Lost Hills Mining has $106K in proposed MSHA penalties and $303 outstanding across 4 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
26
Years on record
1985–2025
Latest incident
Apr 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
93
citations
25
significant & substantial
$106,289
proposed penalties
$80,010
paid to date
75% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $26,279 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.
93 citations across 1,234 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Lost Hills Mining has $106K in proposed MSHA penalties and $303 outstanding across 4 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.
$106K
proposed penalties
$80K
current assessed
$80K
paid to date
$303
outstanding
92 assessments are final orders; 4 contested dockets.
Of $80K in penalties contested before the Commission, $54K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-05-27.
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.
14citations taken to the federal commission · 15% of citations on record
Settled
14 · 100%
88%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 8 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
33%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$80K proposed, $54K 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 2024-05-28.
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: 2024-05-21
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
13
samples
4
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Respirable dust, <.1mg6
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz4
Fibers, >5um2
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (13)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2024-05-21
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2019-05-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.19
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2019-05-09
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Scraper Operator
2014-04-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.34
1.69
0.20
Scraper Operator
2014-04-10
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Scraper Operator
2009-04-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Scraper Operator
2009-04-02
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.13
10
0.01
Scraper Operator
2009-04-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2003-06-04
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.31
0.97
0.32
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2003-06-04
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Mechanic
2003-06-04
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.35
1.83
0.19
Scraper Operator
2002-04-24
Fibers, >5um
0
Scraper Operator
2002-04-24
Fibers, >5um
0
Scraper 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.
Lost Hills Mining recorded 5.49 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.
5.49
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 California, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.43 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 *
5.49
0.00
0.000
2024 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2023 *
4.11
0.00
0.000
2022 *
4.20
0.00
0.000
2021 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2020 *
6.78
0.00
0.000
2019 *
4.43
4.43
0.000
2018 *
5.46
5.46
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
17
2025
19
2024
20
2023
26
2022
26
2021
17
2020
18
2019
20
2018
18
2017
16
2016
16
2015
19
2014
18
2013
18
2012
19
2011
17
2010
15
2009
13
2008
14
2007
15
2006
15
2005
15
2004
15
2003
15
2002
14
2001
13
2000
14
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Lost Hills Mining sits in Kern County, California, where the Census mining category is 2.3% 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.
Kern County, California · Population 910,433
2.3%
Mining share of county employment
$67,660
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
10,469
1
0
95.5
2026 Q1
7,869
1
0
127.1
2025 Q4
9,571
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
9,114
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
9,471
0
0
0.0
2025 Q1
8,256
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
10,584
0
0
0.0
2024 Q3
10,937
0
0
0.0
Show 98 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
11,904
3
1
252.0
2024 Q1
9,350
4
2
427.8
2023 Q4
11,903
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
12,058
3
1
248.8
2023 Q2
14,183
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
10,479
9
1
858.9
2022 Q4
13,043
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
11,526
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
13,455
3
0
223.0
2022 Q1
9,619
11
5
1143.6
2021 Q4
14,155
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
8,121
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
8,132
5
0
614.9
2021 Q1
7,517
7
1
931.2
2020 Q4
2,943
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
2,660
2
0
751.9
2020 Q2
12,185
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
11,722
4
2
341.2
2019 Q4
12,136
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
11,806
1
0
84.7
2019 Q2
11,646
1
1
85.9
2019 Q1
9,562
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
9,142
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
9,288
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
9,226
2
0
216.8
2018 Q1
8,957
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
7,150
4
4
559.4
2017 Q3
8,411
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
8,422
2
2
237.5
2017 Q1
6,611
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
8,478
0
0
0.0
2016 Q3
8,795
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
8,400
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
8,700
1
0
114.9
2015 Q4
10,187
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
11,182
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
11,542
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
11,631
2
2
172.0
2014 Q4
11,155
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
11,387
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
10,444
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
10,285
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
11,371
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
11,098
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
11,375
1
1
87.9
2013 Q1
11,776
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
11,713
1
1
85.4
2012 Q3
12,749
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
10,618
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
10,312
2
0
193.9
2011 Q4
10,619
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
11,003
3
0
272.7
2011 Q2
11,007
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
9,888
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
9,678
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
10,042
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
8,238
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
6,975
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
7,540
1
0
132.6
2009 Q3
8,528
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
7,227
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
6,897
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
7,065
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
7,884
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
7,996
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
10,111
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
10,083
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
10,430
1
0
95.9
2007 Q2
9,986
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
10,479
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
11,212
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
10,021
0
0
0.0
2006 Q2
9,869
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
9,945
2
0
201.1
2005 Q4
9,525
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
10,136
3
0
296.0
2005 Q2
10,136
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
9,656
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
9,147
1
0
109.3
2004 Q3
10,105
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
10,341
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
10,267
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
10,146
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
10,660
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
9,824
3
0
305.4
2003 Q1
9,547
0
0
0.0
2002 Q4
9,004
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
9,111
1
0
109.8
2002 Q2
9,775
4
0
409.2
2002 Q1
10,352
0
0
0.0
2001 Q4
9,746
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
7,527
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
8,461
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
8,763
1
0
114.1
2000 Q4
8,399
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
9,664
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
9,515
0
0
0.0
2000 Q1
8,667
1
0
115.4
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
26 on file
2025 · 1 incident
April 29, 2025CA · Metal/Non-Metalball/rod/pebble/hand/limestone/dry mill operator, roller operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
The employee was attempting to fix a cover over the hydraulic line connection between the wheels of a radial stacker while it was still in motion. The employee's right foot got caught by the rotating tires and was pinned under a mobile stacker tire and the surface. A possible broken bone in the right ankle/lower leg.
2023 · 1 incident
January 23, 2023CA · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
The miner was performing metal work on ramps. While welding overhead hot slag entered miner's boot burning the miner's foot. The employee waited approximately 2 weeks before mentioning that the foot got burned. Once management was notified of the burn employee was told to go directly to H.R and visit Doctor for evaluation.
2022 · 1 incident
April 20, 2022CA · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerPOWERED HAULAGE
Operating a wheel loader traveling east toward the scalehouse on dirt road. While traveling loader bucket contacted ground causing loader bucket to dig into dirt and loader to come to an abrupt stop. Srape marks appear to begin 150 feet before loader stopped. Operator hit face on the windshield causing bloody nose and minor lacerations on face.
EE loading material, noticed fluid spraying onto windscreen. Stopped machine, did not shut engine off. Called superintendent to notify them. Liquid ignited; EE evacuated machine, ran 20 yards away. Cab was engulfed. EE reported no warning, no problem prior to incident. EE not hurt, was examined. Fire dept. on scene 5-10 min. after called. Investigation being conducted.
May 9, 2020CA · Metal/Non-Metalclerk, timekeeper, office worker, director of salesALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES
Employee was diagnosed with pneumonia on 5/8/20. It turned to double pneumonia on 5/9/20. On 5/10/20 EE was informed they also had valley fever. On, 5-14-20, EE decided they were going to file a workman's comp. claim against the company, saying the valley fever was contracted at the mine. There's no evidence from the dr's that the valley fever came from the minesite.
2019 · 2 incidents
October 8, 2019CA · Metal/Non-Metalclerk, timekeeper, office worker, director of salesOTHER
Admin employee was getting ready to leave for the day, went to use the restroom and had what we believe to be a heart attack.
August 30, 2019CA · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE was dismounting a loader, misjudged the steps and missed the last step. Injury was lower back strain NOTE: No lost time occurred until 9-6-2019 when we could no longer accommodate light duty work status
2015 · 1 incident
January 10, 2015CA · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee was loading his 210 Michigan scraper when he heard a loud pop from behind causing him to turn around quickly, straining his neck
2014 · 1 incident
January 10, 2014CA · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was in the process of re-mounting a tire to the rear axle of a water truck. As he was positioning the tire with two bars underneath for leverage, he twisted his body, causing back pain.
2013 · 3 incidents
August 3, 2013CA · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee was operating a scraper when he got stuck, the rig started bouncing and hit his head in the cab. He received a cut to the top of his head.
July 26, 2013CA · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
EE was changing engine belts on the water truck (Unit 118).He dropped a socket and turned to grab it between the bumper and tire. When he tried to grab it he said "I felt something in my back pull".
2008 · 1 incident
February 19, 2008CA · Metal/Non-Metalmechanic helperMACHINERY
STANDING/ WORKING ON MACHINERY TURNED TO LEFT SIDE AND HIT LEFT KNEE.
2002 · 1 incident
August 2, 2002CA · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
HE WAS GRINDING AND WELDING ON A BRACKET FOR A 210H SELF-LOADING SCRAPER. HE THOUGHT HE HAD A FLASH FROM AN ARC WELDER BUT ENDED UP HAVING A METAL SHAVING IN IT INSTEAD.
1997 · 1 incident
December 29, 1997CA · Metal/Non-Metalassistant mine foreman, assistant mine managerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING FROM A 10' LADDER IN THE 5TH STEP REMOVING AN AIR CLEANER ASSY. OFF OF A MICHIGAN 210 SCARAPPER WHEN HE REMOVED THE LAST BOLT THE AIR CLEANER FELL STRIKING THE LADDER TIPP ING IT OVER. HE FELL ACROSS THE LADDER LEG WITH HIS CHEST. HE STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE AIR CLEANER. AS A RESULT HE BROKE A RIB AND CUT HIS EAR AND ELBOW BOTH NEEDING STITCHES.
INJURED SLIPPED ON CAT WALK WHILE REACHING FOR A GUARD TO INSTALL ON THE FEEDER. AND HURT HIS HIP AT THAT TIME.
1991 · 1 incident
November 10, 1991CA · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
HE WAS IN ONE POSITION TOO LONE WHILE PUTTING A FUEL FILTER ON A MICHIGAN 210 SELFLOADER. THIS WAS NOT REPORTED UNTIL 12-10-91 BUT HAPPENED ON 11-10-91.
1990 · 1 incident
August 9, 1990CA · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
THE INJURED PICKED UP A PUSHBAR TO PLACE ON125 LOADER AND TWISTED HIS BODY INJURING HIS RIGHT KNEE.
1989 · 2 incidents
April 18, 1989CA · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
H M Holloway Inc · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
EMPL WS REMOVING BATTERY HEAVY BATTERY LANDED WITH HARD JAR CAUSING LID TO POP OPEN & BATTERY ACID TO FLY INTO LEFT EYE.
April 8, 1989CA · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
THE INJURED WAS NOT ON COMPANY EQUIPMENT NOR ON COMPANY PROPERTY.HE WAS PULLING HIS OWN TRAILER WITH HIS TRASH BARRELS.HE PLACED THE COMPANY TRASH DRUMS ON THE TRAILER ALONG SIDE HIS TRASH.AS HE WAS REMOVING A BARREL,HE FELL STRIKING HIS HIS HIP ON THE TRAILER.
1985 · 1 incident
March 25, 1985CA · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON