Mining Incidents

Mercer Stone Company: 120 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Mark Mathis
Harrodsburg, KY, Mercer County, KY  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 1500067

Mercer Stone Company has $20K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Mercer Stone Company.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
13
Years on record
1983–2025
Latest incident
Jan 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
120
citations
36
significant & substantial
$19,751
proposed penalties
$19,751
paid to date
100% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $0 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
80
inspections on record
1,656
inspection hours
7.2
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.
120 citations across 1,656 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Mercer Stone Company has $20K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 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.
$20K
proposed penalties
$20K
current assessed
$20K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
116 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-10-14.
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.
30.5%
significant & substantial
4.2%
high negligence or reckless
30.5%
reasonably likely or greater
33.9%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 5.1% low, 90.7% moderate, 4.2% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, 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: 2025-09-04
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
46
samples
26
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz23
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg14
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz5
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz4
Show the individual readings (46)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2025-09-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2025-09-04 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.77 10 0.08 Crusher Oper/Worker
2025-09-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2025-09-04 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.19 10 0.02 Truck Driver
2024-02-22 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.36 10 0.04 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2024-02-22 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.16 10 0.02 Front-end Loader Operator
2024-02-22 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.47 10 0.05 Crusher Oper/Worker
2024-02-22 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.2 10 0.02 Utility Man
2023-09-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2023-09-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-09-28 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.41 10 0.04 Truck Driver
2023-09-28 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.98 10 0.10 Crusher Oper/Worker
2021-06-09 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.31 Crusher Oper/Worker
2021-06-09 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.46 Front-end Loader Operator
2021-06-09 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.29 Truck Driver
2021-06-09 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.32 Truck Driver
2021-03-30 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2021-03-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.87 Drill Operator, Rotary
2021-03-30 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.27 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2021-03-30 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.53 10 0.05 Crusher Oper/Worker
2020-04-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2020-04-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2020-04-08 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.22 10 0.02 Front-end Loader Operator
2020-04-08 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.29 10 0.03 Truck Driver
2016-06-29 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.18 10 0.02 Utility Man
2016-06-29 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.34 10 0.03 Truck Driver
2016-06-29 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.2 10 0.02 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-06-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-06-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2012-02-02 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2012-02-02 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2012-02-02 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-06-07 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.12 10 0.01 Truck Driver
2007-06-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.32 1.99 0.16 Truck Driver
2007-06-07 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.46 2.79 0.16 Truck Driver
2006-10-25 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.69 10 0.07 Utility Man
2006-10-25 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.88 10 0.09 Crusher Oper/Worker
2006-10-25 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.42 10 0.04 Truck Driver
2005-06-08 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.65 10 0.07 Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-06-08 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.33 10 0.03 Belt Crew
2004-05-11 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.64 10 0.06 Belt Crew
2004-05-11 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.72 10 0.07 Crusher Oper/Worker
2002-07-17 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Scale Man
2002-07-17 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.52 10 0.05 Truck Driver
2002-07-17 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Blaster, Powder Gang
2000-08-24 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.49 2.23 0.22 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.

Mercer Stone Company recorded 8.04 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.
8.04
total case rate
8.04
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 Kentucky, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 2.16 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 * 8.04 8.04 0.000
2024 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2023 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2022 * 15.30 15.30 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. State Contracting & Materials Division 1950 to 1978
  2. Medusa Aggregates Company 1979 to 1980
  3. Mercer Stone Company 1980 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 12
2025 12
2024 12
2023 13
2022 11
2021 14
2020 14
2019 15
2018 14
2017 14
2016 13
2015 13
2014 13
2013 14
2012 15
2011 16
2010 16
2009 21
2008 16
2007 17
2006 17
2005 15
2004 13
2003 14
2002 16
2001 15
2000 14
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Mercer Stone Company sits in Mercer County, Kentucky, where the Census mining category is 0.0% 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.
Mercer County, Kentucky · Population 22,824
0.0%
Mining share of county employment
$63,115
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 8,228 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 5,069 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 4,884 1 0 204.8
2025 Q3 6,865 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 7,462 1 0 134.0
2025 Q1 5,669 4 2 705.6
2024 Q4 6,596 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 6,502 1 0 153.8
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 6,665 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 6,427 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 7,171 1 0 139.5
2023 Q3 6,937 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 6,973 7 4 1003.9
2023 Q1 6,816 1 0 146.7
2022 Q4 6,480 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 6,506 1 1 153.7
2022 Q2 6,693 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 6,462 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 6,411 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 6,853 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 7,157 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 6,538 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 8,150 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 7,348 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 7,053 1 1 141.8
2020 Q1 7,214 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 7,470 2 1 267.7
2019 Q3 7,965 3 0 376.6
2019 Q2 7,898 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 7,488 1 0 133.5
2018 Q4 7,958 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 8,299 1 0 120.5
2018 Q2 8,070 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 8,286 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 8,381 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 8,903 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 8,418 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 8,209 2 0 243.6
2016 Q4 8,347 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 8,647 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 8,860 2 0 225.7
2016 Q1 8,447 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 8,240 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 8,942 2 0 223.7
2015 Q2 8,533 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 7,102 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 8,110 2 2 246.6
2014 Q3 8,351 2 2 239.5
2014 Q2 8,267 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 6,183 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 8,015 1 0 124.8
2013 Q3 8,441 1 0 118.5
2013 Q2 8,202 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 6,110 2 0 327.3
2012 Q4 7,840 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 7,999 3 0 375.0
2012 Q2 7,509 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 8,002 10 5 1249.7
2011 Q4 8,931 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 8,991 5 1 556.1
2011 Q2 8,088 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 7,662 4 1 522.1
2010 Q4 8,557 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 9,183 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 9,209 3 1 325.8
2010 Q1 6,393 9 3 1407.8
2009 Q4 9,463 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 13,884 2 1 144.1
2009 Q2 13,398 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 9,497 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 9,392 1 0 106.5
2008 Q3 9,644 1 0 103.7
2008 Q2 9,378 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 7,254 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 9,762 5 0 512.2
2007 Q3 9,687 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 10,104 4 2 395.9
2007 Q1 7,687 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 9,438 3 2 317.9
2006 Q3 9,865 1 0 101.4
2006 Q2 9,326 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 8,380 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 8,692 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 9,228 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 8,857 1 0 112.9
2005 Q1 4,499 3 0 666.8
2004 Q4 6,487 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 7,948 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 7,696 1 0 129.9
2004 Q1 7,516 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 8,293 2 0 241.2
2003 Q3 8,149 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 7,873 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 6,866 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 7,462 6 4 804.1
2002 Q3 8,140 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 8,602 2 0 232.5
2002 Q1 6,375 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 8,206 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 8,515 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 8,529 3 0 351.7
2001 Q1 5,914 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 8,688 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 9,266 5 2 539.6
2000 Q2 8,811 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 6,439 3 0 465.9
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

13 on file

2025 · 1 incident

January 9, 2025 KY · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man MACHINERY
Mercer Stone Company · Struck against a moving object

While pushing snow/dirt employee backed off a 17-foot wall in D8T CAT Dozer. Employee was removed from dozer and attended to until EMS arrived.

2022 · 2 incidents

August 29, 2022 KY · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mercer Stone Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

TRYING TO MOVE A PUMP WITH GIN POLE. THE CHAIN ON THE GIN POLE BROKE AND HIT THE EMPLOYEES.

August 29, 2022 KY · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mercer Stone Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Trying to move pump using a gin pole. The chain broke and hit the employees.

2011 · 1 incident

August 26, 2011 KY · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Mercer Stone Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Injured slipped cleaning rock from chute. Said he twisted right knee but it was not hurting enough for attention. On 11/9/11 injured said knee was bothering him and went to Dr. Dr. told him to give it time and it may heal itself. Continued to hurt, returned to Dr on 2/29/12, Dr scheduled medical procedure, on 2/29/12, management became aware of the reportable injury.

1998 · 1 incident

May 14, 1998 KY · Metal/Non-Metal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
Mercer Stone Company · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

LUNG BIOPSY-SURGICAL PATHOLOGY REPORT-HILER LYMPH NODE EXCISION HYALINIZED GRANULOMAS AND ANTHRACILICOSIS NO TUMOR SEE. RT. LOWER LOBE WEDGE BIOPSY: SEVERE INTERSTITIAL FIBROSISW, SMOOTH MUSCL E METAPLASIA, INTRA-ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGES AND MILD CHRONIC INTERSTITICIAL INFLAMMATION.

1995 · 1 incident

July 12, 1995 KY · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator OTHER
Mercer Stone Company · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS OPERATING LOADER WHEN PERSONS IN THE AREA NOTICED HE WAS SLUMPED OVER IN THE CAB. THEY DISCOVERED HIM IN CAB APPARENTLY HAVING A HEART ATTACK. AMBULANCE WAS CALLED IMMEDIATELY. EE WAS P ATELY. EE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT HOSPITAL, HAVING SUFFED A MASSIVE HEART ATTACK.

1991 · 1 incident

December 13, 1991 KY · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Mercer Stone Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

INJURED STEPPED DOWN OFF OF LOADER AND TWISTED ANKLE (BROKEN BONE).

1988 · 1 incident

August 19, 1988 KY · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Mercer Stone Company · Fall onto or against objects

I.NAME STEPPED DOWN FROM BACKHOE AT PRIMARY CRUSHER,SLIPPED ON LADDER AND FELL ACROSS TOP OF LADDER HITTING CHEST,CRACKING 4TH OR 5TH RIB.

1987 · 1 incident

March 30, 1987 KY · Metal/Non-Metal driller, highwall operator, highwall drill operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Mercer Stone Company · Fall from machine

RAINY AND WET V3NYARD STEPING UP ON CAT TRUCK, SLIPPED AND FALL OFF LADDER CAUGHT HIMSELF WITH RIGHT HAND ON FLOOR BREAKING RIGHT WRIST.

1986 · 2 incidents

August 27, 1986 KY · Metal/Non-Metal drill operator MACHINERY
Mercer Stone Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

AS DRILLER PREP5IRED TO BREAK STEEL HE REVERSED HAMMER RAISED UP FROM COLLAR & RECONNECTED IN FORWARD POS. PIECE BREAKING OFF OF STRIKIER BAR HITTING IN LEFT SIDE DR. EXTRACTED METAL SHAVING P UTTING IN ONE S7ITCH.

August 25, 1986 KY · Metal/Non-Metal superintendent HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mercer Stone Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

ROCK HUNG IN TR6CK TIRE PUT HAND BETWEEN TIRES TO FREE-MAN HIT WITH SLEDGE CAUGHT HAND (FINGER) BETWEEN RIM & ROCK CUTTING OFF END OF FINGER JUST THE MEAT PART. NO BONES.

1985 · 1 incident

September 5, 1985 KY · Metal/Non-Metal water truck operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mercer Stone Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

PRYING ON ROCK WITH BAR - BAR SLIPPED AND HIT FACE BELOW RIGHT EYE 4 STITCHES REQUIRED

1983 · 1 incident

June 16, 1983 KY · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman OTHER
Mercer Stone Company · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MAN WAS WALKING UP RAMP TO CRUSHER AND KNEE GAVEWAY MAN HAD METAL PIN IN KNEE THAT GAVE WAY PIN WAS FROM PRIOR INJURY