Nanuuq Gold Project has $162K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 10 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
2
Total incidents
17
Years on record
2007–2011
Latest incident
Dec 2011
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2007
73
citations
38
significant & substantial
$161,928
proposed penalties
$112,043
paid to date
69% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $49,885 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.
Rate withheld: 626 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
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: 2010-07-18.
On record since 2010.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Nanuuq Gold Project has $162K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 10 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.
$162K
proposed penalties
$112K
current assessed
$112K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
71 assessments are final orders; 10 contested dockets.
Of $153K in penalties contested before the Commission, $103K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2011-03-10.
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.
36citations taken to the federal commission · 49% of citations on record
Settled
17 · 47%
Stood as issued
19 · 53%
86%
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 29 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
33%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$153K proposed, $103K 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 2011-11-01.
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: 2007-12-20, 18 years ago
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
5
samples
4
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz2
Arsenic fumes1
Beryllium fumes1
Cadmium oxide fumes1
Show the individual readings (17)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2007-12-20
Zinc oxide fumes
0
5
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-12-20
Manganese fumes
0
5
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-12-20
Nickel fumes
0
1
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-12-20
Vanadium fumes
0
50
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-12-20
Molybdenum fumes
0
10
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-12-20
Arsenic fumes
0
500
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-12-20
Beryllium fumes
0
2
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-12-20
Cadmium oxide fumes
0
100
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-12-20
Chromium, insoluble
0
1
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-12-20
Cobalt fumes
0
100
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-12-20
Copper fumes
0
100
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-12-20
Iron oxide fumes
0.02
10
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-12-20
Lead fumes
0
150
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-12-20
Magnesium oxide fumes
0
10
0.00
Iron Worker
2007-07-13
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.19
0.87
0.22
Front-end Loader Operator
2007-07-13
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Mechanic
2007-07-13
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.25
0.9
0.28
Truck Driver
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.
Nanuuq Gold Project recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2012.
Injury rate, 2012
ⓘ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 2.48 and the all-US-mining average was 2.96 cases per 100 workers.
In Alaska, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 2.66 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
2012 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2011 *
4.35
0.00
0.000
2010 *
2.21
0.00
0.000
2009
0.00
0.00
0.000
2008
2.01
2.01
0.000
2007
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
2016
0
2015
1
2014
1
2013
2
2012
15
2011
35
2010
31
2009
46
2008
126
2007
58
2006
33
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Nanuuq Gold Project sits in Nome Census Area, Alaska, where the Census mining category is 0.6% 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.
Nome Census Area, Alaska · Population 9,925
0.6%
Mining share of county employment
$76,643
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
2016 Q3
0
0
0
2016 Q2
0
0
0
2016 Q1
0
0
0
2015 Q4
0
0
0
2015 Q3
390
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
130
0
0
0.0
2015 Q1
130
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
130
0
0
0.0
Show 32 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2014 Q3
130
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
260
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
260
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
592
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
1,268
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
1,040
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
520
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
3,150
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
4,225
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
12,131
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
17,356
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
16,096
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
40,726
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
20,034
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
15,013
3
2
199.8
2010 Q4
22,909
11
4
480.2
2010 Q3
19,627
22
17
1120.9
2010 Q2
29,551
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
18,508
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
47,236
3
1
63.5
2009 Q3
24,970
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
14,868
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
15,311
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
61,828
7
3
113.2
2008 Q3
87,416
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
77,429
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
72,229
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
47,746
4
0
83.8
2007 Q3
38,163
4
2
104.8
2007 Q2
29,204
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
20,040
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
15,956
0
0
0.0
Fatalities at this mine
2 recorded
July 19, 2007AK · Metal/Non-Metalminer, prospector, necFatality · MACHINERY
Initial Information: Two EE's working from manlift on West side of mill building over Electrical Room. From initial witness reports, it appears they were in the process of retracting & lowering boom at end of shift with boom fully extended to the South when South side wheels slipped sideways from leveling blocks, causing lift to tilt and capsize. Boom fell & basket hit the ground.
July 19, 2007AK · Metal/Non-Metalminer, prospector, necFatality · MACHINERY
Initial Information: Two EE's working from manlift on West side of mill building over Electrical Room. From initial witness reports, it appears they were in the process of retracting & lowering boom at end of shift with boom fully extended to the South when South side wheels slipped sideways from leveling blocks, causing lift to tilt and capsize. Boom fell, basket hit ground.
Reportable incidents
15 on file (excluding fatalities above)
2011 · 2 incidents
December 30, 2011AK · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Individual exiting mine shop office slipped on ice and fell on gravel parking surface. Individual was able to walk and continued work with minor discomfort only. Initial diagnosis was sprain; Ongoing pain led to follow-up medical treatment on 14-Jan; x-ray determined fracture of fibula.
2010 · 1 incident
June 14, 2010AK · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Alaska Gold Company · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
On 6/19/10 process technician reported to work at water treatment plant at 1900 hrs. After his lunch break at 1200 am he returned to the plant to prepare for chemical mixture. EE was wearing safety glasses when he opened a bag of sodium hydroxides flipped the cover back and dust got in his Rt eye. EE flushed with water was transported to ER treated & released.
2009 · 1 incident
December 30, 2009AK · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanOTHER
EE was walking up the slope of an empty settlement pond. Employee felt a cramp in the back of his right leg. Employee was taken to the clinic for diagnosis. Injury was diagnosed as a strain in the hamstring area of his right leg. Employee was placed on light duty for 7 days by the attending doctor.
Lifting garbage bags into trash dumpster using both hands. Heard "pop" in right shoulder and felt pain.
April 26, 2008AK · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE was cutting a piece of pipe with a reciprocating saw. One beyond the cut, the saw blade hit metal grating and kicked back. The employee sustained a laceration to his left hand between the fore and middle fingers. 9 sutures were required to close the wound.
January 10, 2008AK · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
November 28, 2007AK · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanOTHER
Alaska Gold Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EE had just gotten back into the cab of his loader after talking to a truck operator. He placed his hand on the door jamb and a wind gust came up slamming the door on his hand. Three fingers were cut and two were broken.
Employee was moving equipment. He moved the hitch on a Nodwell trailer- the pin that secures the jack was not in place which resulted in the hitch of the trailer falling on employee's right leg. The hitch broke his right leg. He was taken to Nome Hospital and then transported to Anchorage for surgery to place a pin in leg.
October 27, 2007AK · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
A piece of metal entered a welders eye during the task of grinding down a piece of metal. The injured ee did not notice his injury until after his shift ended. The irritation in his eye caused him to go to the local hospital where a small piece of metal was removed. He returned to work with no restrictions but was given prescription ointment for his eyes.
September 3, 2007AK · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was lifting pads and felt pain in his back.
September 1, 2007AK · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS