STAIRS. HE WAS CUT ABOVE THE NOSE AND UNDERTHE NOSE AND BROKE 2 FRONT TEETH.
February 25, 1995UT · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
HE WAS FUELING LOADER. WHEN HE FINISHED HE WAS CLIMBING DOWN LADDER ON MACHINE. HIS FOOT SLIPPED ON BOTTOM STEP AND HE DROPPED 2 FEET TO GROUND, LANDING OFF BALANCE ON LEFT FOOT, STRAINING LIG AMENTS IN HIS KNEE.
1987 · 2 incidents
May 28, 1987UT · Metal/Non-Metalbeltman, conveyor man, conveyor belt worker, mobile bridge carrierman, feeder operator, conveyor riderSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
HE WAS PUTTING 5 TARP RUBBER AROUND THE DOOR ON THE LOADER SO IT WOULD STAY OPEN THE T ARP RUBBER BROKE & HE FELL OFF THE FENDER LANDING ON HIS TAIL BONE
May 20, 1987UT · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
100 FOOT ROLL O0 BELT FELL DOWN FROM SUPPORT CABLE.IT HIT THE INJURED AND KNOCKED HIM OFF THE CONVEYOR.HIS LEG GOT CAUGHT AND HELD HIM FROM FALLING TO THE GROUND.
1986 · 1 incident
August 18, 1986UT · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE CLIMBE8 UP ON LOADER WHEEL TO CHECK THE OIL AND SLIPPED OFF AS THE EMPLOYEE FELL HE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE THAT WAS LAYING ON THE GROUND POSSIBLE BROKEN HIP