Torrance Quarry has $139K in proposed MSHA penalties and $60K outstanding across 12 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.
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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
16
Years on record
2006–2020
Latest incident
Oct 2020
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2005
169
citations
56
significant & substantial
$139,046
proposed penalties
$72,312
paid to date
52% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $66,734 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.
169 citations across 1,356 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Torrance Quarry has $139K in proposed MSHA penalties and $60K outstanding across 12 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.
$139K
proposed penalties
$132K
current assessed
$72K
paid to date
$60K
outstanding
164 assessments are final orders; 12 contested dockets.
Of $105K in penalties contested before the Commission, $92K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-01-14.
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.
47citations taken to the federal commission · 28% of citations on record
Settled
34 · 72%
Vacated or withdrawn
13 · 28%
65%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 23 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
12%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$105K proposed, $92K 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 2025-08-06.
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: 2022-05-31, 4 years ago
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
46
samples
22
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz28
Respirable dust, <.1mg17
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (46)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2022-05-31
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.44
1.33
0.33
Supervisor, Co. Official
2022-05-31
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.24
Supervisor, Co. Official
2021-09-01
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2021-09-01
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2021-09-01
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2020-12-29
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.2
0.68
0.29
Crusher Oper/Worker
2020-12-29
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.19
Laborer, Bullgang
2020-12-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Oiler, Greaser
2020-12-29
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.31
Oiler, Greaser
2020-09-15
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2020-09-15
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2019-06-12
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.2
Laborer, Bullgang
2019-06-12
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.21
Crusher Oper/Worker
2018-07-24
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2018-07-24
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2018-07-24
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.21
Crusher Oper/Worker
2016-04-27
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.57
1.25
0.46
Laborer, Bullgang
2016-04-27
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.12
1.25
0.10
Front-end Loader Operator
2016-04-27
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.18
1.25
0.14
Crusher Oper/Worker
2015-05-19
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Loader
2015-05-19
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2015-05-19
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2014-06-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.16
1.12
0.14
Truck Driver
2014-06-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.22
0.93
0.24
Front-end Loader Operator
2014-06-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.32
0.63
0.51
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2014-06-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.19
1.14
0.17
Front-end Loader Operator
2012-08-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.15
0.77
0.19
Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2012-08-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.22
1.11
0.20
Crusher Oper/Worker
2012-08-09
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.14
Bulldozer Operator
2012-08-09
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2012-03-07
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2012-03-07
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.36
0.88
0.41
Laborer, Bullgang
2012-03-07
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.28
1.39
0.20
Crusher Oper/Worker
2011-05-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2011-05-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-11-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.21
0.99
0.21
Front-end Loader Operator
2009-11-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.14
0.83
0.17
Crusher Oper/Worker
2009-11-18
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2009-05-07
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.27
0.85
0.32
Laborer, Bullgang
2009-05-07
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.26
0.89
0.29
Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-06-27
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.35
1
0.35
Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-06-27
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.38
0.61
0.62
Cleanup Man
2005-07-14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.66
0.79
0.84
Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-07-14
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2005-07-14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.43
0.58
0.74
Laborer, Bullgang
2005-07-14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.34
0.6
0.57
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.
Torrance Quarry recorded 0.00 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2023.
Injury rate, 2023
ⓘ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 1.78 and the all-US-mining average was 2.10 cases per 100 workers.
In New Mexico, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 2.00 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
2023 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2020 *
14.41
7.21
0.000
2019 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2018 *
6.30
3.15
0.000
2017 *
3.82
0.00
0.000
2016 *
7.64
3.82
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
2025
0
2024
1
2023
12
2022
23
2021
21
2020
23
2019
23
2018
26
2017
26
2016
22
2015
15
2014
13
2013
11
2012
9
2011
8
2010
10
2009
9
2008
13
2007
14
2006
15
2005
14
2004
9
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Torrance Quarry sits in Torrance County, New Mexico, where the Census mining category is 0.3% 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.
Torrance County, New Mexico · Population 15,290
0.3%
Mining share of county employment
$46,250
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
2025 Q1
0
1
0
2024 Q4
0
0
0
2024 Q3
8
0
0
0.0
2024 Q2
189
0
0
0.0
2024 Q1
0
0
0
2023 Q4
68
3
0
44117.6
2023 Q3
1,128
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
10,124
0
0
0.0
Show 75 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2023 Q1
12,098
3
0
248.0
2022 Q4
12,302
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
12,663
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
14,220
2
1
140.6
2022 Q1
12,998
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
11,327
1
0
88.3
2021 Q3
11,673
7
1
599.7
2021 Q2
12,797
0
0
0.0
2021 Q1
11,713
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
13,956
0
0
0.0
2020 Q3
12,270
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
15,165
1
0
65.9
2020 Q1
14,120
2
0
141.6
2019 Q4
14,554
0
0
0.0
2019 Q3
14,512
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
14,481
4
2
276.2
2019 Q1
14,334
0
0
0.0
2018 Q4
13,322
4
2
300.3
2018 Q3
15,505
5
2
322.5
2018 Q2
16,358
1
0
61.1
2018 Q1
18,273
2
0
109.5
2017 Q4
15,265
0
0
0.0
2017 Q3
14,494
3
0
207.0
2017 Q2
12,758
0
0
0.0
2017 Q1
9,784
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
11,212
2
1
178.4
2016 Q3
14,775
0
0
0.0
2016 Q2
13,801
14
5
1014.4
2016 Q1
12,576
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
10,319
2
0
193.8
2015 Q3
8,316
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
8,370
4
2
477.9
2015 Q1
8,213
2
2
243.5
2014 Q4
6,509
2
1
307.3
2014 Q3
5,698
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
8,774
2
2
227.9
2014 Q1
9,393
4
2
425.8
2013 Q4
7,606
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
6,571
3
1
456.6
2013 Q2
7,559
0
0
0.0
2013 Q1
6,544
7
3
1069.7
2012 Q4
4,575
0
0
0.0
2012 Q3
4,928
8
2
1623.4
2012 Q2
5,988
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
5,674
11
3
1938.7
2011 Q4
4,276
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
2,665
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
6,238
5
3
801.5
2011 Q1
5,827
5
4
858.1
2010 Q4
4,704
5
1
1062.9
2010 Q3
6,471
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
5,696
3
1
526.7
2010 Q1
4,235
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
4,730
4
2
845.7
2009 Q3
4,679
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
5,258
9
3
1711.7
2009 Q1
5,728
6
3
1047.5
2008 Q4
7,858
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
7,053
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
6,623
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
7,548
3
1
397.5
2007 Q4
7,549
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
7,694
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
7,391
1
0
135.3
2007 Q1
7,448
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
7,709
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
9,475
3
0
316.6
2006 Q2
9,727
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
8,573
4
0
466.6
2005 Q4
8,637
0
0
0.0
2005 Q3
9,476
13
2
1371.9
2005 Q2
11,374
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
7,761
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
7,367
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
2,671
0
0
0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
16 on file
2020 · 4 incidents
October 28, 2020NM · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
CalMat Co · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects
Employee was changing a side wipe on cone to screen belt and was pushing the clamp rail when they felt a sharp pain in right shoulder. EE states they had their back up against an I beam to provide some stabilization. Reported and treated as first aid 10/28/2020. On 11/2/2020, employee requested medical attention changing this from first aid to a reportable injury.
CalMat Co · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects
Employee was exiting the portable JCI lower screen deck level and was laying on their back when they allege they pulled themselves out using their arm resulting in a shoulder sprain
Employee was using a metal hammer and metal chisel to clean debris off of tooth when a metal fragment struck them and embedded in chin.
2018 · 2 incidents
August 12, 2018NM · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee stated when ee was exiting the skid steer ee tripped over a bar on the plate of the skid steer falling on right hand - originally first aid - did not go to doctor until 08-29-2018
EE was removing rock by hand from Jaw when a rock approx 18" in size shifted from above where left hand was placed pressing palm of hand onto sharp rock cutting/stab type wound in left palm. Took to hospital and received 23 stitches. EE was not wearing gloves at time of accident.
January 7, 2016NM · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Shoveling around support structure of primary screen cleaning off concrete slab of built up dirt & rocks. Using a shovel to push shovel material when felt a pop in groin area. Felt a burning section right away contacted supervisor. Went to hospital for ultra sound. Found to have unilateral inguinal hernia. Follow up with doctor on Jan 10th if surgery or treatment for options.
2015 · 1 incident
January 30, 2015NM · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanPOWERED HAULAGE
Was snowing #6 head roll spinning out. Climbed onto unprotected elevated spot to heat head roll using a weed burner. The tip of the weed burner came into contact with head roll pulling employee into head roll catching sleeve between head roll and conveyor belt causing right shoulder to come in contact with receiving box shroud.
2014 · 1 incident
January 29, 2014NM · Metal/Non-Metalcar trimmer, car loader, bin puller, truck loaderSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
While walking on road bed material of 5/8" crushed rock, employee stepped on right foot wrong way and rolled right ankle. Went to Doctor on 31 Jan 2014 found to have fractured bone in right foot.
Dust on the hood of the machine made for a slick surface and the EE slipped and fell approx. 4 feet hitting right side of his back/ribs on the guard to the central panel while landing on his feet causing severe pain in the rib area.
June 4, 2012NM · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EE was changing screen on load out wash screen. While doing so he was in middle deck torching "J" bolts from upper deck. A metal slag from "J" bolt fell onto employee's face by his eyebrow and worked under safety glasses. We flushed eye out & took him to medical clinic where they flushed eye out and gave medical prescription cream for eye.
EE was cleaning around the jaw 5th wheel hitch, based on piles at location, when for whatever reason went to the grizzley conveyor where he became wedged between a return roller & bottom side of belt. He has several broken ribs, broken collar bones, & intestinal, kidney, spleen & pancreas damage. As of this report he is in critical but stable condition.
2007 · 1 incident
February 19, 2007NM · Metal/Non-Metalgreaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oilerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Removing ice chunk material from conveyor belt when he lost footing on ground with his left foot and twisted right knee into side of conveyor "I" beam.
Employee was welding liner in the truck bed of 769 cat wagon. He was using a hydraulic porta-power to wedge metal in place to get metal tight to box when porta-power became unlodged and sprang up hitting his upper right lip dislocating a tooth.