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.
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 1,703 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Imminent-danger orders
ⓘA Section 107(a) order removes miners from an area when an inspector finds an imminent danger. Each order is lifted once the condition is corrected, so this counts orders issued, not orders now in effect.
1
Section 107(a) orders
Most recent order: 2010-10-05.
On record since 2010.
Source: MSHA imminent-danger order records, 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.
Of $21K in penalties contested before the Commission, $16K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2025-01-30.
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.
28citations taken to the federal commission · 17% of citations on record
Settled
15 · 54%
Stood as issued
12 · 43%
Vacated or withdrawn
1 · 4%
85%
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 26 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
22%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$21K proposed, $16K 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 2012-01-26.
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: 2023-09-27
25%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
34
samples
8
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz82 over
Respirable dust, <.1mg24
Fibers, >5um1
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (34)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Occupation
2004-10-28
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.48
0.39
1.23
Crusher Oper/Worker
2003-01-14
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.62
0.46
1.35
Crusher Oper/Worker
2023-09-27
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Rotary Bucket Ex. Operator
2023-09-27
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Rotary Bucket Ex. Operator
2023-09-27
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2023-09-27
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Bulldozer Operator
2021-03-11
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2021-03-11
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2021-03-11
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2021-03-11
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Rotary Bucket Ex. Operator
2021-03-11
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2019-02-27
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Truck Driver
2019-02-27
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2019-02-27
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.26
0.47
0.55
Crusher Oper/Worker
2018-06-05
Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz
0.19
Truck Loader
2018-06-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Rotary Bucket Ex. Operator
2018-06-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Complete Load-Haul-Dump
2018-06-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Dry Screen Plant Operator
2017-04-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2017-04-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Backhoe Operator
2017-04-05
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2016-08-04
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2015-07-07
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Backhoe Operator
2015-07-07
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.73
3.32
0.22
Truck Driver
2015-07-07
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.65
0.97
0.67
Crusher Oper/Worker
2011-08-04
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.46
2.59
0.18
Crusher Oper/Worker
2006-04-12
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.16
0.45
0.36
Crusher Oper/Worker
2006-04-12
Fibers, >5um
0.02
Shovel Operator
2005-01-13
Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz
0.14
0.37
0.38
Crusher Oper/Worker
2004-10-28
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Shovel Operator
2004-10-28
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2003-05-15
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Crusher Oper/Worker
2003-01-14
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
2002-09-10
Respirable dust, <.1mg
0
Front-end Loader Operator
Area samples (mill and shop air)
Last sampled: 2026-01-21
7
samples
Show the individual readings (7)
Date
Contaminant
Concentration
Limit
Conc / limit
Area sampled
2026-01-21
ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS
0
MP PROD TRANSFER
2025-09-03
ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS
0
SF ORE TRANSFER
2024-06-12
ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS
0
SF ORE TRANSFER
2023-07-21
ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS
0
SF ORE PROCESSING
2023-07-14
ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS
0
SF ORE PROCESSING
2022-01-24
ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS
0
SF ORE TRANSFER
2021-03-11
ASBESTOS BULK, ALL FORMS
0
MP CRUSHING
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.
Wiseman Sullins/Chalk recorded 8.96 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2013.
Injury rate, 2013
ⓘ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.
8.96
total case rate
8.96
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 2.46 and the all-US-mining average was 2.99 cases per 100 workers.
In North Carolina, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 1.53 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
2013 *
8.96
8.96
0.000
2003 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2002 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2001 *
0.00
0.00
0.000
2000 *
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
6
2025
9
2024
7
2023
8
2022
10
2021
8
2020
7
2019
8
2018
9
2017
8
2016
0
2015
4
2014
9
2013
9
2012
3
2011
2
2010
2
2009
2
2008
3
2007
5
2006
5
2005
6
2004
7
2003
8
2002
9
2001
9
2000
9
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.
Wiseman Sullins/Chalk sits in Mitchell County, North Carolina, where the Census mining category is 6.2% 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.
Mitchell County, North Carolina · Population 14,973
6.2%
Mining share of county employment
$58,089
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
572
0
0
0.0
2026 Q1
3,353
1
0
298.2
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
0
0
0.0
2024 Q4
2,308
0
0
0.0
2024 Q3
2,890
0
0
0.0
Show 98 earlier quartersHide earlier quarters
Quarter
Hours worked
Citations
S&S
Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2
4,858
3
2
617.5
2024 Q1
3,755
4
0
1065.2
2023 Q4
2,910
0
0
0.0
2023 Q3
4,904
5
0
1019.6
2023 Q2
3,649
0
0
0.0
2023 Q1
4,375
3
1
685.7
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
2
1
579.4
2018 Q4
3,212
0
0
0.0
2018 Q3
3,202
0
0
0.0
2018 Q2
3,348
2
0
597.4
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
3
0
660.6
2014 Q4
3,968
0
0
0.0
2014 Q3
4,103
0
0
0.0
2014 Q2
4,339
2
0
460.9
2014 Q1
4,122
0
0
0.0
2013 Q4
3,906
0
0
0.0
2013 Q3
4,366
1
0
229.0
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
0
0
0.0
2012 Q1
522
2
0
3831.4
2011 Q4
624
2
2
3205.1
2011 Q3
1,239
0
0
0.0
2011 Q2
1,193
0
0
0.0
2011 Q1
706
0
0
0.0
2010 Q4
664
10
1
15060.2
2010 Q3
1,104
5
1
4529.0
2010 Q2
1,187
0
0
0.0
2010 Q1
601
23
17
38269.6
2009 Q4
497
0
0
0.0
2009 Q3
742
0
0
0.0
2009 Q2
768
0
0
0.0
2009 Q1
219
0
0
0.0
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
0
0
0.0
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
0
0
0.0
2004 Q4
4,600
2
1
434.8
2004 Q3
3,773
0
0
0.0
2004 Q2
4,000
2
0
500.0
2004 Q1
3,819
0
0
0.0
2003 Q4
3,590
0
0
0.0
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
0
0
0.0
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
0
0
0.0
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, 1986NC · Metal/Non-Metalcoal/ore shovel operator, shoveler, power shovelerFatality · SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
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, 2014NC · Metal/Non-Metalcrusher attendant/operator, pan feeder operator/workerMACHINERY
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, 2014NC · Metal/Non-Metallaborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitmanMACHINERY
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, 2013NC · Metal/Non-Metaldraftsman, surveyor/transit work supervisorSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
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, 2010NC · Metal/Non-Metalwarehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operatorHANDLING OF MATERIALS
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, 2005NC · Metal/Non-Metalhaul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driverSLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
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, 1999NC · Metal/Non-Metalfront-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operatorDISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
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, 1995NC · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
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, 1989NC · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS
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, 1988NC · Metal/Non-Metalcrane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, riggerMACHINERY
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, 1986NC · Metal/Non-Metalmaintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service techHANDLING OF MATERIALS