Mining Incidents

Rocky Mountain Quartzite Quarry: 1 recorded fatality Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Gregory L Osterhout
OAKLEY, Cassia County, ID  ·  Intermittent
MSHA Mine ID: 1000648

Rocky Mountain Quartzite Quarry has $16K in proposed MSHA penalties and $151 outstanding across 6 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
28
Years on record
1989–2008
Latest incident
Jul 2008
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
72
citations
17
significant & substantial
$16,188
proposed penalties
$15,037
paid to date
93% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,151 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
45
inspections on record
970
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: 970 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: 2020-10-19.
On record since 2020.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.

Rocky Mountain Quartzite Quarry has $16K in proposed MSHA penalties and $151 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.
$16K
proposed penalties
$15K
current assessed
$15K
paid to date
$151
outstanding
68 assessments are final orders; 6 contested dockets.
Of $30K in penalties contested before the Commission, $6K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-06-17.
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.
24.6%
significant & substantial
10.1%
high negligence or reckless
24.6%
reasonably likely or greater
53.6%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 11.6% low, 78.3% moderate, 10.1% 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.
1 citations taken to the federal commission · 1% of citations on record
  • Settled 1 · 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%
0%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$2K proposed, $2K 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 2008-12-09.
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
WEST20020152M Withdrawal 2002 $20K → $0
WEST20020150M Settlement Barbour 2002 $5K → $4K
WEST 2009-259M Settlement Feldman 2011 $2K → $2K
WEST20000245M Prevail Manning 2000 $2K → $200
WEST20020151M Withdrawal 2002 $1K → $0
WEST 2004-102-M Dismissal Lesnick 2004 $143 → $0
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: 2020-06-23, 6 years ago
33%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
17
samples
12
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz124 over
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg5
Show the individual readings (17)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2010-07-20 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.54 0.51 1.06 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2003-06-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.36 0.22 1.64 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2002-05-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 0.19 1.16 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2002-05-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.25 0.16 1.56 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2020-06-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.13 0.16 0.81 Laborer, Bullgang
2020-06-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.24 0.56 0.43 Laborer, Bullgang
2015-04-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2015-04-28 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2010-07-20 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.21 0.44 0.48 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2010-07-20 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.26 0.62 0.42 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2010-07-20 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.14 0.46 0.30 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2004-07-08 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.12 0.17 0.71 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2003-06-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2003-06-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.37 0.41 0.90 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2002-05-14 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2002-05-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.29 1.52 0.19 Stone Polisher/Cutter
2002-05-14 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Stone Polisher/Cutter
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.

Rocky Mountain Quartzite Quarry recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2025.

Injury rate, 2025
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 1.65 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
In Idaho, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 2.26 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
2025 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2024 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2023 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2022 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2021 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2019 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2018 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2017 * 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.
Ownership history
  1. Northern Stone Supply Inc 1950 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 11
2025 15
2024 20
2023 21
2022 24
2021 32
2020 14
2019 27
2018 37
2017 40
2016 33
2015 37
2014 32
2013 22
2012 24
2011 19
2010 16
2009 22
2008 9
2007 7
2006 7
2005 7
2004 7
2003 7
2002 7
2001 7
2000 7
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Rocky Mountain Quartzite Quarry sits in Cassia County, Idaho, where the Census mining category is 0.5% 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.
Cassia County, Idaho · Population 25,165
0.5%
Mining share of county employment
$67,042
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 5,880 1 0 170.1
2026 Q1 0 0 0
2025 Q4 280 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 12,380 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 9,640 3 0 311.2
2025 Q1 0 0 0
2024 Q4 960 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 19,480 5 2 256.7
Show 96 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 4,960 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 0 0 0
2023 Q4 3,840 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 16,800 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 400 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 0 0 0
2022 Q4 2,260 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 22,880 3 0 131.1
2022 Q2 12,800 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 0 0 0
2021 Q4 10,320 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 19,680 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 16,800 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 0 0 0
2020 Q4 7,200 5 4 694.4
2020 Q3 7,200 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 1,600 1 0 625.0
2020 Q1 0 0 0
2019 Q4 512 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 26,000 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 18,000 3 1 166.7
2019 Q1 0 0 0
2018 Q4 5,400 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 23,400 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 23,200 2 0 86.2
2018 Q1 0 0 0
2017 Q4 4,240 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 27,560 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 14,840 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 0 0 0
2016 Q3 26,000 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 16,640 2 0 120.2
2016 Q1 0 0 0
2015 Q4 5,880 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 32,340 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 20,000 1 0 50.0
2015 Q1 0 0 0
2014 Q4 6,880 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 20,720 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 21,840 2 1 91.6
2014 Q1 0 0 0
2013 Q4 7,680 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 20,480 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 11,360 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 0 0 0
2012 Q4 5,120 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 16,640 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 20,480 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 0 0 0
2011 Q4 10,080 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 12,480 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 3,840 1 0 260.4
2011 Q1 0 0 0
2010 Q4 280 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 15,600 1 1 64.1
2010 Q2 4,800 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 0 0 0
2009 Q4 3,480 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 16,240 1 0 61.6
2009 Q2 4,640 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 0 0 0
2008 Q4 0 3 1
2008 Q3 11,500 2 0 173.9
2008 Q2 5,480 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 0 0 0
2007 Q3 11,500 2 1 173.9
2007 Q2 5,480 1 0 182.5
2007 Q1 0 0 0
2006 Q4 0 0 0
2006 Q3 11,500 2 0 173.9
2006 Q2 5,480 2 1 365.0
2006 Q1 0 0 0
2005 Q4 0 0 0
2005 Q3 11,500 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 5,480 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 0 0 0
2004 Q4 0 0 0
2004 Q3 11,500 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 5,480 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 0 0 0
2003 Q4 0 0 0
2003 Q3 11,500 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 5,480 3 0 547.4
2003 Q1 0 0 0
2002 Q4 0 0 0
2002 Q3 11,500 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 5,480 5 3 912.4
2002 Q1 0 0 0
2001 Q4 0 0 0
2001 Q3 11,500 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 5,480 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 0 0 0
2000 Q4 0 3 0
2000 Q3 11,500 1 0 87.0
2000 Q2 5,480 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 0 0 0

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
August 9, 2000 ID · Metal/Non-Metal forklift operator Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MAN WAS DRIVING 922B LOADER DOWN A ROAD WITH A STEEP GRADE. FOR UNKNOWN REASON, LOST CONTROL AND THE LOADER TURNED OVER AND THE RAPS SAFETY CAB FAILED AND COLLAPSED CAUSING FATALITY.

Reportable incidents

27 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2008 · 1 incident

July 7, 2008 ID · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Fall from machine

EE climbed up on to an excavator track and grabbed on to the door handle. The door was not latched, it swung open. As a result he fell to the ground landing on his right arm and shoulder, resulting in a break to his arm.

2006 · 1 incident

July 13, 2006 ID · Metal/Non-Metal stone finishing and sizing personnel, stone/rock cut/polish/saw operator, splitter, cutter, trimmer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Worker palletizing stone & dropped on his finger, fracturing finger. Required minor surgery to pin finger.

2005 · 2 incidents

May 12, 2005 ID · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Struck by rolling or sliding object

Worker was splitting large piece of stone when the top layer slid off of main piece & hit his arm. Right radius fracture - required surgery.

1999 · 1 incident

May 27, 1999 ID · Metal/Non-Metal groundman, yardman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

WORKER EMPTYING DUMP BIN AT QUARRY - HOOKING UP CHAIN - FINGER WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN CHAIN AND BIN.

1995 · 1 incident

July 24, 1995 ID · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WORKER SPLITTING STONE WITH 3 POUND HAMMER AND CHISEL, MISSED STONE AND STRUCK HAND WITH HAMMER.

1993 · 2 incidents

May 15, 1993 ID · Metal/Non-Metal groundman, yardman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Fall onto or against objects

EMPLOYEE STEPPED BACKWAREDS TRIPPED & FELL AGINST METAL BIN & STONE CAUSING LACERATION TO EMPLOYEES TRICEP TENDER ON LEFT ELBOW

1992 · 6 incidents

September 11, 1992 ID · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Struck by flying object

WORKER SPLITTING STONE-STONE CHIP FLEW INTO RT. EYE. STONE CHIP IMBEDDED IN RT. EYE. DUG OUT ANTIBIOTICES RX'D.

August 30, 1992 ID · Metal/Non-Metal groundman, yardman OTHER
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Struck by flying object

SPLITTING STONE WIND BLEW FOREIGN OBJECT ROCK CHIPS INTO LEFT EYE.

July 27, 1992 ID · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man OTHER
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Struck by flying object

69540BLOWING WORKER SPLITTING AND PALLETIZING STONE. WIND BLEW FOREIGN OBJECT INTO RIGHT EYE.

June 14, 1992 ID · Metal/Non-Metal POWERED HAULAGE
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Accident type, without injuries

EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTED TO LOAD EQUIPMENT ON DETACHABLE GOOSE NECK LOW BED TRAILER.EQUIPMENT (A CAT EXCAVATOR) FELL OF STEEP REAR DECK OF DETACHABLE TRAILER.

May 29, 1992 ID · Metal/Non-Metal groundman, yardman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

WORKER PALLETIZING STONE. SMASHED IT. THUMB W/STONE-REC'D TETANUS AND X-RAYS.

1991 · 4 incidents

September 13, 1991 ID · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPL CHISELING STONE.HAMMER MISSED THE CHISEL AND HIT RING FINGER ON LEFT HAND.THE RING FINGER WAS TAKEN OFF AT THE FIRST JOINT.

1990 · 4 incidents

September 26, 1990 ID · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Struck by flying object

WINDY CONDITIONS BLEW ROCK FRAGMENTS AROUND SAFETY GLASSES INTO EYE.

1989 · 5 incidents

September 22, 1989 ID · Metal/Non-Metal groundman, yardman OTHER
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Struck by flying object

BLOWING DIRT OR SAND-NO IMPAIRMENT OR RECOVERY TIME

June 10, 1989 ID · Metal/Non-Metal groundman, yardman OTHER
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Struck by flying object

BLOWING DIRT OR SAND NO IMPROVEMENT OR RECOVERY TIME

May 26, 1989 ID · Metal/Non-Metal groundman, yardman MACHINERY
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Struck by flying object

DIRT OR SAND NO IMPAIRMENT OR RECOVERY TIME.PELLETIZING STONE.

May 18, 1989 ID · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Northern Stone Supply Inc · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

PIPE WRENCH SLIPPED ON PINS-CAUSING HAND TO BE WEDGED BETWEEN PIPE WRENCH & ROUND HOUSE