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.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘA Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2013-10-07.
On record since 2013.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Pueblo East has $96K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 4 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.
$96K
proposed penalties
$89K
current assessed
$89K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
164 assessments are final orders; 4 contested dockets.
Of $25K in penalties contested before the Commission, $18K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2014-06-10.
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.
10citations taken to the federal commission · 6% of citations on record
Settled
9 · 90%
Stood as issued
1 · 10%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 10 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
28%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$25K proposed, $18K 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 2012-12-12.
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: 2014-06-11, 12 years ago
25%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
28
samples
20
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz205 over
Respirable dust, <.1mg7
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (28)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2012-09-11
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.54
0.5
1.08
Crusher Oper/Worker
2012-08-14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.7
0.48
1.46
Crusher Oper/Worker
2012-08-14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.07
0.48
2.23
Crusher Oper/Worker
2012-07-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.9
0.5
3.80
Crusher Oper/Worker
2012-07-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.43
0.87
1.64
Crusher Oper/Worker
2014-06-11
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Scraper Operator
2013-04-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.27
0.85
0.32
Laborer, Bullgang
2013-04-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.17
0.94
0.18
Crusher Oper/Worker
2013-04-17
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.55
Crusher Oper/Worker
2013-04-17
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2012-09-11
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.14
0.53
0.26
Crusher Oper/Worker
2012-07-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.25
0.62
0.40
Belt Cleaner
2012-07-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.27
0.63
0.43
Belt Cleaner
2010-04-28
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.15
0.68
0.22
Utility Man
2010-04-28
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.33
0.65
0.51
Laborer, Bullgang
2010-04-28
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.18
0.71
0.25
Utility Man
2009-06-18
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Backhoe Operator
2009-06-18
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2009-06-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.16
0.62
0.26
Belt Cleaner
2009-06-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.25
0.57
0.44
Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-07-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Scraper Operator
2004-07-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Belt Cleaner
2004-07-29
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.24
0.6
0.40
Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-05-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2004-05-05
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.74
1.88
0.39
Welder, etc.
2004-05-05
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.2
0.7
0.29
Crusher Oper/Worker
2002-10-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.52
0.71
0.73
Belt Cleaner
2002-10-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.48
0.55
0.87
Belt Cleaner
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.
Pueblo East recorded 41.99 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2013.
Injury rate, 2013
ⓘ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.
41.99
total case rate
12.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 2.46 and the all-US-mining average was 2.99 cases per 100 workers.
In Colorado, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 3.39 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
2013 *
41.99
12.00
0.000
2012 *
6.43
0.00
0.000
2011 *
14.80
14.80
0.000
2010 *
7.21
0.00
0.000
2009 *
5.72
0.00
0.000
2008 *
4.63
4.63
0.000
2007 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2006 *
10.09
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
2014
6
2013
12
2012
13
2011
12
2010
15
2009
17
2008
20
2007
16
2006
16
2005
15
2004
17
2003
15
2002
10
2001
3
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Pueblo East sits in Pueblo County, Colorado, 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.
Pueblo County, Colorado · Population 168,726
0.2%
Mining share of county employment
$62,250
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
2014 Q4
1,737
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
3,405
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
3,512
2
0
569.5
2014 Q1
5,336
1
0
187.4
2013 Q4
6,945
8
3
1151.9
2013 Q3
9,188
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
9,929
11
2
1107.9
2013 Q1
7,279
0
0
0.0
Show 45 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2012 Q4
8,356
19
11
2273.8
2012 Q3
8,029
3
3
373.6
2012 Q2
8,194
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
6,524
2
2
306.6
2011 Q4
6,564
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
7,715
7
6
907.3
2011 Q2
6,972
10
6
1434.3
2011 Q1
5,784
5
3
864.5
2010 Q4
6,591
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
7,341
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
7,260
3
1
413.2
2010 Q1
6,556
3
0
457.6
2009 Q4
8,044
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
9,282
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
8,897
9
5
1011.6
2009 Q1
8,744
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
11,643
3
0
257.7
2008 Q3
13,330
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
9,450
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
8,731
2
0
229.1
2007 Q4
9,942
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
10,006
5
1
499.7
2007 Q2
10,023
3
0
299.3
2007 Q1
8,492
4
1
471.0
2006 Q4
9,221
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
8,802
1
0
113.6
2006 Q2
12,782
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
8,832
6
4
679.3
2005 Q4
8,375
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
10,084
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
11,028
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
9,020
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
11,897
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
10,540
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
10,555
35
5
3316.0
2004 Q1
9,825
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
11,257
0
0
0.0
2003 Q3
8,682
8
2
921.4
2003 Q2
8,771
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
8,481
0
0
0.0
2002 Q4
9,027
15
6
1661.7
2002 Q3
7,440
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
3,005
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
1,709
0
0
0.0
2001 Q2
958
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
25 on file
2014 · 1 incident
January 18, 2014CO · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
employee was climbing off of welding truck and when he stepped down he felt his knee pop. was prescribed Ibuprofen 800 mg three times a day and ice packs
May 21, 2013CO · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Evaluation of the audiometric testing as per CFR 30, PART 62 and our HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM has discovered that the miner has incurred a reportable hearing loss to his right ear.
April 17, 2013CO · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorDISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Evaluation of the audiometric testing as per CFR 30, PART 62 and our HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM has discovered the miner has incurred a reportable hearing loss to his right ear
April 12, 2013CO · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorDISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Evaluation of the audiometric testing as per CFR 30, PART 62 and our HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAM has discovered that the miner has incurred a reportable hearing loss to the miners right ear.
Employee was aiding another employee on cutting away and replacing a guard. When the guard gave way and employee had his hand on top the steel and his 2 fingers on his left hand got crushed between the steel and a belt.
2012 · 1 incident
April 5, 2012CO · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
While cleaning shop area, employee was stacking conveyor rollers and had one standing on end when he turned to look at something else and the roller fell over and smashed his middle finger and the one next to it causing a finger laceration and finger contusion.
2011 · 2 incidents
September 19, 2011CO · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Snow and ice on equipment. Emp was removing ice from hopper injured index finger with the snow removal tool.
2009 · 1 incident
June 12, 2009CO · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Exessive water flows from the Fountain Creek, combined with high flows from the Arkansas river apparently caused weakening of the south berm between the Arkansas river and our mining operation, resulting in a breach of the south berm which put our pit underwater. Failure accured Late Sunday night 07-09-06 or early morning 07-10-06. No one was on location at the time of breach.
February 14, 2006CO · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was building a new conveyer. The ratchet he was using broke and ee fell into the conveyer frame, striking his right shoulder. The shoulder popped when he hit the conveyer. The Dr suspects a torn rotator cuff, is currently on restricted duty.
2003 · 1 incident
February 25, 2003CO · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE WAS HAMMERING ON THE GATE LATCH OF THE ACCESS DOOR OF THE BELT FEEDER. THE LATCH BROKE AND STRUCK EE IN THE FACE. THIS CAUSED A LACERATION OF THE LEFT CHHEK AND ABOVE THE LEFT EYE. MEDICA L ATTENTION 13 STITCHES.