Mining Incidents

Wiseman Sullins/Chalk Metal/Non-Metal

The Quartz Corp USA · Surface
Spruce Pine, Mitchell County, NC  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3100117

Wiseman Sullins/Chalk has $43K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 7 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
1
Total incidents
16
Years on record
1986–2014
Latest incident
Dec 2014
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2001
165
citations
51
significant & substantial
$43,160
proposed penalties
$38,570
paid to date
89% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $4,590 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
83
inspections on record
1,658
inspection hours
10.0
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.
165 citations across 1,658 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Wiseman Sullins/Chalk has $43K in proposed MSHA penalties and $0 outstanding across 7 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.
$43K
proposed penalties
$39K
current assessed
$39K
paid to date
$0
outstanding
161 assessments are final orders; 7 contested dockets.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-01-30.
Source: MSHA assessed-violations and conference/litigation data, updated weekly.
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 Q4 2,382 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 3,967 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 4,213 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 3,641 3 0 823.9
2024 Q4 2,308 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 2,890 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 4,858 3 2 617.5
2024 Q1 3,755 4 0 1065.2
Show 96 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2023 Q4 2,910 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 4,904 6 0 1223.5
2023 Q2 3,649 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 4,375 8 1 1828.6
2022 Q4 4,384 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 5,751 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 3,698 3 0 811.2
2022 Q1 4,064 4 0 984.3
2021 Q4 3,907 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 3,333 6 1 1800.2
2021 Q2 4,243 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 4,243 1 0 235.7
2020 Q4 3,773 0 0 0.0
2020 Q3 3,298 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 3,104 8 3 2577.3
2020 Q1 3,013 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 2,520 2 0 793.7
2019 Q3 3,063 1 0 326.5
2019 Q2 2,896 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 3,452 3 1 869.1
2018 Q4 3,212 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 3,202 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 3,348 3 0 896.1
2018 Q1 3,688 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 3,045 2 1 656.8
2017 Q3 3,696 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 3,457 1 1 289.3
2017 Q1 1,519 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 0 1 0
2016 Q3 0 0 0
2016 Q2 0 0 0
2016 Q1 0 4 0
2015 Q4 483 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 530 1 0 1886.8
2015 Q2 789 0 0 0.0
2015 Q1 4,541 7 1 1541.5
2014 Q4 3,968 0 0 0.0
2014 Q3 4,103 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 4,339 5 0 1152.3
2014 Q1 4,122 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 3,906 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 4,366 2 0 458.1
2013 Q2 4,503 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 9,553 1 1 104.7
2012 Q4 1,147 0 0 0.0
2012 Q3 227 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 515 2 2 3883.5
2012 Q1 522 6 0 11494.3
2011 Q4 624 6 5 9615.4
2011 Q3 1,239 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 1,193 3 1 2514.7
2011 Q1 706 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 664 12 2 18072.3
2010 Q3 1,104 8 4 7246.4
2010 Q2 1,187 0 0 0.0
2010 Q1 601 24 18 39933.4
2009 Q4 497 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 742 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 768 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 219 1 1 4566.2
2008 Q4 1,107 2 0 1806.7
2008 Q3 438 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 2,617 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 3,202 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 3,585 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 2,258 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 3,683 0 0 0.0
2007 Q1 3,900 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 3,365 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 3,439 0 0 0.0
2006 Q2 5,069 1 1 197.3
2006 Q1 4,060 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 3,798 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 3,568 3 0 840.8
2005 Q2 3,109 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 3,353 2 2 596.5
2004 Q4 4,600 2 1 434.8
2004 Q3 3,773 0 0 0.0
2004 Q2 4,000 5 0 1250.0
2004 Q1 3,819 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 3,590 2 0 557.1
2003 Q3 4,004 0 0 0.0
2003 Q2 4,544 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 9,135 1 1 109.5
2002 Q4 4,544 0 0 0.0
2002 Q3 5,228 1 0 191.3
2002 Q2 5,322 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 5,070 1 0 197.2
2001 Q4 4,511 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 5,579 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 5,040 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 5,133 3 1 584.5
2000 Q4 4,803 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 5,786 0 0 0.0
2000 Q2 4,740 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 5,421 0 0 0.0

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
January 22, 1986 NC · Metal/Non-Metal coal/ore shovel operator, shoveler, power shoveler Fatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
The Feldspar Corporation · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS GREASING3SHOVEL & APPARENTLY SLIPPED & FELL ON DECK OF SHOVEL CAUGHT GREASE HOSE ON WALK LEVER IN SHOVEL. WEIGHT F BODY TANGLED IN GREASE HOSE AVTIVATED SHOVEL OVER OPERATOR.

Reportable incidents

15 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2014 · 2 incidents

December 16, 2014 NC · Metal/Non-Metal crusher attendant/operator, pan feeder operator/worker MACHINERY
The Quartz Corp USA · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Contract employee was finishing a weld near the jaw crusher when the 4" hand grinder wheel he was using caught or bound up, and the whole unit kicked back into his mouth area (no grinding face shield was being worn at the time).

February 7, 2014 NC · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
The Quartz Corp USA · Contact with hot objects or substances

EE was welding in a tight area when a welding rod ember rolled onto his jacket burning a small area on the cuff and into the right top forearm causing a minor burn.

2013 · 1 incident

July 15, 2013 NC · Metal/Non-Metal draftsman, surveyor/transit work supervisor SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
The Quartz Corp USA · Fall onto or against objects

survey crew member attempted access for survey rod placement on steep bank, when he slipped and fell onto a small sapling stump (about 1" in diameter) that he had cut about 18" from the base minutes earlier causing the severe injury

2010 · 1 incident

January 15, 2010 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
The Feldspar Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee received a laceration to his upper lip when the edge of a metal panel that he was pulling upward struck against his mouth.

2006 · 1 incident

October 27, 2006 NC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
The Feldspar Corporation · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Driver had pushed truck tarp arm back. It was raining heavily at the time. Driver was on scale catwalk, slipped and lost footing and fell. Driver's leg went down between catwalk and scale platform.

2005 · 1 incident

September 6, 2005 NC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
The Feldspar Corporation · Fall from piled material

Rock breaker was sitting in the middle of a pile of big rock (150 - 300 lb); had to climb over them to fill rock breaker. On the way back down rock pile began to slide causing me to lose my balance and fall on rock. The edge was sticking up like a wedge and hit me in the spine. I lay there about 10 to 15 minutes with breath knocked out of me before returning to the truck.

1999 · 1 incident

August 23, 1999 NC · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
The Feldspar Corporation · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE REPORTED SOME HEARING PROBLEMS EE WAS SENT FOR HEARING SPECIALISTS WHERE HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH SOME HEARING LOSS EE WAS FITTED WITH HEARING AIDS

1997 · 1 incident

November 22, 1997 NC · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
The Feldspar Corporation · Fall from ladders

INJURED WAS REMOVING A TRAPEZE HANGER WHICH HELD ELECTRICAL CABLE. WHEN HANGER CAME LOOSE, THE CABLE SHIFTED TOWAERD THE EMPLOYEE WHEN THE EMPLOYE STEPPED FROM THE THIRD STEP OF A 6 FOOT LADDE R. WHEN HE LANDED ON HIS FEET, THE EMPLOYEE'S WEIGHT CAUSED COMPRESSION FRACTURES OF THE RIGHT ANKLE AREA.

1995 · 1 incident

June 5, 1995 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
The Feldspar Corporation · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS HELPING PLACE A BARREL ONTO A HOLDING RACK, WHEN HIS THUMB WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BARREL AND RACK. THUMB WAS PINCHED & CUT AND REQUIRED GRAFT.

1989 · 2 incidents

October 17, 1989 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
The Feldspar Corporation · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WAS REPAIRING SHOVEL, LIFTED SWING-BRAKE ARM (ABOUT 75 LBS).

March 27, 1989 NC · Metal/Non-Metal coal/ore shovel operator, shoveler, power shoveler MACHINERY
The Feldspar Corporation · Struck against a moving object

MOVING DROPBALL STARTED TO PULL UP BRAKE LEVER HIT L. ELBOW OVER BEARING HOUSING.

1988 · 2 incidents

November 14, 1988 NC · Metal/Non-Metal drill operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
The Feldspar Corporation · Struck by flying object

EMPL WAS INSTALLING NEW STRIKER BAR ON DRILL USING PIECE OF STEEL AS DRIVING BAR TO TIGHTEN ATTACHMENT. WHEN STRUCK BY HAMMER SMALLL PARTICLE OF STEEL BROKE OFF & HIT EMPL ON CHIN.

September 13, 1988 NC · Metal/Non-Metal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger MACHINERY
The Feldspar Corporation · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

HE SAID SOMETHING GOT INTO HIS EYE WHILE WORKING. HE WAS OPERATING A DROPBALL. SOMETHING HAD SCRATCHED SURFACE OF EYE.

1987 · 1 incident

May 8, 1987 NC · Metal/Non-Metal rock driller HANDLING OF MATERIALS
The Feldspar Corporation · Struck by flying object

EMP WAS CHANGIN1 DRILL IBT WHEN DRILL SLID DOWN BOOM HITTING DOGS ( WHICH HOLD THE DRILL STEEL IN PLACE) CAUSING A SMALL PIECE OF METAL TO FLY INTO LEFT ARM ABOVE ELBOW REQUIRINING REMOVAL OF METAL AND 5 SUT6RES

1986 · 1 incident

September 30, 1986 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
The Feldspar Corporation · Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS LI0TING BAR TO JACKHAMMER. DROPPED BAR ON KNEE.

For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants

The full compliance file on Wiseman Sullins/Chalk

A dated report covering the 26-year penalty trail, line-item violation pattern, contest and docket posture, rate-normalized peer benchmark, and full fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.