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.
Rate withheld: 725 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
PLANT #1 has $4K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 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.
$4K
proposed penalties
$3K
current assessed
$3K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
29 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $1K in penalties contested before the Commission, $987 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2011-05-17.
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.
6citations taken to the federal commission · 21% of citations on record
Settled
6 · 100%
50%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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%
24%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$1K proposed, $987 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2010-12-10.
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: 2011-05-18, 15 years ago
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
27
samples
5
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Fibers, >5um19
Respirable dust, <.1mg5
Asbestos 2.0f/ml4
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz2
Show the individual readings (31)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2011-05-18
Fibers, >5um
0.05
Ball Mill Operator
2011-05-18
Fibers, >5um
0.07
Truck Driver
2011-05-18
Fibers, >5um
0.21
Kiln/Dryer Operator
2011-05-18
Asbestos 0.1f/cc
0
0.1
0.00
Kiln/Dryer Operator
2011-05-18
Fibers, >5um
0.04
Electrician
2011-05-18
Fibers, >5um
0.1
Front-end Loader Operator
2010-09-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2010-09-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Ball Mill Operator
2010-09-02
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Kiln/Dryer Operator
2010-09-02
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.13
Backhoe Operator
2009-03-18
Fibers, >5um
0.12
Front-end Loader Operator
2009-03-18
Fibers, >5um
0.06
Kiln/Dryer Operator
2009-03-18
Fibers, >5um
0.01
Engineer
2009-03-18
Fibers, >5um
0.02
Mechanic
2008-06-25
Fibers, >5um
0.07
Crusher Oper/Worker
2008-06-25
Fibers, >5um
0.02
Mechanic
2008-06-25
Fibers, >5um
0.03
Kiln/Dryer Operator
2007-02-14
Fibers, >5um
0.11
Kiln/Dryer Operator
2007-02-14
Asbestos 2.0f/ml
0.07
2
0.04
Kiln/Dryer Operator
2007-02-13
Asbestos 2.0f/ml
0.04
2
0.02
Truck Driver
2007-02-13
Fibers, >5um
0.04
Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-02-13
Fibers, >5um
0.08
Truck Driver
2006-07-26
Fibers, >5um
0.13
Kiln/Dryer Operator
2006-07-26
Fibers, >5um
0.03
Crusher Oper/Worker
2006-07-26
Asbestos 2.0f/ml
0.06
2
0.03
Kiln/Dryer Operator
2006-02-01
Fibers, >5um
0.13
Kiln/Dryer Operator
2006-02-01
Fibers, >5um
0.09
Lab Technician
2006-02-01
Asbestos 2.0f/ml
0.1
2
0.05
Kiln/Dryer Operator
2004-01-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2004-01-22
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.76
Building Repair/Maint.
2004-01-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
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.
PLANT #1 recorded 6.13 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2010.
Injury rate, 2010
ⓘ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.
6.13
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 2.68 and the all-US-mining average was 3.20 cases per 100 workers.
In North Carolina, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 2.16 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
2010 *
6.13
0.00
0.000
2009 *
6.58
0.00
0.000
2008 *
7.68
0.00
0.000
2007 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2006 *
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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2011
12
2010
11
2009
11
2008
11
2007
12
2006
12
2005
11
2004
12
2003
14
2002
15
2001
14
2000
14
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
PLANT #1 sits in Yancey County, North Carolina, where the Census mining category is 0.7% 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.
Yancey County, North Carolina · Population 18,676
0.7%
Mining share of county employment
$54,961
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
2011 Q2
7,443
1
0
134.4
2011 Q1
8,233
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
7,971
1
1
125.5
2010 Q3
7,446
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
8,514
1
0
117.5
2010 Q1
8,670
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
8,652
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
7,609
0
0
0.0
Show 38 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2009 Q2
6,821
1
1
146.6
2009 Q1
7,297
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
7,285
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
6,267
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
6,067
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
6,409
1
0
156.0
2007 Q4
5,129
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
5,579
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
6,022
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
6,360
1
1
157.2
2006 Q4
5,544
4
2
721.5
2006 Q3
6,248
0
0
0.0
2006 Q2
5,598
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
5,376
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
4,842
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
5,022
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
4,719
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
5,016
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
4,354
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
4,097
1
0
244.1
2004 Q2
4,788
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
4,597
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
3,744
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
4,603
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
4,785
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
4,742
0
0
0.0
2002 Q4
4,754
1
0
210.3
2002 Q3
4,678
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
4,594
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
4,838
0
0
0.0
2001 Q4
4,360
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
4,467
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
5,042
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
5,120
0
0
0.0
2000 Q4
4,570
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
3,706
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
5,233
0
0
0.0
2000 Q1
5,242
1
0
190.8
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
10 on file
2010 · 1 incident
June 24, 2010NC · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
The employee was assisting in lifting the stationary jaw from the jaw crusher and sitting the jaw on to the floor. The rail trolley and chain hoist being used fell from the beam to which it was attached. The trolley fell on to the employees left hand, which he was using to guide the jaw, and cut the middle finger of his left hand.
2009 · 1 incident
January 28, 2009NC · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
The miner was attempting to loosen the bar bolts on a chainsaw when the bar wrench handle broke and the miners' hand struck the chainsaw chain which cut through his glove and cut the middle finger on his left hand.
2008 · 1 incident
September 4, 2008NC · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Unimin Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
The miner was removing a build up of material at the feed hopper to the cone crusher, using a metal pry bar. His finger was caught between the bar and the edge of the hopper, injuring his finger.
2003 · 1 incident
February 5, 2003NC · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techMACHINERY
EMPLOYEE WAS CLEA RING SMALL BUSHES OFF OF SETTING POND DAM FACE WITH A CHAIN SAW CHAIN SAW UNEXPECTEDLY KICKED BACK WHILE IN USE & ACROSS LEFT KNEE AREA OF EMPLOYEE
1992 · 1 incident
October 9, 1992NC · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
MAINTENANCE WAS WORKING ON ENCLOSURE AN ADDITION TO THE PUMP HOUSE. EMPLOYEE WAS ON TOP OF EXISTING ROOF REMOVING SECTION OF OLD TIN THAT WERE IN NEED OF BEING REPLACED. WHEN HE STEPPED ONTO A ROTTEN PIECE OF FRAMING, WHICH BROKE UNDER HIS WEIGHT. EMPLOYEE FELL DOWN BETWEEN THE RAFTERS CATCHING HIMSELF IWTH HIS LEFT ARM. HIS LEFT SIDE HIT ON THE RAFTER FRACTURING 3 RIBS.
1991 · 1 incident
October 21, 1991NC · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL WERE CHANGING OUT ONE OF THE JAWS ON THE CRUSHER. FRONT END LOADER HAD BEEN USED TO BRING CUT NEW JAW AND HAD DUMPED IT ON THE GROUND NEAR THE CRUSHER. EMPLOYEE HAD HOOKE D A PULLING BAR INTO THE JAW AND WAS PULLING IT ALONG ON THE GROUND, WHEN HE FELT A STING IN HIS BACK. HE CONTINUED HIS DUTIES AND FINISHED OUT THE DAY.
1987 · 1 incident
October 1, 1987NC · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorNONPOWERED HAULAGE
EMPLOYEE WAS PUSHING A WHEELBAROW LOADED WITH OLIVINE AGGRAGATE OUT TO DUMP. WHEN HE STARTED TO DUMP THE MATERIAL, THE SUDDEN SHIFTING OF MATERIAL JERKED HIS ARMS FORWARD, CAUSING HIM TO STRAI N OLD INJURY.
1984 · 2 incidents
July 23, 1984NC · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
INJURED WAS CARRYING MILL ROD WWITH 2 OTHER EMPLOYEES. THEY PLACED THEIR END IN THE MILL INJURED HELD ONTO HIS END AND FELT SHARP PAIN IN SMALL OF BACK HE LIFTED HIS END AND PUSHED ROD INTO MI LL REPEATED TASK 4 TIMES
May 21, 1984NC · Metal/Non-Metalquality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistantHANDLING OF MATERIALS
THE INJURED LIFTED A 100 LB BAG OF SAND AND POURED HALF INTO AN EMPTY 55 GAL. DRUM. WHILE POURING HE FELT A PAIN IN HIS LOWER BACK. HE AGGRAVATED THE INJURY THE NEXT MORNING WHILE DUMPING THE SAME CONTAINER