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.
197 citations across 1,676 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Vado Quarry has $91K in proposed MSHA penalties and $3K outstanding across 5 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.
$91K
proposed penalties
$79K
current assessed
$76K
paid to date
$3K
outstanding
195 assessments are final orders; 5 contested dockets.
Of $18K in penalties contested before the Commission, $5K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-01-27.
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.
7citations taken to the federal commission · 4% of citations on record
Settled
4 · 57%
Stood as issued
2 · 29%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 14%
60%
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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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 5 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
75%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$18K proposed, $4K 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2017-07-25.
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: 2024-11-06
5%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
60
samples
22
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz261 over
Respirable dust, <.1mg30
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz2
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz2
Show the individual readings (60)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2024-04-23
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
1.03
1
1.03
Bobcat Operator
2024-11-06
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2024-11-06
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.34
1.05
0.32
Crusher Oper/Worker
2024-11-06
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.35
0.86
0.41
Laborer, Bullgang
2024-04-23
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2024-04-23
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.13
10
0.01
Truck Driver
2023-06-14
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2023-06-14
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2023-06-14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.62
1.03
0.60
Building Repair/Maint.
2022-09-21
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2022-09-21
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.31
1
0.31
Crusher Oper/Worker
2022-09-21
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Utility Man
2021-12-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.13
Cleanup Man
2021-12-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.13
Crusher Oper/Worker
2021-12-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.23
Cleanup Man
2021-12-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.23
Crusher Oper/Worker
2020-10-07
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2020-10-07
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.15
Mechanic
2019-11-14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.17
Cleanup Man
2019-11-14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.19
Crusher Oper/Worker
2018-01-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.12
0.92
0.13
Crusher Oper/Worker
2018-01-10
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.21
0.88
0.24
Mechanic
2018-01-10
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2017-08-16
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Cleanup Man
2017-08-16
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.13
10
0.01
Truck Driver
2017-08-16
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2016-07-13
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2016-07-13
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2016-07-13
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2015-04-29
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.15
0.98
0.15
Crusher Oper/Worker
2015-04-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2015-04-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2015-04-29
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.51
0.93
0.55
Front-end Loader Operator
2013-04-09
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Drill Operator, Churn
2013-04-09
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2013-04-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.18
1.14
0.16
Crusher Oper/Worker
2013-04-09
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2009-12-09
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Mechanic
2009-12-09
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.73
Mechanic
2009-12-09
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.24
2.19
0.11
Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-12-12
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.21
1.29
0.16
Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-12-12
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.18
1.85
0.10
Mechanic
2007-12-12
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2007-07-18
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-07-18
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2007-04-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.13
0.78
0.17
Mechanic
2007-04-18
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.14
0.81
0.17
Laborer, Bullgang
2005-06-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2005-06-22
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.25
2.02
0.12
Bulldozer Operator
2005-06-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-06-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Drill Operator, Rotary
2004-07-14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.31
1.81
0.17
Bulldozer Operator
2004-07-14
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2004-07-14
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-07-14
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Drill Operator, Rotary Air
2002-11-06
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2002-11-06
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.47
1.5
0.31
Laborer, Bullgang
2002-11-06
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2002-11-06
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.12
1.04
0.12
Truck Driver
2002-11-06
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.32
0.96
0.33
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.
Vado 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 New Mexico, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.71 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 *
12.56
0.00
0.000
2022 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2021 *
7.92
7.92
0.000
2020 *
8.86
0.00
0.000
2019 *
8.68
8.68
0.000
2017 *
8.54
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
10
2025
10
2024
15
2023
15
2022
15
2021
13
2020
12
2019
12
2018
12
2017
12
2016
10
2015
11
2014
14
2013
16
2012
19
2011
18
2010
17
2009
22
2008
19
2007
19
2006
12
2005
13
2004
12
2003
12
2002
12
2001
13
2000
14
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Vado Quarry sits in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, where the Census mining category is 0.8% 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.
Doña Ana County, New Mexico · Population 221,665
0.8%
Mining share of county employment
$55,663
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
6,243
2
0
320.4
2026 Q1
5,571
3
0
538.5
2025 Q4
5,675
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
5,245
6
1
1143.9
2025 Q2
4,293
0
0
0.0
2025 Q1
5,337
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
5,776
7
1
1211.9
2024 Q3
6,585
0
0
0.0
Show 98 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
10,682
4
1
374.5
2024 Q1
8,158
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
7,618
8
1
1050.1
2023 Q3
9,922
0
0
0.0
2023 Q2
8,144
8
4
982.3
2023 Q1
6,165
6
1
973.2
2022 Q4
6,797
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
7,481
4
0
534.7
2022 Q2
8,443
0
0
0.0
2022 Q1
7,319
0
0
0.0
2021 Q4
6,410
4
1
624.0
2021 Q3
5,862
4
2
682.4
2021 Q2
6,299
0
0
0.0
2021 Q1
6,687
0
0
0.0
2020 Q4
6,589
2
0
303.5
2020 Q3
6,560
0
0
0.0
2020 Q2
4,266
1
0
234.4
2020 Q1
5,168
0
0
0.0
2019 Q4
4,974
2
0
402.1
2019 Q3
6,335
0
0
0.0
2019 Q2
6,440
2
1
310.6
2019 Q1
5,286
3
0
567.5
2018 Q4
4,124
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
4,388
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
4,470
3
0
671.1
2018 Q1
5,876
0
0
0.0
2017 Q4
5,594
4
0
715.1
2017 Q3
6,062
0
0
0.0
2017 Q2
6,257
5
1
799.1
2017 Q1
5,516
0
0
0.0
2016 Q4
2,033
1
0
491.9
2016 Q3
5,772
6
2
1039.5
2016 Q2
6,057
0
0
0.0
2016 Q1
4,874
0
0
0.0
2015 Q4
4,435
4
1
901.9
2015 Q3
4,756
0
0
0.0
2015 Q2
6,241
1
0
160.2
2015 Q1
6,002
0
0
0.0
2014 Q4
5,653
3
1
530.7
2014 Q3
6,719
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
8,784
2
0
227.7
2014 Q1
8,302
2
0
240.9
2013 Q4
9,040
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
7,424
0
0
0.0
2013 Q2
8,642
5
1
578.6
2013 Q1
9,129
0
0
0.0
2012 Q4
8,333
7
3
840.0
2012 Q3
11,703
7
3
598.1
2012 Q2
12,259
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
13,225
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
10,398
3
2
288.5
2011 Q3
17,297
1
0
57.8
2011 Q2
11,225
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
12,348
6
2
485.9
2010 Q4
10,693
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
10,476
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
10,521
3
1
285.1
2010 Q1
9,380
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
7,559
1
0
132.3
2009 Q3
4,576
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
11,454
1
0
87.3
2009 Q1
19,442
1
0
51.4
2008 Q4
12,583
2
0
158.9
2008 Q3
11,203
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
9,560
2
1
209.2
2008 Q1
9,664
0
0
0.0
2007 Q4
11,024
1
0
90.7
2007 Q3
10,898
5
1
458.8
2007 Q2
11,709
4
3
341.6
2007 Q1
14,444
0
0
0.0
2006 Q4
8,083
0
0
0.0
2006 Q3
8,797
2
0
227.4
2006 Q2
7,750
0
0
0.0
2006 Q1
8,494
0
0
0.0
2005 Q4
9,678
2
0
206.7
2005 Q3
10,108
11
0
1088.2
2005 Q2
9,818
0
0
0.0
2005 Q1
9,138
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
8,132
0
0
0.0
2004 Q3
7,110
3
1
421.9
2004 Q2
7,042
0
0
0.0
2004 Q1
9,126
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
8,650
2
0
231.2
2003 Q3
8,542
0
0
0.0
2003 Q2
8,836
0
0
0.0
2003 Q1
7,761
0
0
0.0
2002 Q4
6,663
0
0
0.0
2002 Q3
7,648
0
0
0.0
2002 Q2
8,445
0
0
0.0
2002 Q1
9,122
0
0
0.0
2001 Q4
9,109
3
0
329.3
2001 Q3
10,141
5
0
493.0
2001 Q2
8,889
0
0
0.0
2001 Q1
9,384
0
0
0.0
2000 Q4
12,902
4
0
310.0
2000 Q3
10,031
0
0
0.0
2000 Q2
8,409
2
1
237.8
2000 Q1
9,367
1
1
106.8
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
18 on file
2023 · 2 incidents
June 28, 2023NM · Metal/Non-Metalbulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineerSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee was descending from control room on a 7 ft ladder with 10 inch tread spacing when the employee misstepped on the 3rd from the bottom rung falling 30 inches to the mid platform and against an electric motor box. Bruised back and ribs. Restricted duty.
June 8, 2023NM · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Employee climbed on top of the the screen shaker to remove a stray piece of conveyer belt and while doing so EE stood on top of the edge of the shaker and lost EE's footing and fell backward onto a covered motor hurting EE's lower back.
2022 · 1 incident
January 12, 2022NM · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee noticed some rocks in the haul road, while EE began to remove them to prevent a tire puncture EE pinched the right pinky finger between two rocks, lacerating it.
2019 · 1 incident
February 22, 2019NM · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Employee caught hand in the wing pulley while prying a rock out that was entangled between the belt and the pulley. The belt moved backward when the rock was removed due to not having a backstop. The employees ring finger was partially amputated and the pinky finger reconstructed.
2018 · 1 incident
October 3, 2018NM · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was removing a guard from the v-belt on the cone crusher, while doing so the guard got stuck and when it was tugged on the guard became unstuck abruptly from the belt striking EE's finger against the pulley between the guard causing the injury.
2017 · 1 incident
February 1, 2017NM · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee was helping remove an anvil ring from a VSI crusher while doing repairs. With two other employees they lifted the ring to prop it up against a motor and the employee caught his left hand index finger between the motor and the anvil ring resulting in a fracture to his finger.
2012 · 1 incident
December 17, 2012NM · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
While the employee was climbing out of a skid steer fork lift he stood on the forks to avoid stepping in the mud and when turning his body his foot slipped on the forks and he twisted his ankle.
2011 · 1 incident
April 20, 2011NM · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
Employee was working on the replacement or wear tips at the rental mobile crusher; while doing so he lifted a wear tip and rotated to place it on its place when felt pain on his lower back.
2010 · 1 incident
July 13, 2010NM · Metal/Non-Metalwater truck operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
Employee was driving the water wagon when the top pin's locks got broken and it came out, tilting the cab forward. At that moment he told his supervisor he was OK and that no medical treatment was needed. The next day he reported a lower back pain and asks for medical attention. He has been on light duty and on medical treatment for a lumbar strain.
2008 · 2 incidents
August 18, 2008NM · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
When cutting a metal strap from a pallet the strap snapped and lacerated the employee's right hand.
June 13, 2008NM · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON