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Sparta Quarry: 102 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Heidelberg Materials AG
Sparta, Hancock County, GA  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0901033

Sparta Quarry has $17K in proposed MSHA penalties and $884 outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
17
Years on record
1991–2026
Latest incident
Jul 2026
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2002
102
citations
14
significant & substantial
$17,195
proposed penalties
$16,286
paid to date
95% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $909 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg., LLC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
67
inspections on record
973
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: 973 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Sparta Quarry has $17K in proposed MSHA penalties and $884 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.
$17K
proposed penalties
$17K
current assessed
$16K
paid to date
$884
outstanding
101 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $1K in penalties contested before the Commission, $1K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-05-21.
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.
13.7%
significant & substantial
4.9%
high negligence or reckless
13.7%
reasonably likely or greater
55.9%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 5.9% low, 89.2% moderate, 4.9% 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.
9 citations taken to the federal commission · 9% of citations on record
  • Settled 6 · 67%
  • Stood as issued 3 · 33%
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%
2%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$1K proposed, $1K 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 2010-08-30.
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
SE 2009-150M Settlement Biro 2011 $735 → $710
SE 2010-958M Default Lesnick 2011 $351 → $351
SE 2010-1130M Default Lesnick 2011 $100 → $100
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: 2022-08-18, 4 years ago
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
27
samples
7
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg15
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz9
  • Fibers, >5um1
  • Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (27)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2022-08-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.49 1.18 0.42 Front-end Loader Operator
2022-08-18 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 5.66 Front-end Loader Operator
2022-08-18 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.17 Truck Driver
2018-09-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2018-09-06 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2018-09-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.17 Lab Technician
2018-09-06 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 Crusher Oper/Worker
2016-10-27 Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.13 10 0.01 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-10-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2016-10-27 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.34 0.82 0.41 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2016-10-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2013-12-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Helper
2013-12-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Lab Technician
2013-12-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2013-06-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2013-06-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2013-06-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Lab Technician
2013-06-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2011-02-09 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2011-02-09 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2010-05-27 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.31 0.55 0.56 Lab Technician
2010-05-27 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.24 0.64 0.38 Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-05-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-05-10 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.24 0.44 0.55 Lab Technician
2007-05-10 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.24 0.5 0.48 Mechanic
2005-12-08 Fibers, >5um 0.01 Crusher Oper/Worker
2002-06-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 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.

Sparta Quarry recorded 6.29 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.
6.29
total case rate
0.00
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above 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 Georgia, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.20 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 * 6.29 0.00 0.000
2024 * 6.70 0.00 0.000
2023 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2022 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2020 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2013 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2012 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2011 * 8.84 8.84 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. Hancock Aggregate Corp 1988 to 1991
  2. Hancock County Materials 1991 to 1994
  3. Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg., LLC 1994 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 16
2025 14
2024 14
2023 12
2022 8
2021 8
2020 8
2019 8
2018 8
2017 9
2016 9
2015 9
2014 9
2013 12
2012 11
2011 10
2010 9
2009 8
2008 11
2007 12
2006 12
2005 12
2004 14
2003 16
2002 15
2001 11
2000 13
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Sparta Quarry sits in Hancock County, Georgia, 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.
Hancock County, Georgia · Population 8,630
0.4%
Mining share of county employment
$33,182
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 10,099 1 0 99.0
2026 Q1 8,519 1 0 117.4
2025 Q4 8,039 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 8,410 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 7,913 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 7,448 1 0 134.3
2024 Q4 7,325 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 7,778 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 7,201 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 7,533 1 0 132.7
2023 Q4 7,401 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 7,719 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 6,994 1 0 143.0
2023 Q1 5,554 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 4,239 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 6,014 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 5,065 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 4,803 3 0 624.6
2021 Q4 4,746 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 5,612 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 5,227 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 4,338 4 0 922.1
2020 Q4 5,029 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 5,230 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 5,233 2 0 382.2
2020 Q1 5,485 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 4,554 1 0 219.6
2019 Q3 4,675 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 4,375 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 3,640 1 1 274.7
2018 Q4 3,722 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 3,978 1 1 251.4
2018 Q2 3,954 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 2,290 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 2,408 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 2,980 2 0 671.1
2017 Q2 3,900 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 4,770 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 3,771 1 0 265.2
2016 Q3 6,005 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 3,950 2 0 506.3
2016 Q1 5,015 1 1 199.4
2015 Q4 4,546 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 3,932 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 4,560 4 2 877.2
2015 Q1 4,664 4 1 857.6
2014 Q4 3,911 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 4,120 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 3,774 2 1 529.9
2014 Q1 4,056 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 5,922 3 0 506.6
2013 Q3 5,761 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 6,768 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 5,988 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 5,822 2 1 343.5
2012 Q3 6,164 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 5,812 2 0 344.1
2012 Q1 6,582 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 4,791 3 0 626.2
2011 Q3 9,080 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 4,200 1 0 238.1
2011 Q1 4,564 1 0 219.1
2010 Q4 4,481 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 4,325 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 4,464 2 1 448.0
2010 Q1 4,255 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 3,196 3 0 938.7
2009 Q3 3,180 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 3,964 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 3,505 2 0 570.6
2008 Q4 4,700 1 0 212.8
2008 Q3 5,047 13 1 2575.8
2008 Q2 6,488 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 7,741 4 0 516.7
2007 Q4 6,421 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 7,079 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 7,514 4 0 532.3
2007 Q1 7,612 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 5,437 3 0 551.8
2006 Q3 5,614 9 1 1603.1
2006 Q2 6,137 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 6,223 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 6,424 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 6,583 4 0 607.6
2005 Q2 7,517 2 0 266.1
2005 Q1 6,714 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 8,715 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 9,106 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 8,537 1 0 117.1
2004 Q1 7,096 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 8,746 2 0 228.7
2003 Q3 9,923 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 9,960 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 8,811 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 9,526 1 1 105.0
2002 Q3 9,685 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 9,715 1 0 102.9
2002 Q1 6,746 2 1 296.5
2001 Q4 6,489 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 6,954 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 5,645 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 6,393 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 6,850 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 4,365 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 5,435 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 8,491 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

17 on file

2026 · 1 incident

July 15, 2026 GA · Metal/Non-Metal utility man, shift tech, service/dump truck operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg., LLC · Struck by flying object

Employee was washing beneath a conveyor with a water hose when the water spray rebounded and struck them in the face, covering it small debris. Employee turned off the hose, lowered glasses, and wiped their forehead. When they did so, a piece of rust fell into left eye. Clinic used magnetic tweezers and prescription numbing drops to remove the debris.

2025 · 1 incident

August 13, 2025 GA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg., LLC · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employee placed hands on the fork of the hydraulic bowl adjustment ram in an attempt to free it and reposition it. Another employee actuated the hydraulic cylinder of the ram, and it retracted before the employee could move a finger out of the way. The tip of ring finger was crushed between the fork and the cylinder.

2024 · 2 incidents

September 11, 2024 GA · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg., LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was cutting a sunoco tube at a borehole and cut the base of their index finger with the knife. The employee received 20 stitches to close the wound.

May 13, 2024 GA · Metal/Non-Metal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg., LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using a utility knife to cut the zip ties on a new flag EE was installing on EE's F150 QC Truck. The employee was not wearing cut resistant gloves during this task. The knife slipped and cut into EE's thumb on EE's right hand.

2011 · 1 incident

April 4, 2011 GA · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg., LLC · Struck against a moving object

Employee was operating pit loader and digging in muck pile to load a haul truck, when the bucket of the loader hit a rock toe and the loader came to a sudden stop. This resulted in a jarring motion and the employee felt a pain in his right leg. This originally did not require medical treatment, but a subsequent doctor's visit resulted in work restrictions and physical therapy.

2006 · 1 incident

August 10, 2006 GA · Metal/Non-Metal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant POWERED HAULAGE
Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg., LLC · Fall from machine

Employee was using a Cat 226 Skid Steer loader to stem a shot. Upon getting out of the loader he lost his balance causing one of his feet to hang up on the bucket twisting his right foot and ankle.

2005 · 1 incident

June 7, 2005 GA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg., LLC · Struck by flying object

Employee was using a jack to free material from the crusher. While operating the jack, the stand collapsed causing a piece of metal to hit the employee in the face, resulting in a chin laceration.

1995 · 1 incident

November 15, 1995 GA · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Heidelberg Materials Southeast Agg., LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHEN COMPLETING WORK ON A CONVEYOR EE JUMPED OFF, WHEN THE FRAYED END OF A WIRE HANDRAIL CABLE PUNCTURED HIS RIGHT FOREARM. EE NOTICED SWELLING LATER THAT NIGHT AND VISITED THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR EXAMINATION.

1994 · 3 incidents

May 12, 1994 GA · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
Hancock County Materials · Struck by flying object

EE WAS SANDING AND DID NOT WARE SAFTY GLASSES AND A PIECE OF METAL HIT HIM IS LEFT EYE.

March 7, 1994 GA · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man MACHINERY
Hancock County Materials · Struck by flying object

INJURED WAS STANDING AT JAW AND A PIECE OF ROCK CAME OUT AND HIT HIM.

February 22, 1994 GA · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Hancock County Materials · Fall from machine

HE WS RIDING WITH TRAINEE TRUCK STALLE DON RAMP AND STARTED ROLLING FORWARD AND INJURED JUMPED OUT.

1992 · 2 incidents

August 28, 1992 GA · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman POWERED HAULAGE
Hancock County Materials · Struck against stationary object

33515ING AROUND TAIL PULLY. STEPPED TO CLOSE TO IT AND IT HIT HIS FOOT. OSSIBLE FRACTURE TO LEFT FOOT. POSSIBLE FRACTURE TO LEFT FOOT.

June 29, 1992 GA · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
Hancock County Materials · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WELDING ON THE JAW CRUSHER FEED BOX BENDING OVER WHILE WELDING STRAINED HIS BACK.

1991 · 4 incidents

October 24, 1991 GA · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Hancock County Materials · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

CUTTING V-BELTS WITH KNIFE, SLIPPED WHILE CUTTING BELT, CUT FOREARM.

October 4, 1991 GA · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Hancock County Materials · Over-exertion in lifting objects

CLEANING UP AROUND SHOP PICKED UP A PIECE OF METAL HURT HIS BACK

September 13, 1991 GA · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Hancock County Materials · Fall from machine

TAKING SHORT CUT ACROSS FEEDER TABLE TO JAW BOOTH CLIMBING FROM FEEDER TO HANRAIL AROUND JAW BOOTH SLIPPED AND TAIL BACK INTO HOPPER LANDING ON HIS BACK ON ROCKS.

July 25, 1991 GA · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Hancock County Materials · Fall from machine

WORKING ON JAW CRUSHER CHUTE.SLIPPED & SLID DOWN CHUTE.BRUISED LEFT HIP FROM CORNER STICKING OUT