Mining Incidents

Merced Aggregates: 156 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Merced, Merced County, CA  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0402841

Merced Aggregates has $58K in proposed MSHA penalties and $10 outstanding across 6 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
23
Years on record
1989–2011
Latest incident
Mar 2011
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
156
citations
36
significant & substantial
$57,866
proposed penalties
$42,159
paid to date
73% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $15,707 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
71
inspections on record
1,076
inspection hours
14.5
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.
156 citations across 1,076 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Merced Aggregates has $58K in proposed MSHA penalties and $10 outstanding across 6 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.
$58K
proposed penalties
$42K
current assessed
$42K
paid to date
$10
outstanding
155 assessments are final orders; 6 contested dockets.
Of $25K in penalties contested before the Commission, $10K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-01-14.
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.
23.1%
significant & substantial
2.6%
high negligence or reckless
23.1%
reasonably likely or greater
41.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 11.5% low, 85.9% moderate, 2.6% 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.
11 citations taken to the federal commission · 7% of citations on record
  • Settled 9 · 82%
  • Stood as issued 2 · 18%
33%
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 6 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
62%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$25K proposed, $10K 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 2014-05-28.
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.
Docket Decision Judge Year Proposed / upheld
WEST 2012-1031M Settlement Lesnick 2013 $13K → $2K
WEST 2011-1281M Settlement Lesnick 2012 $4K → $3K
WEST 2014-0711 Settlement Manning 2015 $4K → $874
WEST 2011-742M Settlement Bulluck 2012 $2K → $2K
WEST 2010-1399M Dismissal Manning 2011 $2K → $2K
WEST 2012-1060M Settlement Steele 2012 $138 → $138
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: 2026-07-22
10%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
16
samples
10
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz101 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg5
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (16)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2026-07-22 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.43 0.29 1.48 Laborer, Bullgang
2021-03-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2017-08-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.27 0.78 0.35 Cleanup Man
2017-08-23 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.14 Scraper Operator
2017-08-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2014-06-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.72 2.97 0.24 Laborer, Bullgang
2014-06-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2009-01-28 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 0.81 0.19 Cleanup Man
2009-01-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2005-02-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-02-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.18 1.02 0.18 Utility Man
2005-02-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.13 0.7 0.19 Utility Man
2002-04-25 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.25 0.48 0.52 Laborer, Bullgang
2002-04-25 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 0.57 0.26 Wagon Drill Operator
2002-04-25 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.16 0.6 0.27 Crusher Oper/Worker
2002-04-25 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.45 1.25 0.36 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.

Merced Aggregates 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 California, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.42 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. Flintkote Cement Company 1950 to 1980
  2. Calaveras Materials Inc 1980 to 1999
  3. Calaveras Materials LLC 1999 to 2023
  4. Martin Marietta Northern California Aggregates,LLC 2023 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 12
2025 11
2024 12
2023 14
2022 13
2021 15
2020 15
2019 12
2018 12
2017 11
2016 9
2015 9
2014 10
2013 13
2012 14
2011 12
2010 13
2009 13
2008 14
2007 16
2006 22
2005 18
2004 15
2003 15
2002 17
2001 17
2000 13
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Merced Aggregates sits in Merced County, California, 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.
Merced County, California · Population 285,597
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$65,044
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 4,619 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 4,507 1 0 221.9
2025 Q4 3,986 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 3,884 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 6,330 1 0 158.0
2025 Q1 6,117 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 5,998 1 0 166.7
2024 Q3 7,328 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 6,569 2 0 304.5
2024 Q1 5,929 1 0 168.7
2023 Q4 7,793 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 6,289 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 6,496 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 5,301 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 5,546 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 6,252 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 6,073 2 0 329.3
2022 Q1 9,087 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 7,939 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 8,910 2 0 224.5
2021 Q2 8,456 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 7,052 3 1 425.4
2020 Q4 6,819 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 7,855 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 6,592 1 0 151.7
2020 Q1 6,814 1 0 146.8
2019 Q4 6,183 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 7,681 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 6,626 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 7,185 2 1 278.4
2018 Q4 6,237 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 6,958 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 6,633 1 0 150.8
2018 Q1 5,840 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 5,282 4 2 757.3
2017 Q3 6,026 3 3 497.8
2017 Q2 5,376 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 5,837 3 1 514.0
2016 Q4 4,171 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 5,419 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 4,127 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 3,762 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 3,773 2 0 530.1
2015 Q3 4,122 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 3,589 3 0 835.9
2015 Q1 4,383 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 3,564 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 4,190 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 4,424 5 0 1130.2
2014 Q1 5,069 2 0 394.6
2013 Q4 5,433 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 5,900 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 5,977 2 1 334.6
2013 Q1 5,768 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 6,419 4 0 623.2
2012 Q3 8,458 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 6,690 5 0 747.4
2012 Q1 6,954 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 5,631 5 0 887.9
2011 Q3 6,555 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 5,376 5 1 930.1
2011 Q1 5,551 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 5,648 5 2 885.3
2010 Q3 5,648 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 5,222 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 3,804 19 2 4994.7
2009 Q4 4,980 4 2 803.2
2009 Q3 5,225 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 3,728 1 1 268.2
2009 Q1 5,314 6 0 1129.1
2008 Q4 5,967 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 6,359 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 6,310 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 6,344 5 3 788.1
2007 Q4 6,881 15 7 2179.9
2007 Q3 7,787 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 8,062 1 0 124.0
2007 Q1 10,452 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 10,834 3 0 276.9
2006 Q3 12,402 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 10,546 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 10,408 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 11,739 2 0 170.4
2005 Q3 12,816 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 12,232 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 10,263 2 0 194.9
2004 Q4 9,293 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 9,713 3 0 308.9
2004 Q2 8,895 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 7,634 2 1 262.0
2003 Q4 7,818 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 9,016 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 8,765 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 7,402 3 0 405.3
2002 Q4 8,243 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 10,609 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 11,525 1 0 86.8
2002 Q1 7,601 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 10,760 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 12,091 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 9,258 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 8,662 2 1 230.9
2000 Q4 7,741 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 8,017 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 7,508 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 6,927 2 1 288.7
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

23 on file

2011 · 1 incident

March 14, 2011 CA · Metal/Non-Metal coal/ore shovel operator, shoveler, power shoveler HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Calaveras Materials LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Miner/Employee was assisting in replacing new sand screw wear shoes when EE was repositioning the shoe to the shaft it slipped from his grasp and resulting in a caught between the sand screw tank wall and screw auger flight crushing/minor fracture injury to his left index finger.

2008 · 1 incident

April 30, 2008 CA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Calaveras Materials LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

The employee was cleaning up the surrounding work area when he went to pick up a piece of steel pipe he strained his back.

2007 · 2 incidents

April 23, 2007 CA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Calaveras Materials LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cleaning out around conveyor tail pulley and stepped into a muddy area and stepped into a muddy hole.

February 1, 2007 CA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Calaveras Materials LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was climbing into chute area of prewash plant via access door then slipped and fell backwards striking a rock in the chute straining lower back.

2005 · 4 incidents

October 20, 2005 CA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Calaveras Materials LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

TWISTED KNEE WHEN STEPPING OFF EXCAVATOR ON UNEVEN GROUND.

October 17, 2005 CA · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
Calaveras Materials LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS TRYING TO RELIEVE PRESSURE ON A HYDRAULIC SYSTEM ON THE AUXILARY CRUSHER BY TAKING THE FITTING OFF A CYLINDER. EMPLOYEE DID NOT VERIFY THAT ALL THE PRESSURE WAS EXHAUSTED FROM THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. WHEN THE EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE A HYDRAULIC HOSE THE COUPLING KICKED BACK AND CAUSED AN INJURY TO THE EMPLOYEE'S RIGHT HAND.

June 27, 2005 CA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Calaveras Materials LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was lifting large batteries and strained left groin.

May 9, 2005 CA · Metal/Non-Metal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Calaveras Materials LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was working on a 988G loader bucket cutting edge using impact wrench to remove bolts. Bolts spun and employee tried to hold the bolt by hand to lock it in place and bolt spun cutting his left middle finger through his glove.

2004 · 2 incidents

June 3, 2004 CA · Metal/Non-Metal water truck operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Calaveras Materials LLC · Struck by falling object

WATER TRUCK DRIVER WAS FILLING TRUCK WITH WATER, REMOVED ROPE THAT HOLDS VALVE OPEN & ROD CONNECTED TO VALVE CAME DOWN AND HIT THE DRIVER ON THE HEAD. HEAD CONTUSION.

April 14, 2004 CA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Calaveras Materials LLC · Struck against a moving object

EE WAS KNOCKING DOWN BELLY DUMP WINDROWS WITH LOADER. HE HIT A WET SPOT AND SUNK TO THE RIGHT SIDE, CAUSING EE TO TWIST AND STRAIN A MUSCLE ON RIGHT SIDE OF LOWER BACK. EE WAS IN SEAT AND HAD SAFETY BELT ON.

2003 · 1 incident

September 9, 2003 CA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Calaveras Materials LLC · Flash burns (welding)

EMPLOYEE WAS GRINDING/WELDING ON THE LOADER BUCKET. HE NOTICED NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY DURING WORK SHIFT BUT WHEN HE WENT HOME FELT A DISCOMFORT IN HIS LEFT EYE (FOREIGN BODY/FLASH BURN).

2001 · 1 incident

July 26, 2001 CA · Metal/Non-Metal backhoe operator, trackhoe operator, crane operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Calaveras Materials LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

STEPPED OFF SCALPING SCREEN ONTO WALKWAY AND TWISTED LEFT KNEE. HAD CLEANED WALKWAY PRIOR TO GOING ONTO SCREEN.

2000 · 3 incidents

December 9, 2000 CA · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Calaveras Materials LLC · Fall from machine

GETTING PARTS OUT OF STORAGE VAN. SLIPPED AND FELL OUT VAN(4 FT.) LANDED ON LEFT SHOULDER/ELBOW.

December 9, 2000 CA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Calaveras Materials LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS REMOVING BEARING RACE FROM TRUNION BEARING. HAMMER SLIPPED OFF CHISEL AND HIT LEFT THUMB, INJURING THUMB AND NAIL. FRACTURED END OF THUMB BELOW LAST JOINT.

August 24, 2000 CA · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Calaveras Materials LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE HAD EARLIER PERFORMED HEAVY PIPE WRENCHING INA CONFINED POSITION THEN HAD GROWING PAIN IN ABDOMEN AS HE CHANGED SCREEN CLOTH.

1999 · 1 incident

August 9, 1999 CA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Calaveras Materials LLC · Struck by flying object

AN EE ATTEMPTED TO TOSS A SOCKET TO THE INJURED FROM A WORK AREA ABOVE THE INJURED. ALTHOUGH THE EE ATTEMPTED TO TOSS IT TO THE GROUND NEAR THE INJ HE MISJUDGED & THE SOCKET FELL AT THE IN J. AS INJ TRIED TO BLOCK THE SOCKET FROM HITTINGHIM IT STRUCK HIS HAND

1991 · 1 incident

May 10, 1991 CA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Calaveras Materials Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EMPLOYEE WAS GETTING A PIECE OF SCREEN CLOTH FROM STORAGE AREA WHEN THE SCREEN FELL MAKING CONTACT WITH EMPLOYEE'S LEG.

1990 · 5 incidents

December 18, 1990 CA · Metal/Non-Metal backhoe operator, trackhoe operator OTHER
Calaveras Materials Inc · Struck by flying object

EMPL RECD FOREIGN BODY IN RIGHT EYE DUE TO WIND.

September 21, 1990 CA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Calaveras Materials Inc · Struck by flying object

WHILE THE EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A DOZER HE HAD A FOREIGN BODY IMBEDDED IN LEFT EYE.

September 11, 1990 CA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Calaveras Materials Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPL KNOCKING DOWN SMALL BUMP OF DIRT WITH FOOT.

July 3, 1990 CA · Metal/Non-Metal backhoe operator, trackhoe operator OTHER
Calaveras Materials Inc · Struck by flying object

WHILE THE EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING DOING HIS NORMAL DUTIES SOMETHING BLEW INTO HIS LEFT EYE.

July 3, 1990 CA · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Calaveras Materials Inc · Struck by falling object

EMPL DRAGGING EXTENSION CORD THROUGH SHOP WHEN CORD GOT TANGLED AROUND FLOOR JACK CAUSING THE JACK TO FALL OVER ON EMPL TOE.INJ CAUSED FRACTURE TO LEFT LITTLE TOE.

1989 · 1 incident

October 18, 1989 CA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Calaveras Materials Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EMPLOYEE WAS STANDING ON CATWALK WHEN HE SAW A PIECE OF METAL GOING UP THE CONVEYOR BELT. THE EMPLOYEE TURNED TO TAKE THE METAL OFF THE CONVEYOR BELT CAUSING HIM TO TWIST THE LOWER PART O F HIS BODY.