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Mears: 1 recorded fatality Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Craig S. Mears
Watson, St Helena County, LA  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 1600883

Mears has $12K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
15
Years on record
1983–2015
Latest incident
Aug 2015
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
91
citations
19
significant & substantial
$12,267
proposed penalties
$12,082
paid to date
98% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $185 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2001
65
inspections on record
868
inspection hours
n/a
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: 868 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Mears has $12K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 5 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.
$12K
proposed penalties
$12K
current assessed
$12K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
89 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $802 in penalties contested before the Commission, $617 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-24.
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.
20.9%
significant & substantial
4.4%
high negligence or reckless
23.1%
reasonably likely or greater
40.7%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 17.6% low, 78.0% moderate, 4.4% high, 0.0% reckless.
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.
5 citations taken to the federal commission · 5% of citations on record
  • Settled 4 · 80%
  • Stood as issued 1 · 20%
50%
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 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
25%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$736 proposed, $551 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 2025-08-07.
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.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
CENT 2012-537M Settlement Lesnick 2012 $285 → $100
CENT 2013-107M Settlement Miller 2013 $200 → $200
CENT 2025-0344 Default 2025 $151 → $151
CENT 2016-0030 Settlement Lesnick 2016 $100 → $100
CENT 2003-318-M Settlement Lesnick 2003 $66 → $66
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
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: 2026-03-31
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
28
samples
3
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg24
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz3
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (28)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2026-03-31 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Backhoe Operator
2024-10-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2024-10-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2024-01-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Welder, etc.
2024-01-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2024-01-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-01-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-01-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2022-04-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2022-04-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2020-11-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2020-11-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2018-06-27 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.28 0.36 0.78 Front-end Loader Operator
2017-06-13 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2017-06-13 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2017-06-13 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2013-03-12 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2013-03-12 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.37 2.75 0.13 Front-end Loader Operator
2013-03-12 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2010-03-16 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2010-03-16 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2010-03-16 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2005-11-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2005-11-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2004-03-30 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2004-03-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.12 0.73 0.16 Front-end Loader Operator
2004-03-30 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.21 Dredge/Barge Operator
2003-05-15 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.

Mears 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
No reportable injury cases in any year shown. Employee-hours were reported in each of those years, so these are true zeros rather than missing data. Citations, listed in the compliance record above, are inspector-found violations and are counted separately from worker injuries.
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 Louisiana, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.98 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 * 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
* 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.
Ownership history
  1. Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC 1950 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 13
2025 14
2024 11
2023 11
2022 12
2021 14
2020 13
2019 14
2018 12
2017 11
2016 10
2015 11
2014 15
2013 14
2012 14
2011 13
2010 12
2009 12
2008 12
2007 12
2006 12
2005 11
2004 11
2003 12
2002 10
2001 10
2000 6
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Mears sits in St. Helena Parish, Louisiana, where the Census mining category is 2.1% 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.
St. Helena Parish, Louisiana · Population 10,849
2.1%
Mining share of county employment
$50,193
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 6,527 1 0 153.2
2026 Q1 6,575 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 7,634 2 1 262.0
2025 Q3 6,650 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 6,615 2 0 302.3
2025 Q1 6,175 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 7,097 2 0 281.8
2024 Q3 5,528 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 5,036 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 5,442 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 5,597 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 5,023 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 5,433 5 2 920.3
2023 Q1 5,406 2 0 370.0
2022 Q4 5,765 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 6,110 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 5,872 2 0 340.6
2022 Q1 5,343 5 0 935.8
2021 Q4 6,914 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 6,825 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 7,199 1 0 138.9
2021 Q1 4,784 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 5,807 2 1 344.4
2020 Q3 5,742 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 6,507 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 6,079 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 6,302 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 6,948 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 7,312 3 1 410.3
2019 Q1 5,677 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 5,717 3 0 524.8
2018 Q3 5,453 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 5,970 1 0 167.5
2018 Q1 5,207 1 0 192.0
2017 Q4 6,011 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 5,104 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 4,830 2 1 414.1
2017 Q1 4,391 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 4,340 3 0 691.2
2016 Q3 5,420 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 5,279 2 0 378.9
2016 Q1 4,599 2 0 434.9
2015 Q4 4,537 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 7,529 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 7,657 3 0 391.8
2015 Q1 6,547 1 1 152.7
2014 Q4 8,141 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 8,876 3 0 338.0
2014 Q2 8,741 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 7,620 2 1 262.5
2013 Q4 9,110 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 9,052 3 1 331.4
2013 Q2 8,304 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 8,496 2 0 235.4
2012 Q4 8,741 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 8,341 5 2 599.4
2012 Q2 8,288 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 7,351 2 1 272.1
2011 Q4 6,328 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 6,784 6 1 884.4
2011 Q2 6,940 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 7,386 2 0 270.8
2010 Q4 6,760 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 7,149 1 0 139.9
2010 Q2 6,956 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 6,129 1 1 163.2
2009 Q4 6,603 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 5,910 2 0 338.4
2009 Q2 6,164 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 5,704 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 6,561 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 5,820 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 7,330 1 0 136.4
2008 Q1 6,036 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 5,290 1 0 189.0
2007 Q3 5,757 2 0 347.4
2007 Q2 6,494 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 6,510 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 7,242 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 7,041 1 0 142.0
2006 Q2 6,541 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 5,719 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 5,283 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 5,928 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 5,219 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 4,726 2 0 423.2
2004 Q4 5,725 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 5,631 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 5,427 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 5,440 2 0 367.6
2003 Q4 5,400 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 6,131 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 6,620 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 4,881 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 3,689 1 1 271.1
2002 Q3 4,418 2 1 452.7
2002 Q2 3,802 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 3,281 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 3,119 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 2,894 5 3 1727.7
2001 Q2 3,122 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 3,060 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 2,431 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 2,939 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 2,894 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 3,955 0 0 0.0

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
March 14, 1983 LA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman Fatality · MACHINERY
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE DISREGUARDED SUPERVISOR\S SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS AND FELLOW WORKER\S WARNING, CLIMBED OVER OR UNDER A CHAIN LINK FENCE AND GUARD RAIL ENCLOSING V-BELT DRIVE FOR SLURRY PUMP TO PERFORM WORK IN AN UNAUTHORIZED/RESTRICTED AREA. HE WAS CAUGHT IN BELT DRIVE AND WAS FATALLY INJURED.

Reportable incidents

14 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2015 · 1 incident

August 26, 2015 LA · Metal/Non-Metal barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was cleaning out impeller and cut top of right hand on barbed wire that was tangled in impeller on 8/6/2015. He administered first aid, thought it was healed. On 8/26/15 went to hospital because it was hurting. Found out it was infected and admitted to hospital.

2014 · 1 incident

July 9, 2014 LA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using a pry bar on log washer and smashed/jammed finger. Sent him to doctor on 7/10/2014 around 7:30 after he reported to work and told of his finger hurting.

2013 · 1 incident

September 14, 2013 LA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employee was working on log washer when his thumb got jammed in the washer

2011 · 2 incidents

September 28, 2011 LA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Struck by falling object

Believe accident happened sometime in the afternoon. Employee believes when he was climbing ladder @ plant site, some of the rust/metal from the ladder fell into his eye. Employee was climbing ladder to clean screens at plant site. Employee was wearing safety glasses, however admits they were too big.

March 18, 2011 LA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee had been working around plant site #12 and was walking between log washer and pipes. He slipped and fell in a sitting position on his behind/back side.

2009 · 1 incident

November 5, 2009 LA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Unclassified, insufficient data

Employee was working on parts for sand conveyor and smashed right thumb and right hand.Hand was bleeding and employee was in extreme pain. As of now, I do not have the full details of the accident as I sent him along with site supervisor to urgent care/emergency room to get hand examined. Once site supervisor returns, more detailed information will be gathered and documented.

2008 · 2 incidents

April 30, 2008 LA · Metal/Non-Metal barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was heating a can of soup on one of the engines on the dredge. When employee went to open can, contents of can sprayed on him. It is not know if he vented the can before placing it on the engine/manifold to be heated.

February 20, 2008 LA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man MACHINERY
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was chaining pipe to bucket of hydraulic excavator, stood up and bumped his head on the bucket, which pushed his head forward hitting lip and front teeth.

2007 · 1 incident

March 19, 2007 LA · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was bending down to take sleeve off water pump. Had a burning sensation in his back and fell to the ground.

2004 · 1 incident

November 16, 2004 LA · Metal/Non-Metal coal/ore shovel operator, shoveler, power shoveler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing onto a piece of equipment in order for him to operate said equipment. Injured shoulder in process.

2002 · 1 incident

1999 · 1 incident

January 22, 1999 LA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman OTHER
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Struck against a moving object

EE WAS LEAVING WORK AFTER SHIFT DURING SEVERE WEATHER WHEN TREE WAS BLOWN OVER ONTO EE'S VEHICLE. EE WAS TRAPPED IN VEHICLE BUT SUSTAINED ONLYFRACTURE TO FOREHEAD & PULLED MUSCLES IN NECK & SHOULDER

1992 · 1 incident

September 14, 1992 LA · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Fall from machine

EE AND HELPER INSTALLING TROUGH ON SCRUBBER OF SAND PLANT. EE PRYING ON TROUGH WHEN COME ALONG HOOKED TO TROUGH CAME LOOSE CAUSING EE TO FALL APPROX. 8 FT TO GROUND HITTING HEAD ON SUPPORT PIP E FOR PLANT.

1986 · 1 incident

July 14, 1986 LA · Metal/Non-Metal barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mears Sand & Gravel, LLC · Struck against stationary object

REPAIRING DREDG9 IMPELLAR WRENCH SLIPPED WHILE TURNING SHEAVE LEFT HAND HIT SAFETY GUARD ENCLOSERE AND OPENED CUT BETWEEN CENTER FINGERS