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: 437 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
WHIRLWIND MINE has $3K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 0 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.
$3K
proposed penalties
$3K
current assessed
$3K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
24 assessments are final orders; 0 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2023-08-22.
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.
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: 2026-05-21
33%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
12
samples
3
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz11 over
Respirable dust, <.1mg7
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz4
Show the individual readings (12)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2023-08-22
Nuisance dust, respirable, <1% Qtz
16.67
10
1.67
Laborer, Bullgang
2026-05-21
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.35
0.82
0.43
Mucking Mach. Operator
2026-05-21
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.17
Ram Car Operator
2026-05-21
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.29
0.89
0.33
Mechanic
2023-08-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Electrician
2023-08-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2023-08-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Laborer, Bullgang
2023-08-22
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Mechanic
2022-11-15
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.15
Utility Man
2022-11-15
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Mechanic
2022-11-15
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Utility Man
2022-11-15
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Utility Man
Area samples (mill and shop air)
Last sampled: 2023-08-22, 3 years ago
3
samples
Show the individual readings (6)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Area sampled
2023-08-22
EC @ 160
0
UG EXPLOR/DEVELOP
2023-08-22
TC @ 160
39
UG EXPLOR/DEVELOP
2022-11-16
EC @ 160
0
UG EXPLOR/DEVELOP
2022-11-16
TC @ 160
0
UG EXPLOR/DEVELOP
2022-11-16
EC @ 160
0
UG EXPLOR/DEVELOP
2022-11-16
TC @ 160
0
UG EXPLOR/DEVELOP
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
4
2025
5
2023
6
2022
9
2012
3
2011
3
2010
3
2009
3
2008
9
2007
6
2005
0
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
WHIRLWIND MINE sits in Mesa County, Colorado, where the Census mining category is 2.0% 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.
Mesa County, Colorado · Population 157,316
2.0%
Mining share of county employment
$71,485
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
2,456
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
96
0
0
0.0
2025 Q4
800
0
0
0.0
2025 Q3
600
0
0
0.0
2023 Q4
640
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
4,027
2
0
496.6
2023 Q2
3,532
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
0
0
0
Show 26 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2022 Q4
4,256
0
0
0.0
2022 Q3
1,999
0
0
0.0
2022 Q2
3,343
2
0
598.3
2012 Q2
56
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
19
0
0
0.0
2011 Q4
47
0
0
0.0
2011 Q3
160
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
51
2
0
39215.7
2011 Q1
187
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
46
0
0
0.0
2010 Q3
109
0
0
0.0
2010 Q2
76
3
1
39473.7
2010 Q1
30
0
0
0.0
2009 Q4
450
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
702
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
510
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
442
1
0
2262.4
2008 Q4
1,857
0
0
0.0
2008 Q3
2,947
0
0
0.0
2008 Q2
4,258
0
0
0.0
2008 Q1
5,984
14
0
2339.6
2007 Q4
3,496
0
0
0.0
2007 Q3
3,041
0
0
0.0
2007 Q2
1,583
0
0
0.0
2007 Q1
633
0
0
0.0
2005 Q2
0
0
0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.
Reportable incidents
3 on file
2008 · 3 incidents
August 19, 2008CO · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerFALL OF ROOF OR BACK
Employee had barred a rock out of the back, placed scaling bar against rib and was reaching for the jack leg when a second rock fell on it's own striking the employee in the right hand. Resulting injury was laceration and fracture of right middle finger.
June 5, 2008CO · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, roof trimmer/scalerHANDLING OF MATERIALS
While rolling an I-Beam into place employee's right hand glove became snagged on a weld pulling his hand under the beam. His right thumb was smashed between two I-Beams. X-ray showed no fracture and treatment includes wearing a splint and avoiding painful activities. A follow up visit is scheduled for 6/16/08 or sooner and the possibility of an ortho referral has been left open.
Employee was climbing up and down to get in and out of the dozer. He hurt his right shoulder while pulling himself upward with his right arm. the doctor has imposed an overall lifting limit of ten pounds and there is to be no lifting with his right arm.