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Spruce Pine: 1 recorded fatality Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Vulcan Materials Company
Bakersville, Mitchell County, NC  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3101840

Spruce Pine has $58K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 6 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
14
Years on record
1989–2023
Latest incident
Jun 2023
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
24
citations
6
significant & substantial
$57,586
proposed penalties
$36,506
paid to date
63% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $21,080 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
83
inspections on record
1,285
inspection hours
1.9
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.
24 citations across 1,285 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Spruce Pine has $58K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 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.
$58K
proposed penalties
$37K
current assessed
$37K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
19 assessments are final orders; 6 contested dockets.
Of $47K in penalties contested before the Commission, $25K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2023-06-06.
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.
27.3%
significant & substantial
18.2%
high negligence or reckless
27.3%
reasonably likely or greater
54.5%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 36.4% low, 45.5% moderate, 18.2% 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 · 38% of citations on record
  • Settled 2 · 22%
  • Stood as issued 4 · 44%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 3 · 33%
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 4 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
86%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$2K proposed, $309 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 2022-05-01.
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 20020009M Settlement Feldman 2002 $45K → $25K
SE 2011-696M Settlement Melick 2011 $1K → $109
SE 2011-351M Withdrawal Bulluck 2011 $699 → $100
SE 2021-0162 Dismissal Lewis 2021 $250 → $0
SE 2022-0106 Dismissal Lewis 2022 $133 → $0
SE 2009-227M Dismissal 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: 2026-03-18
29
samples
0
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg21
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz7
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (29)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2026-03-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2026-03-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2026-03-18 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-10-19 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2023-10-19 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.15 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-10-19 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.33 Utility Man
2023-10-19 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2023-10-19 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-09-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2023-09-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Scale Man
2023-09-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Drill Operator, Rotary
2023-09-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2020-07-14 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.18 Front-end Loader Operator
2020-07-14 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.18 Utility Man
2020-07-14 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2020-07-14 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2013-10-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2013-10-22 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Supervisor, Co. Official
2009-04-30 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0.02 Front-end Loader Operator
2009-04-30 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0.01 Supervisor, Co. Official
2008-04-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0.05 Cleanup Man
2005-05-11 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.45 Front-end Loader Operator
2005-05-11 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.25 Truck Driver
2005-05-11 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2005-05-11 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2001-06-20 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.23 Front-end Loader Operator
2001-06-20 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.32 Truck Driver
2001-06-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Cleanup Man
2001-06-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker

Area samples (mill and shop air)

Last sampled: 2026-01-28
5
samples
Show the individual readings (5)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Area sampled
2026-01-28 ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS 0 MP PROD TRANSFER
2024-06-05 ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS 0 SF ORE TRANSFER
2023-07-21 ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS 0 SF GENERAL
2022-02-08 ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS 0 SF ORE TRANSFER
2021-04-28 ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS 0 MP CRUSHING
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.

Spruce Pine 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 North Carolina, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.14 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
2018 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2017 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2007 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2006 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2005 * 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. Mayland Stone Company Inc 1978 to 1999
  2. Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC 1999 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 16
2025 16
2024 10
2023 10
2022 10
2021 10
2020 10
2019 7
2018 12
2017 11
2016 6
2015 5
2014 6
2013 5
2012 7
2011 5
2010 7
2009 5
2008 7
2007 12
2006 13
2005 12
2004 12
2003 12
2002 13
2001 12
2000 13
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Spruce Pine sits in Mitchell County, North Carolina, where the Census mining category is 6.2% 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.
Mitchell County, North Carolina · Population 14,973
6.2%
Mining share of county employment
$58,089
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 9,033 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 8,160 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 8,571 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 8,307 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 8,422 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 9,951 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 9,505 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 2,285 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 7,130 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 4,009 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 7,767 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 2,701 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 7,942 4 2 503.7
2023 Q1 2,285 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 4,645 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 5,895 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 5,119 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 2,793 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 5,360 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 4,397 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 5,023 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 3,284 2 0 609.0
2020 Q4 3,932 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 4,878 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 3,958 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 4,183 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 3,410 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 4,987 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 5,047 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 4,187 1 0 238.8
2018 Q4 3,557 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 5,433 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 6,855 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 7,923 1 0 126.2
2017 Q4 7,467 0 0 0.0
2017 Q3 5,940 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 6,140 0 0 0.0
2017 Q1 4,284 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 4,265 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 5,429 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 3,224 0 0 0.0
2016 Q1 1,932 0 0 0.0
2015 Q4 1,791 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 3,206 1 0 311.9
2015 Q2 4,402 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 2,214 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 3,039 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 2,205 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 4,839 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 2,076 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 1,880 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 6,100 1 0 163.9
2013 Q2 3,449 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 2,103 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 3,611 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 4,840 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 2,134 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 3,178 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 3,009 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 3,250 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 2,247 3 1 1335.1
2011 Q1 2,691 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 2,382 1 0 419.8
2010 Q3 3,412 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 2,265 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 2,853 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 1,906 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 2,767 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 2,552 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 1,980 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 3,081 1 0 324.6
2008 Q3 4,094 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 4,111 1 0 243.2
2008 Q1 3,323 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 4,822 1 0 207.4
2007 Q3 4,596 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 5,764 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 5,296 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 5,579 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 6,142 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 6,156 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 5,948 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 6,467 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 7,079 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 6,398 2 0 312.6
2005 Q1 5,979 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 6,117 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 6,701 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 6,352 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 4,419 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 4,752 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 6,277 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 5,880 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 4,174 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 4,924 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 6,040 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 7,641 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 5,157 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 6,130 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 7,378 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 7,495 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 5,103 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 7,379 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 7,390 2 2 270.6
2000 Q2 8,189 1 0 122.1
2000 Q1 4,670 0 0 0.0

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
June 24, 2000 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech Fatality · MACHINERY
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Struck by falling object

EE WAS CUTTING A TREE, WHEN THE TRACKHOE OPERATOR INADVERTENTLY PLACED A SMALL TREE IN THE AREA IN WHICH HE WAS WORKING SERIOUSLY INJURING EE. EE WAS AIRLIFTED TO MISSION/ST JOESPH'S HOSPITAL IN ASHEVILLE, N.C.

Reportable incidents

13 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2023 · 2 incidents

June 28, 2023 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Struck by flying object

IW was using a hammer to drive a pin on a set of tracks when a piece of material broke off pin and struck IW's right arm

June 3, 2023 NC · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Service provider was working on roof of shop to seal metal when EE stepped backwards and fell through a sky light. Individual is not a Vulcan employee or miner by MSHA definition.

2009 · 1 incident

May 26, 2009 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Struck by flying object

While removing wedges and adjusting bolts from crusher a wedge flew out striking the employee in the right knee. EE did not go to the Dr. until 6/3/09, at this time the injury became MSHA reportable.

2008 · 1 incident

March 25, 2008 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Over-exertion in lifting objects

The employee fractured two left ribs while changing a screen at the plant wash.

2003 · 1 incident

September 29, 2003 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS ALIGNING A NEW CABLE ON A DRUM OF THE LONG ARM EXCAVATOR. AS THIS PROCESS WAS BEING DONE THE EES FINGERS GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN THE DRUM AND THE CABLE WHEN THE DRUM MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY CRUSH- ING BONES IN HIS RT. INDEX FINGER. EE HAD SURGERY TO REPAIR THE DAMAGED FINGER.

2002 · 1 incident

July 22, 2002 NC · Metal/Non-Metal truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC · Fall from ladders

EMPLOYEE WAS CLIMBING DOWN LADDER WHEN HIS LEFT FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BOTTOM RUNG CAUSING HIS RIGHT FOOT TO CONTACT THE GROUND AWKWARDLY. THIS CAUSED A TWISTING OR SIDEWAYS MOTION TO OCCUR IN HIS KNEE CAUSING A SPRAIN.

1995 · 2 incidents

July 1, 1995 NC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Mayland Stone Company Inc · Fall from machine

EMP HAD CLIMBED TO THE BACK OF THE FRONT END LOADER TO CHECK THE WATER AND OIL. WHEN HE STARTED DOWN, HIS FOOT SLIPPED FROM THE LADDER MOUNTED TO THE LOADER CAUSING HIS INJURY.

June 16, 1995 NC · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator POWERED HAULAGE
Mayland Stone Company Inc · Struck by falling object

MOVING 11 PIECES OF SCREEN CLOTH TO STORAGE AREA ON SKID LOADER WHEN ONE PIECE FELL OFF AND STRUCK TO VICTIM IN THE BACK OF THE LEG.

1994 · 1 incident

September 26, 1994 NC · Metal/Non-Metal coal/ore shovel operator, shoveler, power shoveler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Mayland Stone Company Inc · Fall from machine

EE WAS EXITING THE EXCAVATOR WHEN HE LOST HIS FOOTING CAUSING HIM TO TWIST HIS RIGHT KNEE.

1992 · 1 incident

January 6, 1992 NC · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mayland Stone Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

REPAIRS BEING MADE TO A CAT EXCAVATOR 225. THE OF THE EMPL MISSED OBJECT BEING STRUCK WITH HAMMER AND HIT ANOTHER EMPL FINGER.EMPL SENT TO LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE DR PUT 2 STITCHES IN FINGER.

1990 · 1 incident

October 9, 1990 NC · Metal/Non-Metal drill helper SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Mayland Stone Company Inc · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

DRILL CREW WORKING ON SLOPE WHEN ONE MAN SLIPPED AND FELL.PULLED A GROIN MUSCLE.WORKER WAS TIED TO DRILL BY ROPE AND SAFETY BELT.DRILL WAS SECURED BY CABLE.

1989 · 2 incidents

August 16, 1989 NC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mayland Stone Company Inc · Struck against stationary object

ROCK WAS HUNG IN JAW CRUSHER EE WERE USING A WEDGE TO LOOSEN THE ROCK WHEN IT BOUNCED OUT AND WENT STRAIGHT UP. THE INJURED EE WAS HOLDING THE CABLE ATTACHED TO THE WEDGE THE FORCED OF THE WED GE HIT HIS ARM OVER THE RAILING CAUSING THE INJURY.

July 17, 1989 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Mayland Stone Company Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO LOOSEN A ROCK HUNG IN THE JAW CRUSHER WHEN THE PRYBAR SLIPPED AND HIT HIM IN THE HEAD. THE WOUND REQUIRED 3 STITCHES AT THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM.