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: 592 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Watertown Plant has $2K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 2 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.
$2K
proposed penalties
$2K
current assessed
$2K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
22 assessments are final orders; 2 contested dockets.
Of $527 in penalties contested before the Commission, $500 was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-09-17.
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.
5citations taken to the federal commission · 22% of citations on record
Settled
5 · 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 Vacated and withdrawn citations, and settlements that removed the designation, count against.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%
5%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$527 proposed, $500 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 A dismissed or defaulted contest leaves the citation standing as issued; a vacated or withdrawn citation is removed from the violation record.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 2011-06-10.
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: 2025-09-17
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
22
samples
12
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz8
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz6
Respirable dust, <.1mg5
Arsenic fumes1
Show the individual readings (34)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2025-09-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.23
Front-end Loader Operator
2025-09-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.64
2.33
0.27
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-09-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.15
Crusher Oper/Worker
2025-09-17
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.12
Utility Man
2025-02-12
Beryllium fumes
0
6
0.00
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-02-12
Arsenic fumes
0
1500
0.00
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-02-12
Cadmium oxide fumes
0
100
0.00
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-02-12
Chromium, insoluble
0.02
3
0.01
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-02-12
Cobalt fumes
0
300
0.00
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-02-12
Copper fumes
0
300
0.00
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-02-12
Iron oxide fumes
0.72
20
0.04
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-02-12
Lead fumes
0
450
0.00
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-02-12
Magnesium oxide fumes
0.05
20
0.00
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-02-12
Manganese fumes
0.97
5
0.19
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-02-12
Molybdenum fumes
0
20
0.00
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-02-12
Nickel fumes
0
3
0.00
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-02-12
Vanadium fumes
0
50
0.00
Laborer, Bullgang
2025-02-12
Zinc oxide fumes
0
10
0.00
Laborer, Bullgang
2023-03-01
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2023-03-01
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.13
10
0.01
Crusher Oper/Worker
2023-03-01
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2019-11-06
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.61
Crusher Oper/Worker
2019-11-06
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.36
Crusher Oper/Worker
2015-04-29
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.25
10
0.03
Cleanup Man
2015-04-29
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2015-04-29
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.25
10
0.03
Crusher Oper/Worker
2012-11-07
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.49
2.68
0.18
Laborer, Bullgang
2012-11-07
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.39
10
0.04
Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-06-06
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.89
10
0.09
Crusher Oper/Worker
2007-06-06
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.75
10
0.08
Laborer, Bullgang
2003-02-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Supervisor, Co. Official
2003-02-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2002-06-27
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.22
10
0.02
Crusher Oper/Worker
2002-06-27
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.12
10
0.01
Laborer, Bullgang
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.
Watertown Plant recorded 9.03 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2011.
Injury rate, 2011
ⓘ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.
9.03
total case rate
9.03
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 2.56 and the all-US-mining average was 3.08 cases per 100 workers.
In New York, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 2.26 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
2011 *
9.03
9.03
0.000
2010 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2009 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2006 *
8.73
0.00
0.000
2005 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2004 *
9.10
0.00
0.000
2002 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2001 *
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.
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year
Employees
2026
12
2025
9
2024
9
2023
10
2022
8
2021
7
2020
8
2019
9
2018
8
2017
7
2016
7
2015
8
2014
8
2013
9
2012
8
2011
10
2010
11
2009
10
2008
9
2007
10
2006
11
2005
9
2004
9
2003
8
2002
10
2001
10
2000
9
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Watertown Plant sits in Jefferson County, New York, where the Census mining category is 0.1% 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.
Jefferson County, New York · Population 116,130
0.1%
Mining share of county employment
$64,978
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
while driving the haul truck over a recently constructed haul road the tires slipped off edge and went into a slight water puddle causing the truck to rock and the employee struck EE's head on an AC unit that was hanging from the ceiling. employee was taken out of work for one day and is now on restrictions due to lingering symptoms.
Employee was assisting with a screen change out during wet, rainy conditions during the shift. Employee went home, showered, went to bed, and woke up around 3am with pain in left eye and went to the ER. ER doc removed a small foreign body from EE's eye. Employee followed up with eye doc who returned EE to work.
The miner was driving a Bell B45E articulated dump truck up a ramp in the mine and hit a rut in the road causing EE to bounce up off the seat and hit EE's head on the safety handle located on the roof of the truck. The miner went to the local ER where EE was placed on light duty due to having concussion symptoms
2011 · 1 incident
April 26, 2011NY · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
The wedges on the back of the portable crusher hopper vibrated out and the hopper sides opened up slightly. EE went to clear the rocks out of the way and after clearing the last rock, the back of the hopper fell down striking him on the top of the foot, fracturing it. The hydraulic cylinder which moves the hopper side up and down was defective.
2006 · 1 incident
August 14, 2006NY · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorPOWERED HAULAGE
While loading truck, the left tilt cyl. hose pulled out of hose fitting. Hose whipped into windshield, breaking windshield, covering operator with hot oil and glass.
THE EE STATES HE WAS CLIMBING DOWN THE 489 TOWER LADDER. WHEN HE REACHED THE GROUND, THE EE STATES HE TURNED TO WALK AWAY AND FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS BACK. NOTE: HE STATES HE HAD A PAST BACK INJURY.
July 20, 1998NY · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
THE EE STATES HE WAS CLEANING A DRIVE PULLEY ON A CRUSHER WITH A SCRAPER WHILE ANOTHER EE WAS TRUNING THE UPPER PULLEY. THE SCRAPER CAUGHT A BOLT AND PINCHED HIS HAND BETWEEN THE BEAM WORK.
EE STATES HE WAS TRAINING ANOTHER OPERATOR TO OPERATOR TO RUN A 769C ROCK THICK, WHILE SITTING ON THE EE SEAT THE OPERATOR CLOSED THE DOOR PINCHING HIS THUMB IN THE DOOR.
1992 · 1 incident
June 15, 1992NY · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
EMPLOYEE ALLEGEDLY DEVELOPED A RASH ONT EH UPPER PART OF HIS BODY. POSSIBLY AT WORK. HIS JBO CONSISTS OF DRIVING THE ROCK TRUCK FROM THE PIT TO THE HOPPER. HE IS NOW UNDER DOCTOR'S SUEPRVIS ION AND TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE RASH.
June 30, 1989NY · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO DRILL HOLES ON THE FACE OF THE QUARRY WITH A DRILL & COMPRESSOR. IT HAD BEEN RAISING AND THE EMPLOYEE HAD TAKEN OFF HIS HARD HAT TO PUT UP HIS HOOD. HE HAD FORGOTTEN TO REPLACE HIS HARD HAT. WHILE THE EMPLOYEE WASUNCAPPING THE DRILL STEELS, A COUPLING FELL FROM THE TOP STEEL STRIKING HIS HEAD.
January 31, 1989NY · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO UNHITCH A SET OF DOLLY WHEELS FROM A LOADER BY HIMSELF. HIS RIGHT FINGER BECAME PINCHED BETWEEN THE HITCH PIN AND THE HITCH ON THE DOLLY WHEELS CAUSING A LACERATION TO HIS RIGHT FINGER WHICH REQUIRED 7 STITCHES.
USING A PRY BAR. IN ORDER TO ALINE BOLT HOLES IN AN I BEAM STRUCTURE, I,NAME WAS PRYING ON THE BEAM WITH A PRYBAR WHEN HE STRAINED HIS LOWER BACK MUSCLES.
May 21, 1988NY · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
BEFORE LEAVING WORK , EMP CLIMBED INTO THE 225 CAT BACKHOE TO CLOSE WINDOWS WHEN GETTING OUT OF BACKHOE, EMP SLAMMED DOOR AND CAUGHT HIS L. RING FINGER IN DOOR, THE TIP OF HIS FINGER FROM NAI L TIP WAS TAKEN OFF HE HAND BY FORCE. ,,
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