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Pandora Complex: 1 recorded fatality Metal/Non-Metal

EFR Colorado Plateau LLC · Underground
Controlled by Energy Fuels Inc
La Sal, San Juan County, UT  ·  Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 4200470

Pandora Complex has $216K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 17 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
13
Years on record
2008–2011
Latest incident
Sep 2011
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2007
134
citations
33
significant & substantial
$216,434
proposed penalties
$159,622
paid to date
74% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $56,812 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See EFR Colorado Plateau LLC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2007
44
inspections on record
2,491
inspection hours
5.4
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.
134 citations across 2,491 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.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2011-03-16.
On record since 2011.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.

Pandora Complex has $216K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 17 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.
$216K
proposed penalties
$160K
current assessed
$160K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
131 assessments are final orders; 17 contested dockets.
Of $222K in penalties contested before the Commission, $138K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2012-08-08.
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.
25.2%
significant & substantial
6.1%
high negligence or reckless
26.7%
reasonably likely or greater
74.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.8% none, 14.5% low, 78.6% moderate, 6.1% 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.
46 citations taken to the federal commission · 34% of citations on record
  • Settled 35 · 76%
  • Stood as issued 5 · 11%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 6 · 13%
58%
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 33 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
39%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$229K proposed, $140K 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 2012-07-24.
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 2011-1023M Settlement Zielinski 2013 $122K → $86K
WEST 2011-807M Settlement Zielinski 2013 $38K → $11K
WEST 2011-999M Dismissal Lesnick 2011 $14K → $12K
WEST 2012-803M Settlement Zielinski 2013 $10K → $7K
WEST 2011-1103M Settlement Manning 2011 $8K → $5K
WEST 2011-894M Settlement Lesnick 2012 $6K → $5K
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: 2012-11-14, 13 years ago
14%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
83
samples
76
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Diesel particulate (total carbon)315 over
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz424 over
  • TC as EC @ 35032 over
  • TCarbon @ 35032 over
Show the individual readings (100)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2011-03-22 TC @ 160 189 160 1.18 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-03-22 EC @ 160 163 160 1.02 Front-end Loader Operator
2010-07-14 TC @ 160 173 160 1.08 Truck Driver
2010-01-27 TC @ 160 391 160 2.44 Truck Driver
2010-01-27 EC @ 160 172 160 1.08 Shuttle Car Operator (diesel)
2010-01-27 TC @ 160 226 160 1.41 Shuttle Car Operator (diesel)
2010-01-27 EC @ 160 353 160 2.21 Mucking Mach. Operator
2010-01-27 EC @ 160 291 160 1.82 Truck Driver
2010-01-27 TC from EC @ 160 203 160 1.27 Shuttle Car Operator (diesel)
2010-01-27 TC @ 160 491 160 3.07 Mucking Mach. Operator
2009-06-10 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.9 0.62 1.45 Grizzly Man
2009-04-01 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 2.56 2.07 1.24 Ventilation Crew
2007-12-05 TCarbon @ 350 520.24 350 1.49 Truck Driver
2007-12-05 TC as EC @ 350 604.58 350 1.73 Truck Driver
2007-12-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.93 0.71 1.31 Truck Driver
2007-12-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.62 0.71 2.28 Truck Driver
2007-12-05 TCarbon @ 350 348.79 350 1.00 Truck Driver
2007-12-05 TC as EC @ 350 389.39 350 1.11 Truck Driver
2012-11-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.16 1.16 0.14 Truck Driver
2012-11-14 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.12 Truck Driver
2012-11-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.21 1.29 0.16 Blaster, Powder Gang
2012-02-15 TC @ 160 60 160 0.38 Truck Driver
2012-02-15 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2012-02-15 TC @ 160 108 160 0.68 Truck Driver
2012-02-15 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2012-02-15 EC @ 160 78 160 0.49 Front-end Loader Operator
2012-02-15 TC @ 160 82 160 0.51 Front-end Loader Operator
2012-02-15 EC @ 160 86 160 0.54 Truck Driver
2012-02-15 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2012-02-15 EC @ 160 46 160 0.29 Truck Driver
2011-12-21 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2011-12-21 EC @ 160 33 160 0.21 Truck Driver
2011-12-21 TC @ 160 36 160 0.23 Truck Driver
2011-12-21 TC @ 160 75 160 0.47 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-12-21 EC @ 160 65 160 0.41 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-12-21 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-12-21 TC @ 160 77 160 0.48 Truck Driver
2011-12-21 EC @ 160 66 160 0.41 Truck Driver
2011-12-21 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2011-12-21 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2011-05-10 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.13 Mechanic
2011-05-10 TC @ 160 88 160 0.55 Truck Driver
2011-05-10 EC @ 160 70 160 0.44 Truck Driver
2011-05-10 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2011-05-10 TC @ 160 84 160 0.53 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-05-10 EC @ 160 59 160 0.37 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-05-10 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-05-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-03-22 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.25 1.38 0.18 Shuttle Car Operator (diesel)
2011-03-22 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2011-03-22 TC @ 160 127 160 0.79 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2011-03-22 EC @ 160 111 160 0.69 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2011-03-22 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2011-03-22 TC @ 160 137 160 0.86 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2011-03-22 EC @ 160 107 160 0.67 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2011-03-22 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2011-03-22 TC @ 160 94 160 0.59 Truck Driver
2011-03-22 EC @ 160 81 160 0.51 Truck Driver
2011-03-22 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2011-03-22 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2011-03-22 EC @ 160 49 160 0.31 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2011-03-22 TC @ 160 98 160 0.61 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2011-03-22 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-03-22 TC @ 160 52 160 0.33 Truck Driver
2011-03-22 EC @ 160 45 160 0.28 Truck Driver
2011-03-22 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2011-03-22 TC @ 160 81 160 0.51 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-03-22 TC @ 160 62 160 0.39 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2011-03-22 EC @ 160 90 160 0.56 Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2011-03-22 EC @ 160 73 160 0.46 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-03-22 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-03-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Skip tender
2011-03-22 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.14 0.8 0.18 Miner, Stope
2011-03-22 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.18 0.87 0.21 Shuttle Car Operator (diesel)
2010-12-14 EC @ 160 101 160 0.63 Drill Oper., Jackleg/Stoper
2010-12-14 TC @ 160 149 160 0.93 Drill Oper., Jackleg/Stoper
2010-12-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.31 1.4 0.22 Front-end Loader Operator
2010-12-14 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2010-12-14 EC @ 160 115 160 0.72 Truck Driver
2010-12-14 TC @ 160 140 160 0.88 Truck Driver
2010-12-14 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2010-12-14 EC @ 160 57 160 0.36 Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2010-12-14 TC @ 160 74 160 0.46 Drill Operator, Jumbo Perc.
2010-12-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.28 0.89 0.31 Truck Driver
2010-12-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.29 0.77 0.38 Truck Driver
2010-12-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.21 1.82 0.12 Front-end Loader Operator
2010-12-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.66 2.48 0.27 Drill Oper., Jackleg/Stoper
2010-12-14 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Drill Oper., Jackleg/Stoper
2010-12-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.26 1.18 0.22 Truck Driver
2010-12-09 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Front-end Loader Operator
2010-12-09 EC @ 160 92 160 0.58 Front-end Loader Operator
2010-12-09 TC @ 160 98 160 0.61 Front-end Loader Operator
2010-12-09 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2010-12-09 EC @ 160 89 160 0.56 Truck Driver
2010-12-09 TC @ 160 89 160 0.56 Truck Driver
2010-12-09 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.13 0.99 0.13 Truck Driver
2010-07-14 TC from EC @ 160 0 160 0.00 Truck Driver
2010-07-14 EC @ 160 153 160 0.96 Truck Driver
2010-07-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 0.97 0.20 Miner, Drift
2010-07-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.23 1.2 0.19 Miner, Drift
Showing 100 of 148 laboratory readings: every over-limit reading, then the most recent. MSHA reads one air sample several times, so readings outnumber the samples counted above. The full set is in MSHA's Personal Health Samples file.

Area samples (mill and shop air)

Last sampled: 2010-01-27, 16 years ago
1
samples
Show the individual readings (3)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Area sampled
2010-01-27 TC from EC @ 160 0 RET AIR BORE HOLE A
2010-01-27 EC @ 160 252 RET AIR BORE HOLE A
2010-01-27 TC @ 160 298 RET AIR BORE HOLE A
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.

Pandora Complex 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 Utah, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.95 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 * 3.61 3.61 0.000
2010 * 4.54 0.00 0.000
2009 * 14.30 7.15 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. Cleghorn & Washburn Mining Company 1950 to 1979
  2. Atlas Minerals 1980 to 1998
  3. Denison Mines (USA) Corp. 1998 to 2011
  4. Reliance Resources LLC 2011 to 2013
  5. Energy Fuels Resources (USA) Inc. 2013 to 2025
  6. EFR Colorado Plateau LLC 2025 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2013 2
2012 28
2011 30
2010 44
2009 44
2008 7
2007 11
2006 10
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Pandora Complex sits in San Juan County, Utah, where the Census mining category is 4.9% 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.
San Juan County, Utah · Population 14,466
4.9%
Mining share of county employment
$54,890
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
2013 Q1 198 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 11,195 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 13,161 4 1 303.9
2012 Q2 15,802 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 14,032 3 0 213.8
2011 Q4 11,576 1 0 86.4
2011 Q3 12,065 5 2 414.4
2011 Q2 11,127 1 0 89.9
Show 18 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2011 Q1 20,629 17 5 824.1
2010 Q4 18,868 12 3 636.0
2010 Q3 19,151 10 2 522.2
2010 Q2 20,474 4 1 195.4
2010 Q1 29,693 5 2 168.4
2009 Q4 23,587 2 0 84.8
2009 Q3 24,745 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 22,126 6 0 271.2
2009 Q1 13,461 5 1 371.4
2008 Q4 1,223 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 283 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 328 1 0 3048.8
2008 Q1 104 2 1 19230.8
2007 Q4 258 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 253 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 96 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 1,576 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 2,006 0 0 0.0

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
May 26, 2010 UT · Metal/Non-Metal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator Fatality · FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL
Denison Mines (USA) Corp. · Struck by falling object

Blasted drift and was ready for baring down and mucking. Unknown cause of death at this time. The victim was hand scaling the north rib of the left 4500 drift when loose material fell on him.

Reportable incidents

12 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2011 · 2 incidents

September 16, 2011 UT · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Reliance Resources LLC · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE's coat sleeve got caught on drill steel, twisting his arm. His partner reversed controls to untwist the arm. Damage appeared to be a contusion (no broken skin or bones),treated with 1st Aid, but in evening, EE decided to go to the doctor. X-rays proved no broken bones, but the doctor decided to drain fluid and observe him overnight monitoring for muscle damage.

January 21, 2011 UT · Metal/Non-Metal shuttle car operator, mantrip operator, ramcar operator, rail runner, buggy operator POWERED HAULAGE
Denison Mines (USA) Corp. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was cleaning the dust off of the roll bar while driving a 7 ton buggy. At heading 4014 straight, his right hand got caught between the roll bar and the back. Skin was removed from 3 fingers exposing bone. Bones were crushed in the palm of the hand and 3 and a half fingers were removed during surgery. Skin grafting will need to be performed.

2010 · 2 incidents

December 13, 2010 UT · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Denison Mines (USA) Corp. · Struck by falling object

EE was bolting back and when he went to collaring the hole a small piece of muck fell striking his left middle finger. EE's left middle finger sustained a laceration and he had to have stitches.

April 28, 2010 UT · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, bull gang, faceman, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Denison Mines (USA) Corp. · Fall from machine

The injured was dismounting the rock truck when his right knee gave out. He fell to the ground, twisting his knee. He was sent to dr for assessment and nothing was foung. He was later sent for further assessment to an Orthopedic specialist due to knee pain. He was given a knee brace on 5/13/10 and RTW on 5/17/10.

2009 · 7 incidents

October 19, 2009 UT · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man MACHINERY
Denison Mines (USA) Corp. · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Injured miner was in process of drilling out 8' round. When finished drilling hole he pulled the steel out of the hole and was in the process of pulling the 8' drill steel out of the jackleg. Placed his right hand at saddle and when machine came off the drill steel the machine came down catching right hand between the machine & leg which caused crush injury to his wrist.

September 2, 2009 UT · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scaler HOISTING
Denison Mines (USA) Corp. · Struck against a moving object

Hoistman had shut off the air to the clutch actuator piston to make adj. Miners rang for the cage, hoistman forgot to reopen the valve, which left the clutch disengaged. Hoistman lowered the cage, it started to free fall. He then slammed on the brake causing the cage to stop suddenly. Injuring 1 of the miners. The miner that was injured has a lumbar disc herniation.

July 31, 2009 UT · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man POWERED HAULAGE
Denison Mines (USA) Corp. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE operating truck was turning right out of a heading into the main haulage & got too close to the right rib & when turned the truck back to the left, right corner of the truck bed caught 6" air line breaking it apart. When pipe broke apart it was bent by truck bed. The bent part of the pipe was against pinning him in the seat, breaking his left leg below the knee.

June 10, 2009 UT · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man FALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Denison Mines (USA) Corp. · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

After blasting a round & barring down & then mucking out the round it was found that the lifters had not pulled. While cleaning out the holes to re-shoot them, a rock fell from the back or rib hitting the ground and rolling across the miner's foot breaking it.

March 18, 2009 UT · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
Denison Mines (USA) Corp. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was helping load drill supplies. When he went to pick up a jackleg drill, he stepped on the plate of a split-set bolt assemble and the bolt flipped up striking him in the face below his left eye causing a cut that required medicla treatment.

March 2, 2009 UT · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech NONPOWERED HAULAGE
Denison Mines (USA) Corp. · Struck by falling object

Moving axle with hand dolly, employee repositioned axle on dolly and lost control of it. Axle fell over and landed on his right foot.

February 4, 2009 UT · Metal/Non-Metal clerk, timekeeper, office worker, director of sales HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Denison Mines (USA) Corp. · Struck by falling object

The injured employee was working in a warehouse stocking shelves and organizing floor area under another employee who was stocking selves. He was stocking the selves dropped a 4" vic coupling striking the injured on the head.

2008 · 1 incident

July 30, 2008 UT · Metal/Non-Metal draftsman, surveyor/transit work supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Denison Mines (USA) Corp. · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

3 inch plank laying in walkway. Injured moved the plank as it was a tripping hazard. In moving the plank she got a splinter in her finger.