Spanish Springs Quarry has $362K in proposed MSHA penalties and $396 outstanding across 19 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
28
Years on record
1989–2026
Latest incident
May 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
314
citations
69
significant & substantial
$361,540
proposed penalties
$305,989
paid to date
85% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $55,551 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.
314 citations across 1,892 inspection hours.
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.
3
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2018-12-10.
On record since 2010.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, updated weekly.
Spanish Springs Quarry has $362K in proposed MSHA penalties and $396 outstanding across 19 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.
$362K
proposed penalties
$306K
current assessed
$306K
paid to date
$396
outstanding
301 assessments are final orders; 19 contested dockets.
Of $351K in penalties contested before the Commission, $207K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-07-01.
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.
51citations taken to the federal commission · 16% of citations on record
Settled
36 · 71%
Stood as issued
9 · 18%
Vacated or withdrawn
6 · 12%
63%
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 24 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
41%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$346K proposed, $204K 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 2023-09-26.
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: 2024-09-25
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
10
samples
4
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz5
Respirable dust, <.1mg4
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (10)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2024-09-25
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.17
Crusher Oper/Worker
2024-09-25
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.18
0.98
0.18
Belt Crew
2014-06-25
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.46
1.24
0.37
Crusher Oper/Worker
2014-06-25
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2014-06-25
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Mechanic
2014-06-25
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.3
0.76
0.39
Bulldozer Operator
2009-04-08
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.31
0.9
0.34
Cleanup Man
2009-04-08
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2009-04-08
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2003-06-04
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.25
Crusher Oper/Worker
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.
Spanish Springs 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
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 Nevada, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.25 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 *
2.95
2.95
0.000
2023 *
2.78
0.00
0.000
2022 *
3.21
3.21
3.206
2021 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2020 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2019 *
7.13
0.00
0.000
2018 *
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
37
2025
33
2024
31
2023
34
2022
36
2021
26
2020
19
2019
20
2018
18
2017
16
2016
14
2015
13
2014
14
2013
15
2012
15
2011
14
2010
13
2009
17
2008
23
2007
28
2006
27
2005
26
2004
24
2003
30
2002
24
2001
44
2000
53
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Spanish Springs Quarry sits in Washoe County, Nevada, where the Census mining category is 0.4% 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.
Washoe County, Nevada · Population 491,770
0.4%
Mining share of county employment
$85,600
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
20,449
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
17,840
0
0
0.0
2025 Q4
7,306
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
14,135
0
0
0.0
2025 Q2
16,723
10
0
598.0
2025 Q1
15,887
21
4
1321.8
2024 Q4
15,726
0
0
0.0
2024 Q3
16,423
0
0
0.0
Show 98 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
17,667
0
0
0.0
2024 Q1
17,968
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
17,543
8
0
456.0
2023 Q3
18,548
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
19,576
6
4
306.5
2023 Q1
16,217
0
0
0.0
2022 Q4
12,113
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
16,660
3
1
180.1
2022 Q2
18,319
4
1
218.4
2022 Q1
15,287
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
13,591
0
0
0.0
2021 Q3
12,135
0
0
0.0
2021 Q2
13,444
2
1
148.8
2021 Q1
7,238
3
1
414.5
2020 Q4
11,829
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
12,493
5
0
400.2
2020 Q2
12,733
0
0
0.0
2020 Q1
14,764
5
2
338.7
2019 Q4
14,178
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
15,725
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
14,379
3
1
208.6
2019 Q1
11,853
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
12,066
9
3
745.9
2018 Q3
12,844
4
0
311.4
2018 Q2
11,238
0
0
0.0
2018 Q1
9,491
3
0
316.1
2017 Q4
9,709
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
11,164
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
9,740
2
0
205.3
2017 Q1
7,100
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
8,573
0
0
0.0
2016 Q3
10,955
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
8,862
3
0
338.5
2016 Q1
5,319
2
0
376.0
2015 Q4
7,621
0
0
0.0
2015 Q3
8,455
3
1
354.8
2015 Q2
8,079
3
2
371.3
2015 Q1
5,369
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
7,379
4
0
542.1
2014 Q3
8,136
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
8,765
8
1
912.7
2014 Q1
5,103
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
7,894
11
3
1393.5
2013 Q3
9,449
4
0
423.3
2013 Q2
10,059
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
1,825
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
7,239
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
10,502
6
3
571.3
2012 Q2
9,594
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
5,481
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
9,501
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
11,167
15
5
1343.2
2011 Q2
8,453
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
4,423
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
7,032
9
2
1279.9
2010 Q3
13,006
6
1
461.3
2010 Q2
7,246
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
4,105
2
0
487.2
2009 Q4
6,751
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
10,146
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
10,632
5
2
470.3
2009 Q1
9,864
0
0
0.0
2008 Q4
13,215
22
3
1664.8
2008 Q3
14,377
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
14,860
1
0
67.3
2008 Q1
8,493
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
10,716
3
0
280.0
2007 Q3
15,527
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
18,019
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
16,917
3
0
177.3
2006 Q4
16,815
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
19,770
10
3
505.8
2006 Q2
18,184
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
16,586
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
16,801
6
5
357.1
2005 Q3
19,287
16
6
829.6
2005 Q2
16,955
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
14,909
18
5
1207.3
2004 Q4
15,036
1
1
66.5
2004 Q3
15,064
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
16,411
2
0
121.9
2004 Q1
18,709
2
1
106.9
2003 Q4
18,713
10
1
534.4
2003 Q3
21,956
2
0
91.1
2003 Q2
20,774
7
2
337.0
2003 Q1
15,641
8
1
511.5
2002 Q4
17,741
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
17,170
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
3,504
1
0
285.4
2002 Q1
13,793
12
2
870.0
2001 Q4
20,076
0
0
0.0
2001 Q3
25,307
1
0
39.5
2001 Q2
23,236
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
24,438
0
0
0.0
2000 Q4
26,188
0
0
0.0
2000 Q3
28,008
9
0
321.3
2000 Q2
31,162
0
0
0.0
2000 Q1
26,515
0
0
0.0
Fatalities at this mine
1 recorded
September 28, 2022NV · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerFatality · OTHER
Miner used a front-end loader to carve a path into stacked material, then exited the loader and entered the newly-carved path on foot. The newly-created unstable wall of the material collapsed and covered the miner, causing a fatality.
Reportable incidents
27 on file (excluding fatalities above)
2026 · 2 incidents
May 13, 2026NV · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was working on a belt, was holding on to a piece of Angle iron, the angle iron came loose, and the employee fell approx. 6 feet, employee suffered a small cut on EE's right forearm and was taken to the Urgent care. Employee was returned to duty same morning
April 9, 2026NV · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE attempted to tap a bushing for a head pulley shaft in place with a hammer and a spud wrench. As the EE struck the spud wrench with the hammer, they missed and struck their left pinkie finger, causing it to break.
EE was shoveling material spilled at the plant next to an I-beam for the screen deck. As the EE shoveled, they struck the I-beam with the edge of the shovel causing their right wrist to bend backwards, causing a muscle strain.
The employee was working with two other crew members to move a screen over a handrail and onto the screen deck. Employees were wearing gloves. The injured employee lifted the screen while other employees pushed the screen and caught IE's finger between the screen media and handrail.
Employee was holding a piece of steel plate that he was going to set down in the slump pump area. The employee slipped on the muddy surface, and the plate slipped out of his hand. The plate cut through his glove, and cause a minor laceration to his right hand ring finger, requiring a few stitches.
2008 · 2 incidents
July 23, 2008NV · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee slipped into open feeder hole. He fell approx. 30" to feeder pan below. Landing with his left side on steel lip of feeder. Employee was taken to hospital and is being held for observation. He has no broken bones, just bad bruising and trouble breathing.
February 18, 2008NV · Metal/Non-Metalwelder (shop)MACHINERY
Employee was welding a pump housing (app 200lbs) that was resting on a piece of I-beam while it was preheating. The housing shifted and began to fall, the employee on instinct tried to catch the falling pump which smashed his hand between the pump and the piece of I-beam.
2007 · 1 incident
October 15, 2007NV · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee hit left elbow on hand rail of loader causing it to swell. Went to Dr. and returned to work with no restrictions. Went back to Dr. a week later for a check up and they drained two syringes of fluid from elbow.
2006 · 1 incident
August 24, 2006NV · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Two employees were working to clear drain on CMW so they could inspect. The drain was clogged with mud. One employee was using a bar to help break up the mud. As he was striking the mud (in the drain hole) with the bar, he missed the drain hole and hit employee's finger which was approx 7? above the drain.
2005 · 2 incidents
July 1, 2005NV · Metal/Non-Metalclerk, timekeeper, office worker, director of salesELECTRICAL
SNOW HAD BEEN CLEARED FROM THE SCALE IN FRONT OF THE OFFICE ON SUNDAY, 1/9/05. THE REMAINING SNOW HAD MELTED & FROZE OVERNIGHT. EMPLOYEE STEPPED FROM A SNOWY AREA ONTO THE ICE COVERED SCALE & SLIPPED & FELL.
WHILE HELPING OUT IN THE SHOP, EMPLOYEE WAS ASSEMBLING A BRAKE WHEN THE DRUM PORTION FELL ON HIS HAND.
February 28, 2003NV · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
EE WAS INSTALLING A 3" CAP ON THE WATER TRUCK 1037 UDING A LARGE PIPE WRENCH. WHILE PULLING THE WRENCH DOWN, HIS LEFT THUMB HIT ANOTHER PIECE OF THE WATER TRUCK. ON 2-13-02 HE CAME INTO THE OF FICE AND SHOWED A SWOLLEN THUMB.
2002 · 5 incidents
November 14, 2002NV · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
WHILE TIGHTENING MOTOR MOUNT BOLT WRENCH SLIPPED & RIGHT HAND HIT ENGINE FAN BLADE CUTTING THUMB INSIDE A WELL LIT SHOP.
September 3, 2002NV · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS CLOSING THE ACCESS DOOR ON THE BLUE BARMAC WHEN HE CAUGHT HIS FINGER IN THE DOOR.
May 20, 2002NV · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
STUMBLED ON ROCKS LAYING ON THE GROUND AT THE JAW NEAR CONE CRUSHER. TWISTED FOOT THEN RECOVERED.
April 9, 2002NV · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSTEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT
WHILE TRYING TO REMOVE TIRE, WHICH WAS PARTIALLY JAMMED ON THE AXLE FROM A HIGHWAY TRUCK FELT A SMALL PAIN IN LOWER BACK.
1990 · 1 incident
November 1, 1990NV · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorMACHINERY
Rocky Ridge Inc · Caught in, under or between two or more moving objects
EMPL WAS TURNING CRUSHER BELT BY HAND. SIGNAL TO EMPL WAS MISINTERPETED BY CRUSHER OPERATOR WHO TURNED BELT ON. EMPL THUMBS WERE PULLED BETWEEN RIVE BELTS & PULLEY.
INJURED WAS NOT EMPL OF ROCKY RIDGE. HE WAS A TRUCK DRIVER & WAS BEING ALLOWED TO STOCKPILE USED PIPING MATERIAL ON MINE PREMISES IN UNUSED PORTION OF DECOMPOSED GRANITE PIT. HE FREED RESTRA INTS ON LOAD & CLIMBED UP ON FLATBED TRALER TO FREE LOAD MANUALLY. HE WAS WALKING IN VICINITY OF FLATBED WHEN HEAVY PIPE FELL OFF TRAILER ONTO HIM.