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PALMDALE SAND MINE: 103 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Cemex S A
Palmdale, Glades County, FL  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0801216

PALMDALE SAND MINE has $27K in proposed MSHA penalties and $302 outstanding across 5 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
15
Years on record
1995–2023
Latest incident
Mar 2023
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
103
citations
26
significant & substantial
$26,813
proposed penalties
$23,627
paid to date
88% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $3,186 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See CEMEX Construction Materials Florida, LLC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
79
inspections on record
1,033
inspection hours
10.0
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.
103 citations across 1,033 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.
2
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2014-11-12.
On record since 2014.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.

PALMDALE SAND MINE has $27K in proposed MSHA penalties and $302 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.
$27K
proposed penalties
$24K
current assessed
$24K
paid to date
$302
outstanding
98 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $6K in penalties contested before the Commission, $3K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-18.
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.
25.7%
significant & substantial
9.9%
high negligence or reckless
25.7%
reasonably likely or greater
33.7%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 16.8% low, 73.3% moderate, 9.9% 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.
9 citations taken to the federal commission · 9% of citations on record
  • Settled 7 · 78%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 2 · 22%
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%
53%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$6K proposed, $3K 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 2015-02-11.
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
SE 2010-1238M Settlement Miller 2012 $3K → $284
SE 2015-0176 Settlement McCarthy 2016 $2K → $2K
SE 2010-272M Settlement 2010 $524 → $274
SE 2014-0316 Settlement Lesnick 2014 $127 → $100
SE 2011-93M Settlement Andrews 2011 $112 → $112
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: 2024-11-08
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
33
samples
4
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg26
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz3
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz3
  • Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (33)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2024-11-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2024-11-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2024-11-08 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2024-06-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2024-06-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2024-06-20 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.31 10 0.03 Front-end Loader Operator
2021-05-25 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2021-05-25 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2018-12-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Supervisor, Co. Official
2018-12-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-03-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2016-03-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Scale Man
2016-03-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-03-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Lab Technician
2016-03-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2013-11-14 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2013-11-14 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-09-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Supervisor, Co. Official
2011-09-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Cleanup Man
2011-09-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-09-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2009-10-21 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.17 Front-end Loader Operator
2009-10-21 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.15 Washer Operator
2009-10-21 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2009-10-21 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.13 0.78 0.17 Mechanic
2009-04-16 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 1.16 Utility Man
2009-04-16 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2004-08-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2004-08-04 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2002-05-01 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.29 2.24 0.13 Front-end Loader Operator
2002-05-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2002-05-01 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2002-05-01 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 1.23 0.18 Washer 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.

PALMDALE SAND MINE recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2024.

Injury rate, 2024
ⓘ 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 1.77 and the all-US-mining average was 2.08 cases per 100 workers.
In Florida, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.49 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.
Year total case rate days-away fatal
2024 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2023 * 7.98 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 * 7.35 0.00 0.000
2018 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2017 * 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. Harper Brothers Inc 1994 to 1999
  2. Florida Rock Industries Inc 1999 to 1999
  3. Rinker Materials Of Florida Inc 1999 to 2008
  4. CEMEX Construction Materials Florida, LLC 2008 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 2
2025 10
2024 10
2023 10
2022 12
2021 11
2020 10
2019 12
2018 11
2017 11
2016 12
2015 9
2014 10
2013 11
2012 9
2011 11
2010 12
2009 13
2008 14
2007 13
2006 14
2005 14
2004 14
2003 12
2002 9
2001 9
2000 7
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

PALMDALE SAND MINE sits in Glades County, Florida, where the Census mining category is 0.3% 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.
Glades County, Florida · Population 12,324
0.3%
Mining share of county employment
$38,905
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 532 2 0 3759.4
2025 Q2 6,174 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 7,678 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 7,534 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 7,009 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 7,107 1 0 140.7
2024 Q1 6,495 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 6,592 0 0 0.0
Show 95 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q3 5,925 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 5,496 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 7,062 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 7,644 3 0 392.5
2022 Q3 8,240 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 7,708 2 0 259.5
2022 Q1 6,859 1 1 145.8
2021 Q4 7,049 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 7,565 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 7,512 1 0 133.1
2021 Q1 5,927 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 6,278 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 6,145 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 6,420 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 7,595 2 0 263.3
2019 Q4 7,394 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 6,736 1 1 148.5
2019 Q2 6,653 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 6,432 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 6,789 1 0 147.3
2018 Q3 7,027 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 7,125 1 0 140.4
2018 Q1 6,667 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 6,506 2 0 307.4
2017 Q3 6,112 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 6,920 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 7,199 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 7,449 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 7,365 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 7,815 2 0 255.9
2016 Q1 7,931 1 0 126.1
2015 Q4 7,027 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 6,543 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 6,671 2 0 299.8
2015 Q1 5,202 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 5,836 6 2 1028.1
2014 Q3 6,213 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 5,908 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 6,151 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 5,272 1 0 189.7
2013 Q3 6,028 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 7,482 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 7,256 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 7,381 1 0 135.5
2012 Q3 6,001 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 6,053 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 5,745 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 5,718 2 0 349.8
2011 Q3 5,297 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 6,879 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 8,312 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 8,407 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 8,264 4 0 484.0
2010 Q2 7,949 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 10,096 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 8,535 8 3 937.3
2009 Q3 7,304 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 7,007 3 0 428.1
2009 Q1 6,701 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 8,287 1 0 120.7
2008 Q3 9,423 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 2,107 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 6,419 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 8,550 5 5 584.8
2007 Q3 8,434 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 8,349 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 8,356 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 9,265 1 1 107.9
2006 Q3 10,087 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 10,548 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 8,872 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 7,821 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 10,735 3 1 279.5
2005 Q2 10,035 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 10,498 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 9,134 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 6,911 8 0 1157.6
2004 Q2 7,081 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 6,742 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 9,119 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 8,225 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 7,724 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 6,024 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 5,934 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 6,168 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 5,641 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 7,057 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 5,873 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 7,083 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 8,276 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 7,168 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 5,682 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 4,976 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 4,602 2 0 434.6
2000 Q1 4,547 1 0 219.9
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

15 on file

2023 · 1 incident

2019 · 1 incident

April 16, 2019 FL · Metal/Non-Metal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
CEMEX Construction Materials Florida, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was helping a customer truck driver clean tailgate when employee's right index finger was crushed resulting in stitches and restricted duty.

2011 · 1 incident

2005 · 2 incidents

November 16, 2005 FL · Metal/Non-Metal clerk, timekeeper, office worker, director of sales SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Rinker Materials Of Florida Inc · Fall down stairs

Employee alleges that she was walking down flight of stairs from Scalehouse and slipped and fell on her backside. She complained of pain to her lower back and was taken to the doctor for treatment.

March 18, 2005 FL · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Rinker Materials Of Florida Inc · Struck by powered moving object

EE was pulling a stuck vehicle free from mud and the factory pull hook broke free from the truck which was stuck and the pin struck the 980G loader through the rear window hitting the loader seat from behind, which caused an injury to his right shoulder.

2004 · 2 incidents

August 3, 2004 FL · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman OTHER
Rinker Materials Of Florida Inc · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE WAS PERFORMING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE IN ALL AREAS OF THE PLANT. AT APPROX. 11:00 AM, THE AREA BEHIND HIS LEFT KNEE BEGAN STINGING. UPON INSPECTION, EE NOTICED THE AREA WAS SWELLING AND THROBBING AS WELL AS BEING RED AND IRRITATED. HE PRESUMED A SPIDER HAD BITTEN HIM. EE CONTINUED TO WORK. AS THE DAY WENT ON, THE SWELLING & PAIN INCREASED & HE WENT TO THE DOCTOR FOR TREATMENT.

February 9, 2004 FL · Metal/Non-Metal
Rinker Materials Of Florida Inc · -

EMPLOYEE WAS PUNCHING IN TO WORK ON THE TIME CLOCK. SHE WAS STANDING IN THE DOORWAY WITH ONE HAND ON THE DOOR JAM AND THE OTHER HAND HOLDING HER TIME CARD. THE DOOR CLOSED AND SHE DIDN'T MOVE HER HAND IN TIME. THE DOOR SMASHED HER FINGER.

2002 · 1 incident

August 27, 2002 FL · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Rinker Materials Of Florida Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS ASSISTING ANOTHER EMPLOYEE CARRY A 5' PIECE OF 18" POLY-PIPE. HE STEPPED INTO A RUT AND PULLED A MUSCLE ON HIS SIDE.

2000 · 2 incidents

1999 · 1 incident

May 26, 1999 FL · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer POWERED HAULAGE
Harper Brothers Inc · Struck against a moving object

EE OPERATING FRONT-END LOADER IN REVERSE. LOADER BACKED OVER 2 FT. HIGH PILE OF SAND. BODY WAS THROWN UP AGAINST RIGHT ARM REST. REPORT WAS NOT MADE TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE UNTI L 6-11-99.

1998 · 1 incident

August 24, 1998 FL · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Harper Brothers Inc · Fall down stairs

HAD WALKED THRU OIL DRIPPING OUT OF HYDRALIC PUMP ONTO DREDGE DECK. SLIPPED ON STEP UPON ENTERING HYDRAULIC ROOM ON DREDGE.

1996 · 2 incidents

April 4, 1996 FL · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman POWERED HAULAGE
Harper Brothers Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EMPLOYEE ATTACHING CABLE CLAMPS OF CABLE LEADING FROM LOADER BUCKET TO BUCKET ON GROUND IN ORDER TO MOVE BUCKEET. LOADER MOVED FORWARD PINNING EMLOYEE'S LEGS BETWEEN BUCKET OF LOADER NAD BUCK ET LYING ON GROUND.

January 29, 1996 FL · Metal/Non-Metal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Harper Brothers Inc · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

CLEANING TRUCK SCALES OFF WITH SHOVEL. STEPPED BACK NEAR EDGE OF PLATFORM AND FELL TO GROUND LANDING ON LEFT SHOULDER.

1995 · 1 incident

September 1, 1995 FL · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Harper Brothers Inc · Fall from machine

EMPLOYEE WAS MANEUVERING ON TOP OF TRUCK FENDER WET WITH RAIN WATER AFTER TARPING HIS LOAD HIS FOOT SLIPPED & HE FELL TO GROUND