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Picacho Plant: 1 recorded fatality Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by C William Nichols
Carefree, Maricopa County, AZ  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0202479

Picacho Plant has $192K in proposed MSHA penalties and $3K outstanding across 48 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
20
Years on record
1996–2012
Latest incident
Apr 2012
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
338
citations
69
significant & substantial
$191,564
proposed penalties
$114,396
paid to date
60% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $77,168 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Kilauea Crushers Inc's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
77
inspections on record
1,420
inspection hours
23.8
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.
338 citations across 1,420 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Picacho Plant has $192K in proposed MSHA penalties and $3K outstanding across 48 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.
$192K
proposed penalties
$117K
current assessed
$114K
paid to date
$3K
outstanding
328 assessments are final orders; 48 contested dockets.
Of $189K in penalties contested before the Commission, $107K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-03-19.
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.
20.4%
significant & substantial
2.1%
high negligence or reckless
22.5%
reasonably likely or greater
58.0%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 10.4% low, 87.6% moderate, 2.1% 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.
225 citations taken to the federal commission · 67% of citations on record
  • Settled 210 · 93%
  • Stood as issued 4 · 2%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 8 · 4%
  • Still open 3 · 1%
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 76 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
44%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$144K proposed, $80K 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 2026-06-04.
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 2012-796M Settlement Manning 2013 $19K → $14K
WEST 2024-0035 Settlement Manning 2024 $16K → $2K
WEST 2018-0396 Settlement Miller 2018 $14K → $7K
WEST 2025-0358 Settlement Simonton 2026 $13K → $2K
WEST 2007-20M Settlement Weisberger 2007 $9K → $7K
WEST20010481M Settlement Hodgdon 2002 $9K → $6K
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: 2019-06-26, 7 years ago
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
34
samples
17
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz20
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg11
  • Arsenic fumes1
  • Beryllium fumes1
Show the individual readings (46)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2019-06-26 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2019-06-26 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 Truck Driver
2019-06-26 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.27 Truck Driver
2019-06-26 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.01 1.18 0.86 Front-end Loader Operator
2019-02-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2019-02-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Cleanup Man
2019-02-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2019-02-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2018-03-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.29 Front-end Loader Operator
2018-03-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.29 Crusher Oper/Worker
2018-03-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.21 Truck Driver
2016-09-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-09-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.17 1.2 0.14 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-09-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-09-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.27 0.82 0.33 Crusher Oper/Worker
2013-09-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.55 0.95 0.58 Front-end Loader Operator
2013-09-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.6 0.95 0.63 Front-end Loader Operator
2013-09-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.37 1.26 0.29 Front-end Loader Operator
2013-09-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.2 1.15 0.17 Front-end Loader Operator
2013-09-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.58 0.68 0.85 Front-end Loader Operator
2009-03-05 Vanadium fumes 0 50 0.00 Welder, etc.
2009-03-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.36 0.64 0.56 Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-03-05 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-03-05 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2009-03-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.21 0.96 0.22 Drill Operator, Rotary
2009-03-05 Manganese fumes 0.09 5 0.02 Welder, etc.
2009-03-05 Molybdenum fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2009-03-05 Nickel fumes 0 3 0.00 Welder, etc.
2009-03-05 Zinc oxide fumes 0.04 10 0.00 Welder, etc.
2009-03-05 Magnesium oxide fumes 0 20 0.00 Welder, etc.
2009-03-05 Lead fumes 0 450 0.00 Welder, etc.
2009-03-05 Iron oxide fumes 0.5 20 0.03 Welder, etc.
2009-03-05 Copper fumes 0 300 0.00 Welder, etc.
2009-03-05 Cobalt fumes 0 300 0.00 Welder, etc.
2009-03-05 Chromium, insoluble 0 3 0.00 Welder, etc.
2009-03-05 Cadmium oxide fumes 0 100 0.00 Welder, etc.
2009-03-05 Beryllium fumes 0 6 0.00 Welder, etc.
2009-03-05 Arsenic fumes 0 1500 0.00 Welder, etc.
2003-03-26 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2003-03-26 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.13 Truck Driver
2003-03-26 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 1.34 0.16 Crusher Oper/Worker
2000-08-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2000-08-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.16 1.05 0.15 Front-end Loader Operator
2000-08-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.28 0.98 0.29 Front-end Loader Operator
2000-08-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.75 1.05 0.71 Front-end Loader Operator
2000-08-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.45 0.66 0.68 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.

Picacho Plant 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
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 1.65 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Arizona, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.81 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 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2023 * 0.00 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 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2018 * 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. Kilauea Crushers Inc 1989 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 25
2025 26
2024 24
2023 24
2022 23
2021 24
2020 22
2019 22
2018 21
2017 20
2016 20
2015 20
2014 17
2013 15
2012 13
2011 16
2010 14
2009 13
2008 17
2007 22
2006 21
2005 18
2004 16
2003 16
2002 15
2001 18
2000 17
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Picacho Plant sits in Maricopa County, Arizona, where the Census mining category is 0.2% 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.
Maricopa County, Arizona · Population 4,491,987
0.2%
Mining share of county employment
$85,518
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 13,724 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 11,318 3 2 265.1
2025 Q4 13,100 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 13,369 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 14,964 8 0 534.6
2025 Q1 13,782 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 12,244 5 0 408.4
2024 Q3 13,716 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 15,485 1 0 64.6
2024 Q1 13,953 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 13,580 5 0 368.2
2023 Q3 13,320 5 0 375.4
2023 Q2 13,575 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 13,265 2 0 150.8
2022 Q4 12,990 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 13,909 15 2 1078.4
2022 Q2 13,414 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 10,706 5 1 467.0
2021 Q4 12,289 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 12,190 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 13,184 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 12,747 1 0 78.4
2020 Q4 12,292 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 10,723 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 12,893 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 11,727 4 1 341.1
2019 Q4 12,594 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 12,518 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 12,522 5 0 399.3
2019 Q1 10,199 5 1 490.2
2018 Q4 11,171 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 9,002 2 0 222.2
2018 Q2 10,843 1 0 92.2
2018 Q1 11,344 9 2 793.4
2017 Q4 7,635 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 8,181 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 11,061 1 0 90.4
2017 Q1 10,366 5 1 482.3
2016 Q4 8,564 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 10,980 9 4 819.7
2016 Q2 10,777 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 8,315 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 10,287 12 3 1166.5
2015 Q3 10,790 7 0 648.7
2015 Q2 10,194 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 8,667 5 2 576.9
2014 Q4 9,429 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 8,165 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 7,990 4 0 500.6
2014 Q1 7,730 3 1 388.1
2013 Q4 7,151 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 7,174 10 4 1393.9
2013 Q2 7,506 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 7,180 1 1 139.3
2012 Q4 5,817 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 5,199 13 4 2500.5
2012 Q2 7,062 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 7,371 23 5 3120.3
2011 Q4 7,323 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 8,273 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 7,588 9 0 1186.1
2011 Q1 6,417 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 7,015 7 0 997.9
2010 Q3 6,973 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 6,227 3 0 481.8
2010 Q1 4,792 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 5,852 8 1 1367.1
2009 Q3 5,369 12 3 2235.1
2009 Q2 6,322 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 6,264 2 0 319.3
2008 Q4 7,646 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 8,103 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 8,771 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 8,924 4 2 448.2
2007 Q4 12,483 1 0 80.1
2007 Q3 10,836 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 13,673 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 12,488 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 15,007 6 0 399.8
2006 Q3 11,911 15 1 1259.3
2006 Q2 12,072 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 11,650 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 10,138 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 11,778 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 10,239 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 9,081 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 9,966 18 3 1806.1
2004 Q3 9,241 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 7,839 9 4 1148.1
2004 Q1 7,267 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 7,377 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 8,167 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 8,860 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 7,758 5 0 644.5
2002 Q4 7,656 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 6,944 8 2 1152.1
2002 Q2 7,844 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 9,165 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 9,206 1 1 108.6
2001 Q3 9,295 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 7,952 11 3 1383.3
2001 Q1 7,896 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 7,278 15 6 2061.0
2000 Q3 8,518 21 9 2465.4
2000 Q2 9,447 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 7,769 0 0 0.0

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
April 26, 1997 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

LOST CONTROL OF 910 CAT LOADER WHILE HAULING WELDER UP A STEEP GRADE. JUMPED FROM VEHICLE AND WAS RUN OVER BY IT.

Reportable incidents

19 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2012 · 1 incident

April 18, 2012 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Climbed up shaker box to measure rollers while climbing back down he twisted or turned in position that injured back.

2009 · 1 incident

August 3, 2009 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal blaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkey HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Struck by falling object

Employee was taking some straps off a bobcat bucket that had been used to hold it in place. The bobcat bucket was slightly elevated and when the straps released the bucket fell on his foot.

2008 · 1 incident

October 2, 2008 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver NONPOWERED HAULAGE
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was moving stacks of 50# bags of ANFO from a trailer into a truck for delivery. The stacks were 8 bags high and are palatized to be moved with a hand cart. He was putting the last stack into place but it was a tight fit, he tried to move the bags sideway and ended up smashing his pinky finger between the wall of the truck and the rail of the cart.

2007 · 3 incidents

September 4, 2007 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Stepped down from time shed and twisted foot.

July 24, 2007 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Fall from machine

While climbing out of skidsteer foot got caught and he fell. Broken left ankle.

April 20, 2007 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Fall from machine

Checking oil leak on loader, he stepped on loader step to get a better look. Oil had gotten on step; he slipped and fell.

2004 · 1 incident

December 2, 2004 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE PICKED UP A BOARD WITH A NAIL IN IT & THE NAIL POKED THROUGH HIS FINGER.

2003 · 2 incidents

October 7, 2003 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) OTHER
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Struck by flying object

Wind blew a piece of debris in eye.

April 16, 2003 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Struck against stationary object

WHILE CUTTING RUBBER ON 1/2"CHUTE, HOLDING RUBBER WITH LEFT HAND IT SLIPPED FORWARD AND THUS CONTACTED SHARP METAL ON CHUTE. HE WAS WEARING GLOVES.

2002 · 1 incident

November 21, 2002 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

SMASHED FINGER BETWEEN BLOWBAR HOUSING AND THE CRUSHER HOUSING.

2001 · 3 incidents

May 18, 2001 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal gathering arm loader operator, loading machine operator, joy loader operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS DISLODGING ROCKS FROM A ROCK BOX THAT CARRYS 3" TO 8" SIZE ROCKS, A LARGE ROCK FELL FROM APPROX. 2' STRIKING THE RIGHT HAND.

February 7, 2001 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

COMING DOWN A MUCK PILE SLIPPED AND FELL PUT ARM OUT TO STOP FALL.

January 26, 2001 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE CUTTING FLEXCO TAPE WITH RAZOR, CUT RIGHT THUMB.

1998 · 4 incidents

June 18, 1998 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Contact with hot objects or substances

WHILE CUTTING A BEARING FROM A CONVEYOR ROLLER WITH OXYGEN/ACETYLENE TORCHES THE DUST/GAS INSIDE THE ROLLER IGNITED, SHOOTING A FLAME INTO THE EMPLOYEE'S FACE.

February 1, 1998 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Struck by falling object

ANOTHER EE DROPPED A PRYBAR ON TOP OF HIS HEAD. WAS WEARING A HARD HAT.

1996 · 2 incidents

October 16, 1996 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal drill operator MACHINERY
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Struck by falling object

DRILL STEEL FELL FROM STEEL RACK AND STRUCK EMPLOYEE ON SHOULDER.

May 11, 1996 AZ · Metal/Non-Metal drill operator POWERED HAULAGE
Kilauea Crushers Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

SLIPPED OO TONGUE OF DRILL COMPRESSOR. MAY HAVE HAD GREASE ON SHOE.