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: 850 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: 2023-07-11.
On record since 2023.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Rye Plant 1144 has $6K in proposed MSHA penalties and $155 outstanding across 3 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.
$6K
proposed penalties
$6K
current assessed
$6K
paid to date
$155
outstanding
32 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $425 in penalties contested before the Commission, $155 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-04-14.
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.
3citations taken to the federal commission · 9% of citations on record
Settled
1 · 33%
Vacated or withdrawn
2 · 67%
50%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 2 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
64%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$425 proposed, $155 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 2023-09-07.
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: 2025-06-10
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
16
samples
1
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Respirable dust, <.1mg14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz1
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (16)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2025-06-10
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Washer Operator
2025-06-10
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2025-06-10
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Dredge/Barge Operator
2021-07-27
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2018-03-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Washer Operator
2018-03-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Mechanic
2018-03-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2013-10-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Screen/Scalper Operator
2013-10-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Mechanic
2013-10-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2004-01-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Washer Operator
2004-01-29
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.24
0.33
0.73
Dredge/Barge Operator
2004-01-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2004-01-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2000-07-18
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2000-07-18
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
1.58
Washer Operator
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.
Rye Plant 1144 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
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 Texas, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.17 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 *
7.56
0.00
0.000
2023 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
8.60
0.00
0.000
2020 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
9.29
9.29
9.293
* 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
15
2025
16
2024
14
2023
13
2022
12
2021
10
2020
11
2019
11
2018
9
2017
8
2016
8
2015
8
2014
6
2013
6
2012
6
2011
6
2010
9
2009
10
2008
10
2007
12
2006
14
2005
14
2004
11
2003
12
2002
11
2001
11
2000
12
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Rye Plant 1144 sits in Liberty County, Texas, where the Census mining category is 2.0% 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.
Liberty County, Texas · Population 97,993
2.0%
Mining share of county employment
$64,773
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
A customer driver was fatally injured when the driver's over the road truck ran over the driver when driver fell out of the truck at the check in station.
Reportable incidents
28 on file (excluding fatalities above)
2024 · 1 incident
September 6, 2024TX · Metal/Non-Metalcrane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, riggerOTHER
Employee was in changing a return roller in the process of standing up employee started to experience pain in the lower back area.
2021 · 1 incident
September 1, 2021TX · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was replacing a tail pulley on the pea gravel belt when the shaft of the tail pulley slipped and causing a finger to get caught between the shaft and conveyor belt frame. Employee stated they pulled the finger back in a jerking motion causing the hand injury.
2012 · 1 incident
September 26, 2012TX · Metal/Non-Metalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee atempted to use rope to stop barge. While pulling up to dredge to re-fuel, employee wrapped the rope around the handrail on the barge while it was still moving, causing a cut on his right ring finger when his hand became entangled in the rope.
2005 · 2 incidents
March 25, 2005TX · Metal/Non-Metalbarge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck handPOWERED HAULAGE
EE WAS GETTING OFF DREDGE INTO BOAT AND FELL WHEN THE BOAT SHIFTED, HITTING HIS BACK ON THE DREDGE, CAUSING PAIN. EE WENT TO EMERGENCY ROOM AND WAS PLACED ON LIGHT DUTY.
March 8, 2005TX · Metal/Non-Metalcrane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, riggerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
EE was getting off of dredge into boat, when boat shifted and caused EE to lose his balance and fall out of boat. While falling, he reached out to grab onto dredge cutting left palm in between ring finger and pinkie finger.
EE WAS IN BOAT ON FRONT DECK. WHEN HE STEPPED DOWN TO FLOOR OF BOAT HIS RIGHT ANKLE TWISTED AND HE FELL. HIS RIGHT ANKLE IS SPRAINED BUT NO BROKEN BONES.
DRIVER WAS TARPING LOAD AND STARTED UP FRONT OF TRAILER. LOST BALANCE ON TOUNGE OF TRAILER AND FELL APPROX. 4 FT TO THE GROUND. HE LANDED ON HIS LEFT SHOULDER AND SIDE BREKING ONE RIB.
1999 · 3 incidents
June 22, 1999TX · Metal/Non-Metalcrane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, riggerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
INJURED STATED - WALKED UP TO THE ELECTRICAL SHACK TO THROW A PIECE OF PAPER AWAY. MISSED THE STEP, TRIPPED AND FELL HITTING BOTH KNEES WITH WEIGHT CONCENTRATING ON RIGHT KNEE.
February 11, 1999TX · Metal/Non-Metalmine manager, mine foreman, mine ownerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
DRIVER WASHING OUT WASHOUT MATERIAL FROM ANOTHER JOB. DRIVER STANDING BEHIND TRAILER ON GROUND. CHUNK OF WASHOUT FELL, HIT TAILGATE AND TAILGATE HIT HIS RIGHT KNEE.
EE STANDING ON STANDING PLATFORM ON FRONT OF TRUCK TO FUEL TRUCK. EE BURNING TO GET DOWN OFF TRUCK AND SLIPPED OFF TRUCK FALL STOPPED WITH LEFT WRIST.
June 25, 1994TX · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
MINOR REPAIR BEING PERFORME DON ROCK WASHING PLANT. A FEW PIECE OF ANKLE IRON WRE LYING ON THE GROUND. EMPLOYEE DOD NOT SEE ANGLE IRON AND HE STEPPED ON IT.
April 9, 1994TX · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS ON FUEL BARGE HE PULLED THE STARTING CORD WITH HIS LEFT HAND TO TRY TO START THE MOTOR WHEN PULLING UP WARDS HIS HAND BACK OF HAND CONTRACTED A FRYED CABLE USED TO HOLD UP THE A F RAME