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.
72 citations across 1,100 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Sparta Quarry has $10K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 1 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.
$10K
proposed penalties
$10K
current assessed
$10K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
72 assessments are final orders; 1 contested dockets.
Of $327 in penalties contested before the Commission, $300 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-03-05.
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 · 4% of citations on record
Settled
3 · 100%
0%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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%
8%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$327 proposed, $300 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2012-05-16.
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: 2026-03-18
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
19
samples
5
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Respirable dust, <.1mg9
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz6
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz3
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (19)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2026-03-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.55
Crusher Oper/Worker
2026-03-18
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.38
Front-end Loader Operator
2026-03-18
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2026-03-18
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2024-03-20
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.17
Front-end Loader Operator
2024-03-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Rotary Bucket Ex. Operator
2024-03-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2024-03-20
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2022-05-10
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.16
10
0.02
Front-end Loader Operator
2022-05-10
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Supervisor, Co. Official
2018-07-24
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.33
Mechanic
2018-07-24
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2010-11-03
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.46
2.8
0.16
Front-end Loader Operator
2006-02-16
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.9
1.32
0.68
Truck Driver
2006-02-16
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2001-12-12
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.24
2.87
0.43
Crusher Oper/Worker
2001-12-12
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.41
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2001-12-12
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.44
2.23
0.20
Truck Driver
2001-12-12
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader 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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2026
7
2025
7
2024
7
2023
9
2022
12
2021
11
2020
10
2019
10
2018
9
2017
8
2016
10
2015
8
2014
8
2013
8
2012
8
2011
8
2010
9
2009
6
2008
10
2007
9
2006
11
2005
9
2004
9
2003
8
2002
10
2001
10
2000
12
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Sparta Quarry sits in White County, Tennessee, 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.
White County, Tennessee · Population 27,764
0.5%
Mining share of county employment
$52,206
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
Truck was backed up grade to place material in a washed area of the road. When operator raised the truck bed, the truck began to roll and operator lost control. The truck traveled over an embankment and rolled. As a result of the incident the operator received a cut to the head and broken knee.
2007 · 1 incident
September 26, 2007TN · Metal/Non-Metalblaster, shooter, shotfirer, explosive worker, powder gang/monkeySLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Chain broke on dewatering unit; he grabbed hose to keep from falling, pulled low back.
2005 · 1 incident
February 8, 2005TN · Metal/Non-Metalwelder (shop)MACHINERY
Rogers Group Inc · Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances
Employee was burning out templates in steel plate in shop. After finishing task, employee began feeling dizzy. He later began feeling nauseous. Once returning to Industrial Machine, he vomited twice before being take to the ER.
1993 · 1 incident
October 30, 1993TN · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS