Penwell Crusher has $174K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
Watch this mine
Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Penwell Crusher.
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
13
Years on record
2013–2024
Latest incident
Sep 2024
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2007
202
citations
43
significant & substantial
$174,037
proposed penalties
$170,742
paid to date
98% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $3,295 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.
202 citations across 1,020 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: 2023-01-18.
On record since 2023.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Penwell Crusher has $174K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1K outstanding across 3 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.
$174K
proposed penalties
$172K
current assessed
$171K
paid to date
$1K
outstanding
191 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $11K in penalties contested before the Commission, $9K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-16.
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.
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.
8citations taken to the federal commission · 4% of citations on record
Settled
8 · 100%
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 3 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
18%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$11K proposed, $9K 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 2024-11-03.
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: 2025-09-17
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
26
samples
18
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz14
Arsenic fumes3
Beryllium fumes3
Cadmium oxide fumes3
Show the individual readings (62)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2025-09-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.61
2.5
0.24
Crusher Oper/Worker
2025-09-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.81
2.63
0.31
Front-end Loader Operator
2025-09-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.51
Bobcat Operator
2025-09-17
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.39
Utility Man
2023-10-26
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.36
Laborer, Bullgang
2023-10-26
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.51
Laborer, Bullgang
2023-10-26
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.52
Laborer, Bullgang
2022-07-13
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.16
10
0.02
Rotary Bucket Ex. Operator
2022-07-13
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.68
Laborer, Bullgang
2022-07-13
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.19
2.13
0.56
Front-end Loader Operator
2022-07-13
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.07
2.27
0.47
Front-end Loader Operator
2017-08-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.95
2.02
0.47
Crusher Oper/Worker
2017-08-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.72
2.29
0.31
Crusher Oper/Worker
2011-03-29
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.56
2.07
0.27
Front-end Loader Operator
2011-03-29
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.56
2.17
0.72
Truck Driver
2009-10-07
Nickel fumes
0
3
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Vanadium fumes
0
50
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Zinc oxide fumes
0.04
10
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Arsenic fumes
0
1500
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Beryllium fumes
0
6
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Cadmium oxide fumes
0
100
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Chromium, insoluble
0
3
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Cobalt fumes
0
300
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Copper fumes
0
300
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Iron oxide fumes
0.01
20
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Lead fumes
0
450
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Magnesium oxide fumes
0.01
20
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Manganese fumes
0
5
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Molybdenum fumes
0
20
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Nickel fumes
0
3
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Vanadium fumes
0
50
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Zinc oxide fumes
0.02
10
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Arsenic fumes
0
500
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Beryllium fumes
0
2
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Cadmium oxide fumes
0
100
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Chromium, insoluble
0
1
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Cobalt fumes
0
100
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Iron oxide fumes
0
10
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Lead fumes
0
150
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Magnesium oxide fumes
0
10
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Manganese fumes
0
5
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Molybdenum fumes
0
10
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Nickel fumes
0
1
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Vanadium fumes
0
50
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Zinc oxide fumes
0
5
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Copper fumes
0
100
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.75
10
0.08
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.4
2.6
0.15
Front-end Loader Operator
2009-10-07
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.32
2.15
0.15
Front-end Loader Operator
2009-10-07
Arsenic fumes
0
1500
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Beryllium fumes
0
6
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Cadmium oxide fumes
0
100
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Chromium, insoluble
0
3
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Cobalt fumes
0
300
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Copper fumes
0
300
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Iron oxide fumes
0.08
20
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Lead fumes
0
450
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Magnesium oxide fumes
0.01
20
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Manganese fumes
0.01
5
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-10-07
Molybdenum fumes
0
20
0.00
Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-04-25
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-04-25
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.36
Front-end Loader 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.
Penwell Crusher recorded 0.00 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.
0.00
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Below average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 1.65 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Texas, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.17 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 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2024 *
20.37
15.28
0.000
2023 *
14.01
0.00
0.000
2022 *
5.93
0.00
0.000
2021 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2020 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
8.76
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
2026
24
2025
23
2024
18
2023
15
2022
15
2021
16
2020
17
2019
18
2018
11
2017
15
2016
12
2015
7
2014
7
2013
9
2012
8
2011
7
2010
7
2009
7
2008
7
2007
8
2006
7
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Penwell Crusher sits in Ector County, Texas, where the Census mining category is 13.3% 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.
Ector County, Texas · Population 163,206
13.3%
Mining share of county employment
$71,031
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
13,830
9
0
650.8
2026 Q1
13,123
6
1
457.2
2025 Q4
3,384
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
13,003
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
12,904
6
0
465.0
2025 Q1
4,261
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
14,072
6
1
426.4
2024 Q3
12,428
10
0
804.6
Show 71 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
5,865
0
0
0.0
2024 Q1
6,912
12
7
1736.1
2023 Q4
7,558
9
1
1190.8
2023 Q3
7,404
5
3
675.3
2023 Q2
7,113
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
6,478
16
1
2469.9
2022 Q4
6,256
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
7,259
11
2
1515.4
2022 Q2
6,905
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
13,286
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
11,988
5
0
417.1
2021 Q3
10,278
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
6,202
6
1
967.4
2021 Q1
7,108
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
9,111
10
0
1097.6
2020 Q3
7,804
5
0
640.7
2020 Q2
11,902
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
11,478
4
4
348.5
2019 Q4
14,587
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
13,226
4
1
302.4
2019 Q2
15,402
0
0
0.0
2019 Q1
12,965
6
0
462.8
2018 Q4
7,961
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
2,418
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
5,228
3
0
573.8
2018 Q1
7,224
4
1
553.7
2017 Q4
12,361
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
6,133
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
7,888
1
1
126.8
2017 Q1
10,485
2
1
190.7
2016 Q4
4,098
1
1
244.0
2016 Q3
4,145
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
5,186
2
0
385.7
2016 Q1
5,186
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
4,008
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
4,571
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
3,074
3
1
975.9
2015 Q1
5,819
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
5,202
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
3,410
2
2
586.5
2014 Q2
3,846
0
0
0.0
2014 Q1
2,188
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
4,808
4
2
831.9
2013 Q3
5,759
1
0
173.6
2013 Q2
5,712
4
2
700.3
2013 Q1
6,343
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
5,419
2
0
369.1
2012 Q3
5,664
0
0
0.0
2012 Q2
4,020
5
1
1243.8
2012 Q1
5,389
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
4,449
5
2
1123.8
2011 Q3
4,579
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
3,155
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
2,875
3
1
1043.5
2010 Q4
3,132
2
1
638.6
2010 Q3
3,572
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
2,573
2
0
777.3
2010 Q1
2,678
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
3,328
4
1
1201.9
2009 Q3
3,867
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
2,805
6
2
2139.0
2009 Q1
2,745
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
4,220
1
0
237.0
2008 Q3
4,444
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
3,882
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
3,392
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
3,801
4
0
1052.4
2007 Q3
3,359
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
3,028
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
3,800
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
3,381
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
13 on file
2024 · 4 incidents
September 17, 2024TX · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee trying to break bolt loose with wrench & bar. Wrench broke & struck shoulder. Employee had discomfort & limited mobility in arm; taken to ER. Diagnosed with contusion, no restrictions. Referred for MRI. Two follow-up appointments (09/18 and 10/01) with return to full duty/no restrictions. Seen by Ortho on 10/17. Placed on restricted duty. Only became reportable on 10/17.
May 17, 2024TX · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
The employee twisted an ankle when dismounting a forklift. The ground beneath the employee was uneven and caused employee to lose footing. Another employee was in the manlift at the time and saw the injured employee fall to the ground at which point the other employee called nearby employees to assist.
February 7, 2024TX · Metal/Non-Metalwater truck operatorENTRAPMENT
Employee working in HSI hopper. EE was trying to unjam a rock with pry bar that clogged hopper & was pinned between wear plates & rock. Pressure of rock pinned & trapped them in hopper. Called 911. Employee removed by Fire Dept. Employee rushed to Odessa MCH ER. At ER, discovered employee had minimal internal bleeding. Surgery to stitch first layer of colon to stop bleeding.
January 31, 2024TX · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
HEO walking up bench when rock that they were on broke away, causing them to fall. Their knee landed on rock & caused cut & scrape injuries. Pain was not bad, so employee continued work. As shift went on, pain increased & knee had swollen. They called supervisor & requested medical attention. HEO taken to ER, X-rays performed & determined that HEO sustained a deep tissue contusion.
2023 · 3 incidents
November 10, 2023TX · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee was checking belt because there were rocks stuck. EE tried removing rocks with pry bar, but it didn't work. EE then held pry bar while another employee used a small sledgehammer to strike bar. A small piece of metal broke off bar and struck employee in right cheek, causing a small laceration and bruising. The employee was taken to the ER, examined and received one suture.
September 26, 2023TX · Metal/Non-Metalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
As driver got out of the truck, EE dropped the keys and in the process of retrieving them, EE tripped over a pipe bumper rail and fell, causing cuts, abrasions and a sprained thumb.
July 2, 2023TX · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerMACHINERY
Employee using 4.5" grinder had small piece of debris go into right eye. The employee was grinding on a tail shaft when a small piece of debris went under employee's safety glasses and entered the right eye. Employee stopped grinding and reported incident to supervision. Employee was taken to E.R. to assess eye injury.
2022 · 1 incident
April 11, 2022TX · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee making repairs to the drive sprocket on a skid steer loader. While striking the drive sprocket with a hammer in order to loosen it a small piece of flying metal struck the employee in the left hand causing a cut that required 3 sutures.
February 14, 2017TX · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
December 22, 2016TX · Metal/Non-Metaldrill helperMACHINERY
PBM Aggregates, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EE stuck EE's hand under the dust hood of the drill to remove a rock and Drill Operator accidentally moved the dust hood control switch in the wrong direction causing EE's left index finger to be pinched between the dust hood and the ground. EE was treated and placed in a no work status until further evaluation at follow-up appointment set for 1/7/2017.
2013 · 1 incident
August 15, 2013TX · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Increased safety awareness training EE was operating front end loader and while backing loader rear wheel went over edge of inspection trench and loader rolled over.
Related mines
Other mines operated by Permian Basin Materials Aggregate