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: 472 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 #43 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
$4K
current assessed
$4K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
28 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $962 in penalties contested before the Commission, $568 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2024-01-30.
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.
4citations taken to the federal commission · 14% of citations on record
Settled
4 · 100%
100%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 1 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
41%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$962 proposed, $568 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2023-02-08.
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: 2025-08-20
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
16
samples
10
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz10
Respirable dust, <.1mg6
Show the individual readings (16)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2025-08-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2025-08-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2017-06-21
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Cleanup Man
2017-06-21
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2017-06-21
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2012-09-18
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2012-09-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.13
1.49
0.09
Laborer, Bullgang
2012-09-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.19
1.29
0.15
Laborer, Bullgang
2012-09-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.16
1.27
0.13
Front-end Loader Operator
2011-03-15
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.71
2.81
0.25
Front-end Loader Operator
2011-03-15
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.24
2
0.12
Bobcat Operator
2006-12-20
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.23
0.95
0.24
Cleanup Man
2006-12-20
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.28
1.23
0.23
Cleanup Man
2006-12-20
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.17
1.42
0.12
Front-end Loader Operator
2006-06-21
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.36
0.67
0.54
Crusher Oper/Worker
2006-06-21
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.25
0.27
0.93
Supervisor, Co. Official
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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2026
5
2025
5
2024
5
2023
4
2022
4
2021
4
2020
3
2019
3
2018
3
2017
3
2016
3
2015
3
2014
3
2013
3
2012
3
2011
4
2010
3
2009
3
2008
4
2007
4
2006
4
2005
4
2004
4
2003
4
2002
4
2001
4
2000
4
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Plant #43 sits in Sauk County, Wisconsin, 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.
Sauk County, Wisconsin · Population 65,759
0.3%
Mining share of county employment
$77,648
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
Injured Employee set a piece of welding equipment up on the frame of a machine and was struck when EE ducked under the frame and the equipment fell down. EE's hard hat stopped most of the damage, but it was pushed off and EE received a large gash on the back of head. EE was taken in for treatment. EE missed two days and has been released for work.
2015 · 1 incident
August 11, 2015WI · Metal/Non-Metalmine manager, mine foreman, mine ownerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
While employee was going down ladder to get off loader, he twisted his left ankle. He had medical evaluation later that day, but no medical treatment. Pain symptoms persisted, so he was re-evaluated medically on 8/12/13, and referred for physical therapy treatment.
2008 · 1 incident
July 21, 2008WI · Metal/Non-Metaloutside foreman, leadmanMACHINERY
USING COME-A-LONG HOOKED TO THE PITMAN ON THE JAW, TRYING TO PULL IT BACK. CHAIN WAS HOOKED TO A HOOK ON THE COME-A-LONG. HOOK ON COME-A-LONG STRAIGHTENED OUT UNDER TENSION, LETTING IT FLY AND HIT EMPLOYEE IN THE SHOULDER.
EMPLOYEE WAS UNDER PLANTS DOWN ON HANDS AND KNEES. HE BELIEVES HE KNELT ON SOME ROCKS. HIS RIGHTKNEE BECAME SORE AND SWOLLEN, WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF CELLULITIS AND BURSITIS.
1993 · 2 incidents
July 15, 1993WI · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EMPLOYEE WAS PULLING ON AN 18" CRESCENT WRENCH WHEN IT SLIPPED OFF THE NUT AND HIT HIM IN THE MOUTH. HE BROKE TWO TEETH AND BROKE A WIRE ON HIS PARTIAL PLATE.
EMPLOYEE WAS TAKING OF TIE DOWN BARS FROM MOVING IMPACT BREAKER WHEN ONE END OF THE TIMBER DROPPED CAUSING A LACERATION BETWEEN THUMB AND FOREFINGER ON HAND.
1992 · 1 incident
June 22, 1992WI · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorOTHER
EMPL WAS PULLING SURGE BIN WHEN PIN BROKE AND THE WHEELS BROKE OFF THE SURGE BIN.CONVEYOR CAME DOWN PINNING EMPL ARM BETWEEN CAT SEAT AND FRAME.EMPL PULLED ARM OUT HIMSELF.XRAY REVEALED NO BRO KEN BONES BUT MUSCLES,TENDONS PULLED AND TORN.
July 24, 1991WI · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON