Portable Plant #3 has $86K in proposed MSHA penalties and $14 outstanding across 6 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
22
Years on record
1986–2018
Latest incident
Jun 2018
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
137
citations
32
significant & substantial
$85,551
proposed penalties
$60,602
paid to date
71% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $24,949 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.
Rate withheld: 760 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 Plant #3 has $86K in proposed MSHA penalties and $14 outstanding across 6 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.
$86K
proposed penalties
$61K
current assessed
$61K
paid to date
$14
outstanding
136 assessments are final orders; 6 contested dockets.
Of $53K in penalties contested before the Commission, $28K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-05-13.
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 · 6% of citations on record
Settled
7 · 88%
Stood as issued
1 · 13%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 7 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
48%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$52K proposed, $27K 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 2024-06-27.
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.
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: 2024-04-03
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
13
samples
2
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Respirable dust, <.1mg9
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz3
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (13)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2024-04-03
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.21
Truck Driver
2024-04-03
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Cleanup Man
2024-04-03
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.34
Truck Driver
2024-04-03
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2020-09-16
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2020-09-16
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2020-09-16
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Cleanup Man
2020-09-16
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Bulldozer Operator
2010-04-14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.12
1.25
0.10
Truck Driver
2010-04-14
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.27
10
0.03
Crusher Oper/Worker
2010-04-14
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2004-06-09
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Drill Operator, Rotary
2004-06-09
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
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.
Portable Plant #3 recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2021.
Injury rate, 2021
ⓘ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 1.87 and the all-US-mining average was 2.19 cases per 100 workers.
In Kansas, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 2.65 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
2021 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2017 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2016 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2015 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2014 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2013 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2012 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2011 *
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
2026
7
2025
10
2024
8
2023
6
2022
7
2021
9
2020
7
2019
10
2018
8
2017
18
2016
17
2015
16
2014
14
2013
14
2012
19
2011
20
2010
19
2009
20
2008
22
2007
22
2006
24
2005
27
2004
26
2003
22
2002
23
2001
22
2000
24
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Portable Plant #3 sits in Wilson County, Kansas, 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.
Wilson County, Kansas · Population 8,559
0.7%
Mining share of county employment
$57,056
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
EE was dismounting the haul truck (Euclid R-35)using three points of contact. EE stepped down on a piece of rock and felt a pop in right foot. EE has a metatarsal fracture in right foot.
EE was using a 3 pound hammer to try & free a stuck troughing roller on a belt conveyor. The conveyor was running at the time. The conveyor belt grabbed the hammer and pulled his arm into the head pulley, causing his right arm to be severed.
2004 · 1 incident
September 1, 2004KS · Metal/Non-Metalcoal/ore shovel operator, shoveler, power shovelerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Midwest Minerals LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
Employee was helping install a handrail on a piece of crushing equipment and caught his hand between the handrail and the bracket, cutting the palm and little finger of his left hand.
Midwest Minerals LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EE WAS CLEANING OUT THE PRIMARY IMPACT CRUSHER, WHICH HAD STALLED, USING A PRY BAR. A LARGE ROCK ROLLED UNEXPECTEDLY, SMASHING HIS FINGER AGAINST ANOTHER ROCK. THE FINGER WAS CUT AND REQUIRED STITCHES.
2002 · 1 incident
March 21, 2002KS · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS FIXING A TWISTED V-BELT ON THE MAIN DRIVE OF THE PRIMARY CRUSHER. WHEN THE BELT FLIPPED OVER, HE CAUGHT HIS LITTLE FINGER BETWEEN THE BELT AND THE DRIVE SHEAVE. THE TIP OF HIS FI NGER WAS FRACTURED AND CUT. HIS FINGER WAS SUTURED AND SPLINTED.
EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PUT A KEEPER PIN IN TO HOLD UP THE BED OF A 25 TON HAUL TRUCK AND SMASHED HIS FINGER BETWEEN THE BED AND THE HANDLE OF THE KEEPER PIN. THE TIP OF HIS MIDDLE FINGER O N THE RIGHT HAND WAS FRACTURED AND CUT. HIS FINGER WAS SUTURED AND SPLINTED.
1997 · 2 incidents
October 16, 1997KS · Metal/Non-Metalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING CLEAR BOULDERS FROM PLUGGED IMPACT CRUSHER AND TWISTED HIS KNEE. HE WENT TO THE DR. ON 10-21-97 & WAS SENT BACK TO WORK-NO INJURY FOUND. WHEN IT DIDN'T GET ANY BETTER AN MRI WAS DONE ON 11-12-97. THE REPORT DATED 11/14/97 SHOWS TORN LIGAMENT IN HIS KNEE. EMPLOYEE HAS BEEN OFF WORK SINCE 11/13/97.
May 7, 1997KS · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorDISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
EE WAS MOVING A PNEUMATIC ROCK DRILLO BACK ONTO THE SHOT PATTERN. HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO TURN THE DRILL AROUND, BUT TURNED TOO SHARPLY, JACKKNIFING THE DRILL & COMPRESSOR, AND CAUGHT HIS LOWER L EFT LEG BETWEEN THE DRILL & COMPRESSOR, CAUSING A PUNCTURE WOUND.
August 19, 1996KS · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
HERNIA. UNKNOWN WHEN IT HAPPENED OR IF IT WAS JOB RELATED.
1995 · 2 incidents
August 25, 1995KS · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING A STOCKPILE DUMP TRUCK WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN ABRUPTLY, JERKING HIS ARM AND TEARING MUSCLES IN HIS UPPER BACK.
1994 · 1 incident
November 21, 1994KS · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorMACHINERY
EMPLOYEE WAS STANDING BEHIND IMPACTOR, WAITING FOR IT TO CLEAR. IMPACTOR THREW A FIST SIZE ROCK BACK, STRIKING EMPLOYEE IN THE FOREHEAD AND RESULTING IN A CUT WHICH REQUIRED STITCHES.
1992 · 2 incidents
July 13, 1992KS · Metal/Non-Metalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
ALLEDGED INJURY EMPLOYEE JUMPED OFF THE PLATFORM OF A COMPRESSOR ABOUT 3-31/2FT STATED HE INJURED HISBACK THIS EMPLOYEE HAS A HISTORY OF WORKERS COMPENSATION CLAIMS WE THINK THIS IS A FRAUDULE NT CLAIM & WE ARE WORKING WITH OUR INSURANCE CARRIER TO PROVE SO
EMPLOYEE WAS GOING DOWN THE SLOPE AT THE TRUCK DUMP. IN THE PROCESS HE STEPPED ON SOME LOOSE MATERIALS, LOST HIS BALANCE AND FELL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE SLOPE, INJURING HIS RIGHT SIDE AND RIGHT HAND.
1991 · 1 incident
November 26, 1991KS · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EMPLOYEE AND A LOADER OPERATOR WAS UNLOADING EUCLID TIRES OUT OF THE BED OF THE SERVICE TRUCK, EMPLOYEE WAS STANDING ONT HE BED OF THE TRUCK, HE FELL BACKWARDS AND STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE GORUN D, CAUSING A LACERATION WHICH NEEDED 3-4 STITCHES.
1990 · 1 incident
September 18, 1990KS · Metal/Non-Metalcoal/ore shovel operator, shoveler, power shovelerHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EMPLOYEE WAS USING A PRYBAR WHILE CHANGING HOIST CABLES ON #350 SHOVEL THE PRYBAR SLIPPED & HE STRUCK HIS MIDDLE FINGER ON HIS RT HAND ON THE CROUD CHAIN SOME STITCHES WERE TAKEN TO CLOSE THE WOUND
1987 · 1 incident
August 7, 1987KS · Metal/Non-Metalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverHANDLING OF MATERIALS
MEN WERE LOADIN1 IRON ONTO A TRUCK WHILE A MAN WAS PLACING A PIECE OF IRON ANOTHER PIECE FELL ONTO HIS HAND HITTING TWO FINGERS ON RT HAND. SUSTAINED LOSS OF FINGERNAIL ON RT INDEX FINGER
1986 · 2 incidents
December 4, 1986KS · Metal/Non-Metalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
MAN WAS REMOVI3G WASTE MATERIAL FROM A FLATBED TRAILOR, ALL MATERIAL WAS OF LIGHT WEIGHT. MAN WAS BENT OVER TOSSING MATERIAL TO THE GROUND, WHEN HE APOSE HIS BACK POPPED AND THERE WAS IMMEDIA TE PAIN. MAN LE0T WORK. AND CONSULTED A CHIROPRACTOR. HE WAS TOLD HE HAD A DISK THAT HAD BEEN PUSHED TO THE SIDE. HAS MADE SEVEREAL TRIPS TO DR. FULL RECOVERY EXPECTED.