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Whitewater #81: 94 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Whitewater, CO 81527, Mesa County, CO  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0502357

Whitewater #81 has $16K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 6 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
13
Years on record
1990–2024
Latest incident
May 2024
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
94
citations
18
significant & substantial
$15,579
proposed penalties
$14,009
paid to date
90% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,570 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
See Whitewater Building Materials Corp's full MSHA compliance history →
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2001
60
inspections on record
942
inspection hours
n/a
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: 942 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Whitewater #81 has $16K 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.
$16K
proposed penalties
$14K
current assessed
$14K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
94 assessments are final orders; 6 contested dockets.
Of $4K in penalties contested before the Commission, $2K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-10-31.
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.
19.1%
significant & substantial
7.4%
high negligence or reckless
21.3%
reasonably likely or greater
44.7%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 9.6% low, 83.0% moderate, 7.4% 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.
6 citations taken to the federal commission · 6% of citations on record
  • Settled 6 · 100%
100%
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%
45%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$3K proposed, $2K 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 2016-03-23.
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
WEST 2014-0672 Settlement Lesnick 2014 $3K → $1K
WEST20020354M Settlement Cetti 2002 $338 → $265
WEST20020166M Settlement Bulluck 2002 $269 → $220
WEST 2007-647M Settlement Manning 2007 $154 → $125
WEST 2011-1254M Settlement Lesnick 2012 $100 → $100
WEST 2016-0344 Settlement Lesnick 2016 $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: 2025-09-16
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
40
samples
10
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg25
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz14
  • Unlisted Particulate, total, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (40)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2025-09-16 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2025-09-16 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2025-09-16 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2023-07-10 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.21 0.66 0.32 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-07-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2023-07-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2023-07-10 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2023-03-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2023-03-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2023-03-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2023-03-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2023-03-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2020-06-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 Crusher Oper/Worker
2020-06-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 Truck Driver
2020-06-23 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2020-06-23 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.3 0.6 0.50 Crusher Oper/Worker
2019-05-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.16 Laborer, Bullgang
2019-05-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2019-05-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 Truck Driver
2019-05-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2016-09-27 Unlisted Particulate, total, <1% Qtz 0.29 Laborer, Bullgang
2016-09-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2016-09-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Mechanic
2013-07-31 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2013-07-31 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2013-07-31 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2013-07-31 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2013-07-31 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.19 0.86 0.22 Mechanic
2009-06-10 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.12 0.62 0.19 Dry Screen Plant Operator
2009-06-10 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.16 0.59 0.27 Laborer, Bullgang
2007-10-11 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Laborer, Bullgang
2007-10-11 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 0.59 0.25 Laborer, Bullgang
2005-08-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2005-08-24 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.15 1.34 0.11 Front-end Loader Operator
2005-08-24 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.28 0.78 0.36 Laborer, Bullgang
2005-08-24 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.13 0.61 0.21 Laborer, Bullgang
2005-08-24 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2001-08-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 0.72 0.31 Crusher Oper/Worker
2001-08-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2001-08-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Cleanup Man
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.

Whitewater #81 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 Colorado, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.64 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 * 17.09 8.54 0.000
2023 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2022 * 8.34 0.00 0.000
2021 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2020 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2019 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2018 * 8.60 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. Whitewater Building Materials Corp 1950 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 15
2025 14
2024 13
2023 15
2022 14
2021 11
2020 13
2019 13
2018 14
2017 14
2016 13
2015 13
2014 12
2013 11
2012 12
2011 12
2010 12
2009 14
2008 14
2007 12
2006 9
2005 8
2004 9
2003 9
2002 8
2001 9
2000 10
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Whitewater #81 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 7,295 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 5,935 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 6,187 1 0 161.6
2025 Q3 6,885 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 7,752 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 5,064 2 0 394.9
2024 Q4 6,188 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 5,400 0 0 0.0
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 6,846 7 0 1022.5
2024 Q1 4,978 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 6,299 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 6,320 0 0 0.0
2023 Q2 6,338 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 5,269 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 6,204 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 6,859 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 6,104 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 4,813 0 0 0.0
2021 Q4 5,906 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 6,127 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 6,799 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 3,854 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 6,571 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 6,503 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 6,577 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 5,662 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 5,946 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 6,321 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 6,320 7 1 1107.6
2019 Q1 5,669 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 5,321 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 5,961 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 6,224 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 5,737 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 6,021 2 0 332.2
2017 Q3 6,157 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 5,828 5 1 857.9
2017 Q1 7,467 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 6,713 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 5,634 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 5,308 2 1 376.8
2016 Q1 5,746 2 0 348.1
2015 Q4 6,759 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 5,706 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 5,887 2 0 339.7
2015 Q1 5,393 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 5,845 4 4 684.3
2014 Q3 5,795 4 0 690.3
2014 Q2 4,709 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 4,529 7 3 1545.6
2013 Q4 4,370 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 5,680 2 1 352.1
2013 Q2 5,441 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 3,113 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 5,538 3 0 541.7
2012 Q3 5,675 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 5,802 3 0 517.1
2012 Q1 6,184 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 6,014 4 1 665.1
2011 Q3 5,630 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 5,583 3 0 537.3
2011 Q1 3,624 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 5,355 0 0 0.0
2010 Q3 6,652 1 0 150.3
2010 Q2 5,864 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 3,554 3 1 844.1
2009 Q4 6,750 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 7,100 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 7,609 3 1 394.3
2009 Q1 6,603 1 0 151.4
2008 Q4 7,774 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 7,810 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 8,194 1 0 122.0
2008 Q1 8,256 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 7,281 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 7,369 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 5,697 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 5,165 4 1 774.4
2006 Q4 4,965 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 4,304 2 1 464.7
2006 Q2 4,564 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 3,932 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 4,523 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 4,163 0 0 0.0
2005 Q2 4,825 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 4,003 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 4,735 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 5,077 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 4,361 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 3,593 2 1 556.6
2003 Q4 5,086 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 4,485 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 4,676 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 3,870 1 0 258.4
2002 Q4 4,053 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 3,879 0 0 0.0
2002 Q2 5,020 3 0 597.6
2002 Q1 4,113 0 0 0.0
2001 Q4 3,872 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 3,852 13 1 3374.9
2001 Q2 7,499 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 1,189 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 7,953 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 7,116 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 4,817 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 5,714 0 0 0.0
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

13 on file

2024 · 2 incidents

May 22, 2024 CO · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Whitewater Building Materials Corp · Struck by falling object

Employee was working under a haul truck. When they loosened the last bolt of the pan, the safety chain that holds the pan broke causing the pan to fall and smash the employee's hand between the ground and the pan.

March 4, 2024 CO · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Whitewater Building Materials Corp · Fall to the walkway or working surface

The employee was switching pieces of equipment and was walking back to the shop when EE stepped on a piece of rubber belting that was covered in snow and rain. When EE stepped on it, it caused EE to slip and fall.

2022 · 1 incident

April 18, 2022 CO · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Whitewater Building Materials Corp · Fall from machine

Employee was standing on the work platform of a service truck cutting angle iron with a cutting torch when EE lost balance and fell off the service truck. As EE was falling, EE tossed the cutting torch causing a few burns on the employees neck and back. When the employee fell, EE injured left foot/ankle.

2018 · 1 incident

April 20, 2018 CO · Metal/Non-Metal crusher attendant/operator, pan feeder operator/worker HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Whitewater Building Materials Corp · Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Employee was swinging a sledge hammer and as they swung it, they felt a pull on right side of their torso.

2017 · 1 incident

December 4, 2017 CO · Metal/Non-Metal dispatcher SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Whitewater Building Materials Corp · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing off a haul truck ladder when toe slipped off the bottom rung of ladder and the jerking of slipping pulled employee's arm and shoulder as employee was holding onto the handrail.

2016 · 1 incident

January 29, 2016 CO · Metal/Non-Metal welder (non-shop) HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Whitewater Building Materials Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was working on the underside of the sand when the wrench ee was using slipped and hit ee on the left side of mouth chipping a upper left tooth and cutting lip.

2015 · 1 incident

December 2, 2015 CO · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Whitewater Building Materials Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Contractor was cutting down trees. The tree he was cutting down kicked back and hit his left leg. Broke the leg below the knees

2013 · 1 incident

December 16, 2013 CO · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman MACHINERY
Whitewater Building Materials Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was adding compressed air to a governor using a regulator. He placed his left thumb over an air leak and got air into a puncture wound

2012 · 1 incident

March 6, 2012 CO · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Whitewater Building Materials Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS PICKING UP TRASH AROUND WORK AREA AND CAUGHT RIGHT PINKIE FINGER ON A NAIL STICKING OUT OF A PALLET, CUTTING THE PINKIE FINGER

2011 · 1 incident

January 31, 2011 CO · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Whitewater Building Materials Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was removing a belt from a conveyor. Sand or some foreign material entered his left eye under or around his safety glasses.

2009 · 1 incident

January 7, 2009 CO · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Whitewater Building Materials Corp · Struck by flying object

Employee was shaving metal with a grinding tool, shavings got on employees hand, when he rubbed his left eye shaving got in the eye.

2008 · 1 incident

August 18, 2008 CO · Metal/Non-Metal welder (shop) MACHINERY
Whitewater Building Materials Corp · Struck by flying object

Welder was using an angle grinder, grinding and prepping a pipe. A foreign body entered right eye, under his safey glasses.

1990 · 1 incident

August 23, 1990 CO · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Whitewater Building Materials Corp · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING TO PLACE A CHUTE INTO POSITION ON A GRAVEL WASHING PLANT. WHEN THE CHUTE DID NOT SET PROPERLY THE EMPLOYEE MOMENTARILY LOST HIS BALANCE AND PLACED HIS LEFT HAND IN A POSIT ION THAT WAS CAUGHT BY THE CHUTE WHEN IT DID SLIP INTO PLACE RESULTING IN MULTIPLE FRACTURES OF THE LEFT HAND FINGERS.