Mining Incidents

NorCal Sand and Rock: 637 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

NorCal Sand and Rock Inc. · Surface
Controlled by Kelly Michael Hickerson
Oroville, Butte County, CA  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 0405547

NorCal Sand and Rock has $1.5M in proposed MSHA penalties and $503K outstanding across 30 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
7
Years on record
2009–2014
Latest incident
Apr 2014
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2003
637
citations
264
significant & substantial
$1,540,977
proposed penalties
$346,211
paid to date
22% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,194,766 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2003
110
inspections on record
2,301
inspection hours
27.7
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.
637 citations across 2,301 inspection hours.
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.
5
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2014-02-04.
On record since 2012.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.

NorCal Sand and Rock has $1.5M in proposed MSHA penalties and $503K outstanding across 30 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.
$1.5M
proposed penalties
$849K
current assessed
$346K
paid to date
$503K
outstanding
619 assessments are final orders; 30 contested dockets.
Of $839K in penalties contested before the Commission, $147K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-07-16.
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.
42.6%
significant & substantial
19.1%
high negligence or reckless
42.6%
reasonably likely or greater
56.4%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.2% none, 3.1% low, 77.7% moderate, 18.6% high, 0.5% 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.
141 citations taken to the federal commission · 22% of citations on record
  • Settled 138 · 98%
  • Stood as issued 3 · 2%
100%
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 73 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
82%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$851K proposed, $151K 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 2017-01-04.
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 2015-0261 Settlement Manning 2017 $168K → $16K
WEST 2014-1022 Settlement Manning 2017 $97K → $12K
WEST 2015-7M Settlement Manning 2017 $93K → $12K
WEST 2015-0320 Settlement Manning 2017 $83K → $16K
WEST 2015-0302 Settlement Manning 2017 $54K → $4K
WEST 2015-0202 Settlement Manning 2017 $53K → $8K
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: 2024-07-17
25%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
21
samples
4
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz41 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg17
Show the individual readings (21)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2016-08-31 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.47 0.42 1.12 Front-end Loader Operator
2024-07-17 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2023-12-21 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2022-10-19 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2022-10-19 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Cleanup Man
2021-03-16 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2019-06-05 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2019-06-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.29 0.37 0.78 Front-end Loader Operator
2018-05-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2017-04-19 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2017-04-19 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-08-31 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2016-08-31 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-08-31 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2015-02-25 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2015-02-25 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2013-01-24 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.23 0.39 0.59 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2013-01-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2009-10-15 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2009-10-15 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 0.6 0.37 Front-end Loader Operator
2009-10-15 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
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.

NorCal Sand and Rock recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006.

Injury rate, 2006
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 3.41 and the all-US-mining average was 3.91 cases per 100 workers.
In California, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 4.49 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.
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. Valley Sand and Rock, Inc 2002 to 2020
  2. NorCal Sand and Rock Inc. 2020 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2024 5
2023 4
2022 6
2021 5
2020 5
2019 7
2018 4
2017 6
2016 8
2015 7
2014 9
2013 8
2012 7
2011 9
2010 8
2009 9
2008 8
2007 7
2006 10
2005 8
2004 4
2003 3
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

NorCal Sand and Rock sits in Butte 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.
Butte County, California · Population 209,470
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$68,574
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
2024 Q3 2,178 1 0 459.1
2024 Q2 2,394 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 2,381 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 2,453 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 2,150 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 2,338 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 1,785 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 2,270 7 0 3083.7
Show 77 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2022 Q3 3,539 5 1 1412.8
2022 Q2 4,365 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 3,228 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 3,652 1 0 273.8
2021 Q3 3,160 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 2,876 1 0 347.7
2021 Q1 2,912 4 0 1373.6
2020 Q4 3,647 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 3,078 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 690 3 0 4347.8
2020 Q1 3,532 5 0 1415.6
2019 Q4 2,355 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 3,352 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 3,377 4 0 1184.5
2019 Q1 2,504 1 0 399.4
2018 Q3 2,074 1 0 482.2
2018 Q2 1,666 5 0 3001.2
2018 Q1 1,666 15 5 9003.6
2017 Q4 2,777 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 3,341 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 3,322 4 0 1204.1
2017 Q1 2,969 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 3,954 13 5 3287.8
2016 Q3 3,776 21 4 5561.4
2016 Q2 3,477 3 0 862.8
2016 Q1 3,711 27 14 7275.7
2015 Q4 3,571 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 3,200 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 3,833 12 5 3130.7
2015 Q1 4,539 17 7 3745.3
2014 Q4 4,055 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 4,101 28 11 6827.6
2014 Q2 4,286 43 27 10032.7
2014 Q1 4,231 51 35 12053.9
2013 Q4 4,379 20 10 4567.3
2013 Q3 4,403 23 14 5223.7
2013 Q2 3,425 33 17 9635.0
2013 Q1 4,260 39 9 9154.9
2012 Q3 5,040 19 10 3769.8
2012 Q2 1,240 21 9 16935.5
2012 Q1 3,383 24 11 7094.3
2011 Q4 2,868 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 2,920 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 3,313 17 10 5131.3
2011 Q1 3,341 15 9 4489.7
2010 Q4 4,315 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 4,699 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 3,283 5 0 1523.0
2010 Q1 3,661 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 4,170 3 0 719.4
2009 Q3 5,044 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 5,121 9 7 1757.5
2009 Q1 4,702 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 2,911 7 3 2404.7
2008 Q3 3,810 5 1 1312.3
2008 Q2 4,014 4 1 996.5
2008 Q1 2,985 4 1 1340.0
2007 Q4 4,112 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 5,235 8 3 1528.2
2007 Q2 4,544 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 4,544 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 4,864 8 5 1644.7
2006 Q3 5,718 26 8 4547.0
2006 Q2 5,718 6 1 1049.3
2006 Q1 3,813 8 1 2098.1
2005 Q4 5,255 2 1 380.6
2005 Q3 5,160 17 6 3294.6
2005 Q2 3,860 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 3,280 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 2,880 13 5 4513.9
2004 Q3 1,505 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 960 7 4 7291.7
2004 Q1 1,040 1 0 961.5
2003 Q4 1,193 5 3 4191.1
2003 Q3 1,952 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 1,021 4 0 3917.7
2003 Q1 1,560 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

7 on file

2014 · 1 incident

April 3, 2014 CA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator OTHER
Valley Sand and Rock, Inc · Unclassified, insufficient data

Loader Operator was found unconscious in the 544 John Deer Loader by a fellow operator. No damage occurred. Reason for unconscious is still undetermined at this time.

2013 · 4 incidents

December 9, 2013 CA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Valley Sand and Rock, Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was shutting the door to the screen box on the Cedar Rapids after changing screens. He was pulling the door shut as co-worker was pushing the door for the other side, the door stopped, and pulled his left arm back causing pain to the left shoulder.

April 26, 2013 CA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech ELECTRICAL
Valley Sand and Rock, Inc · Flash burns (electric)

Mechanic had taken air compressor off line of electrical box to service. Upon placing the compressor back into service and back on live electricity a fuse blew.

April 19, 2013 CA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Valley Sand and Rock, Inc · Fall from machine

Employee was above ground attempting to change a ripped conveyor belt. When he pulled on the belt he states the momentum pushed him off balance and he fell from the machinery deck.

February 18, 2013 CA · Metal/Non-Metal clerk, timekeeper, office worker, director of sales HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Valley Sand and Rock, Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employer has no information on the validity of accident as reported after employee made explosive threats and resigned abruptly. This form is filed under protest upon request by MSHA of fiscal penalties if not filed. Our determination after the fact show no evidence supporting accident.

2009 · 2 incidents

October 19, 2009 CA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Valley Sand and Rock, Inc · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Miner was sliding shoot back on wash plant with pry bar.

September 24, 2009 CA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Valley Sand and Rock, Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Miner/operator stepped off loader to go to the bathroom, boot got hooked on ladder and twisted operators knee.