Mining Incidents

Portable Crusher: 142 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

LHC Incorporated · Surface
Controlled by Roger L Claridge
Kalispell, Flathead County, MT  ·  Intermittent
MSHA Mine ID: 2401963

Portable Crusher has $30K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 10 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

Watch this mine

Email me when a new MSHA incident is filed at Portable Crusher.

Fatalities
0
Total incidents
13
Years on record
1992–2025
Latest incident
Sep 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
142
citations
44
significant & substantial
$29,584
proposed penalties
$27,349
paid to date
92% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $2,235 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2001
49
inspections on record
758
inspection hours
n/a
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: 758 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Portable Crusher has $30K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 10 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.
$30K
proposed penalties
$27K
current assessed
$27K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
138 assessments are final orders; 10 contested dockets.
Of $13K in penalties contested before the Commission, $11K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-08-12.
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.
31.2%
significant & substantial
3.5%
high negligence or reckless
31.2%
reasonably likely or greater
46.8%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 7.8% low, 88.7% moderate, 3.5% 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.
30 citations taken to the federal commission · 21% of citations on record
  • Settled 27 · 90%
  • Stood as issued 2 · 7%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 1 · 3%
86%
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 14 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
19%
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 2017-06-27.
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 2011-1108M Settlement Lesnick 2011 $4K → $2K
WEST 2017-0538 Settlement Lesnick 2017 $3K → $3K
WEST20030237M Settlement Weisberger 2003 $2K → $1K
WEST 2013-116M Settlement Lesnick 2013 $1K → $1K
WEST 2011-1109M Settlement Lesnick 2011 $1K → $934
WEST 2015-0255 Dismissal Manning 2015 $915 → $915
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: 2026-06-11
43%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
29
samples
23
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz2510 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg4
Show the individual readings (29)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2025-08-12 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.45 0.44 1.02 Crusher Oper/Worker
2023-09-20 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.41 0.38 1.08 Laborer, Bullgang
2019-09-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.28 0.39 3.28 Building Repair/Maint.
2019-09-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.79 0.4 4.48 Cleanup Man
2019-09-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 2.26 0.37 6.11 Supervisor, Co. Official
2011-03-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.5 0.46 3.26 Laborer, Bullgang
2011-03-16 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.84 0.38 2.21 Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-10-13 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 1.31 0.31 4.23 Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-05-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.71 0.34 2.09 Cleanup Man
2005-04-21 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.43 0.31 1.39 Crusher Oper/Worker
2026-06-11 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.33 0.44 0.75 Laborer, Bullgang
2026-06-11 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2025-08-12 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.35 0.44 0.80 Laborer, Bullgang
2024-08-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.33 0.46 0.72 Laborer, Bullgang
2024-08-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.16 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-09-20 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.28 0.42 0.67 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-09-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-09-20 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.31 0.4 0.78 Laborer, Bullgang
2019-11-26 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.14 Building Repair/Maint.
2019-11-26 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.32 0.43 0.74 Supervisor, Co. Official
2019-11-26 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.32 0.41 0.78 Cleanup Man
2019-09-05 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.14 0.43 0.33 Front-end Loader Operator
2014-03-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.4 0.43 0.93 Cleanup Man
2014-03-19 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.33 0.45 0.73 Crusher Oper/Worker
2014-03-19 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2005-10-13 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.21 0.3 0.70 Cleanup Man
2005-05-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 0.28 0.79 Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-04-21 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2005-04-21 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.18 0.37 0.49 Cleanup Man
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.
Ownership history
  1. LHC Incorporated 1992 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 3
2025 7
2024 5
2023 5
2022 5
2021 4
2020 5
2019 5
2018 5
2017 7
2016 7
2015 9
2014 6
2013 5
2012 5
2011 7
2010 5
2009 4
2008 5
2007 6
2006 5
2005 6
2004 6
2003 4
2002 6
2001 5
2000 4
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Portable Crusher sits in Flathead County, Montana, 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.
Flathead County, Montana · Population 108,445
0.7%
Mining share of county employment
$71,327
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 1,507 3 1 1990.7
2026 Q1 0 0 0
2025 Q4 1,207 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 2,449 2 0 816.7
2025 Q2 2,229 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 694 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 5 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 2,202 3 0 1362.4
Show 97 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 2,387 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 191 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 850 1 0 1176.5
2023 Q3 2,368 3 0 1266.9
2023 Q2 1,195 3 0 2510.5
2023 Q1 813 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 734 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 1,958 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 2,666 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 548 2 0 3649.6
2021 Q4 727 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 2,042 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 994 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 0 0 0
2020 Q4 1,312 3 0 2286.6
2020 Q3 1,234 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 1,762 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 1,407 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 1,585 6 4 3785.5
2019 Q3 1,339 9 6 6721.4
2019 Q2 559 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 325 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 1,933 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 2,106 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 2,173 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 2,264 8 2 3533.6
2017 Q4 2,402 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 2,063 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 3,093 2 1 646.6
2017 Q1 376 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 342 4 0 11695.9
2016 Q3 325 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 478 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 505 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 361 13 5 36011.1
2015 Q3 400 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 851 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 1,783 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 1,021 6 2 5876.6
2014 Q3 1,939 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 1,535 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 391 6 0 15345.3
2013 Q4 574 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 578 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 960 4 1 4166.7
2013 Q1 439 1 0 2277.9
2012 Q4 1,300 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 392 6 1 15306.1
2012 Q2 672 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 306 2 1 6535.9
2011 Q4 595 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 409 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 470 2 2 4255.3
2011 Q1 715 9 4 12587.4
2010 Q4 435 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 474 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 448 2 0 4464.3
2010 Q1 696 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 740 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 380 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 417 5 2 11990.4
2009 Q1 378 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 856 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 744 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 597 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 394 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 649 2 1 3081.7
2007 Q3 606 9 2 14851.5
2007 Q2 585 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 437 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 457 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 674 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 654 1 1 1529.1
2006 Q1 359 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 517 4 1 7736.9
2005 Q3 601 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 362 6 2 16574.6
2005 Q1 468 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 529 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 662 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 681 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 1,172 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 485 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 574 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 452 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 360 4 3 11111.1
2002 Q4 461 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 905 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 1,322 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 572 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 1,299 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 4,056 11 2 2712.0
2001 Q2 1,352 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 690 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 811 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 1,400 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 518 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

13 on file

2025 · 2 incidents

September 10, 2025 MT · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
LHC Incorporated · Struck against stationary object

LOOSENING A BOLT WITH AN OPEN ENDED WRENCH, WHEN THE WRENCH SLIPPED OFF AND SMACKED EE'S HAND AGAINST A METAL OBJECT.

June 10, 2025 MT · Metal/Non-Metal dryer operator, kiln operator, dry plant operator, fluid operator, bed dryer operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
LHC Incorporated · Struck by falling object

Employee was setting up a conveyor when the landing leg fell on EE's foot causing a fractured bone.

2024 · 1 incident

May 29, 2024 MT · Metal/Non-Metal dry screening plant operator, screen house operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
LHC Incorporated · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Miner was cutting a conveyor belt with a blade for a patch. During the cut, the blade slipped off the belt due to the change in the amount of pressure they were applying and stabbed their thigh.

2023 · 1 incident

October 9, 2023 MT · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
LHC Incorporated · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS REMOVING THE DOOR OF A SKIDSTEER. AS EE WAS DOING SO, THERE WAS A ZIP TIE THAT EE CUT TO ABRUPTLY WITH A BLADE AND CUT EE'S THUMB.

2018 · 1 incident

May 23, 2018 MT · Metal/Non-Metal groundman, yardman POWERED HAULAGE
LHC Incorporated · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employee was performing routine housekeeping; was removing dirt and rock from underneath the under-screen conveyor of the jaw. EE's shovel got caught in a return roller, which pulled EE's arm into the roller. EE freed self, but suffered major burns on right shoulder and arm.

2017 · 1 incident

July 6, 2017 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer DUST DISEASE OF LUNGS
LHC Incorporated · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Received Silicosis Diagnosis

2013 · 1 incident

November 23, 2013 MT · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator ELECTRICAL
LHC Incorporated · Flash burns (electric)

Crusher Operator attempted to check the voltage with a volt meter at the electrical panel. After opening the panel door found existing lights not on. Picked up the volt meter to check and an arc flash occurred causing burns to the back of his hands.

2006 · 1 incident

May 23, 2006 MT · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
LHC Incorporated · Struck against a moving object

EE was going into ramp to pick up bucket oversize rock, EE put the Cat in low gear during the initial movement into ramp whe he accidently touched left pedal with released clutch and loader started to free wheel and increased speed and hit pile of rock impact threw him forward hitting his head in corner where windshield and cab meet. Was not wearing seatbelt.

2001 · 1 incident

October 24, 2001 MT · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
LHC Incorporated · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS CLEANING OUT TAIL PULLEY ON CRUSHER WHEN ROCK STRUCK HIS HEAD. ALTHOUGH EMPLOYEE WAS ISSUED HARD HAT THAT INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS WEARIT, HE FAILED TO WEAR HARD HAT AT TIME OF ACCIDE NT.

2000 · 1 incident

October 11, 2000 MT · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
LHC Incorporated · Over-exertion in lifting objects

WHILE SEPARATING CRUSHER SCREENS & RESTACKING THEM, BENT OVER TO PULL THEM APART--FELT STRIAN IN LOWER BACK.

1997 · 1 incident

September 19, 1997 MT · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
LHC Incorporated · Over-exertion in lifting objects

WHILE LIFTING BLOCKING [RAILROAD TIE] TO BLOCK EQUIP. USED IN CRUSHING , EE SQUATTED TO USE LEGS. HE WRAPPED HIS ARMS AROUND BLOCK & BEGAN TO STAND & LIFT. PAIN SHORT THROUGHT HIS LOWER BACK C AUSING HIM TO DROP BLOCKING.

1994 · 1 incident

June 8, 1994 MT · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
LHC Incorporated · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

LIFTING LARGE ROCK APPROX. 50 LBS OFF THE GRIZZILEY FEEDER WHEN ROCK SLIPPED OUT OF GLOVED HANDS. EE LEFT HAND WAS SUPPORTING BOTTOM OF ROCK AND WHEN ROCK SLIPPED HIS LITTLE FINGER ON LEFT HAN D GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN ROCK. AND METAL FRAMING CAUUSING SKIN AND TISSUE DAMAMGE REQUIRING STITCHES AND FRACTURE TO BONE ON TIP OF FINGER.

1992 · 1 incident

September 22, 1992 MT · Metal/Non-Metal superintendent HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
LHC Incorporated · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

I WAS PRYING A LARGE ROCK IN THE JAW WHEN THE SLIPPED AND SWUNG AROUND AND HIT THE END OF MY THUMB.