Mining Incidents

Wooster Plant: 59 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Olen Corporation
Wooster, Wayne County, OH  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3301609

Wooster Plant has $16K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1 outstanding across 3 contested dockets, plus health sampling and the full incident record.

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
18
Years on record
1988–2010
Latest incident
Sep 2010
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
59
citations
14
significant & substantial
$15,954
proposed penalties
$14,053
paid to date
88% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,901 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
56
inspections on record
861
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: 861 inspection hours is too few for a stable rate. A minimum of 1,000 inspection hours is required.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.

Wooster Plant has $16K in proposed MSHA penalties and $1 outstanding across 3 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
$1
outstanding
59 assessments are final orders; 3 contested dockets.
Of $18K in penalties contested before the Commission, $4K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-01-06.
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.
23.7%
significant & substantial
15.3%
high negligence or reckless
23.7%
reasonably likely or greater
52.5%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.0% none, 20.3% low, 64.4% moderate, 15.3% 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.
14 citations taken to the federal commission · 24% of citations on record
  • Settled 5 · 36%
  • Vacated or withdrawn 9 · 64%
25%
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 12 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
81%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$37K proposed, $7K 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 2011-11-28.
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
LAKE 2011-1003 Withdrawal Harner 2012 $16K → $4K
LAKE 2011-209M Settlement Harner 2012 $2K → $100
LAKE 2010-851M Settlement Andrews 2011 $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: 2025-05-13
0%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
31
samples
8
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
  • Respirable dust, <.1mg21
  • Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz9
  • Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz1
Show the individual readings (31)
Date Contaminant Concentration Limit Conc / limit Occupation
2025-05-13 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Truck Driver
2025-05-13 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Rotary Bucket Ex. Operator
2023-09-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2023-09-20 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2020-10-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2020-10-27 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.16 Supervisor, Co. Official
2020-10-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2020-10-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2017-11-29 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.39 0.53 0.74 Crusher Oper/Worker
2017-11-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Supervisor, Co. Official
2017-11-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2017-11-29 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2015-05-13 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.41 1.48 0.28 Front-end Loader Operator
2015-05-13 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2015-05-13 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2015-05-13 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Washer Operator
2014-10-15 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2014-10-15 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2014-10-15 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Utility Man
2010-11-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.2 0.71 0.28 Front-end Loader Operator
2010-11-03 Unlisted Particulate, respirable, <1% Qtz 0.19 Dredge/Barge Operator
2010-11-03 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.22 0.76 0.29 Front-end Loader Operator
2010-11-03 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Crusher Oper/Worker
2005-07-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2005-07-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Front-end Loader Operator
2005-07-27 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dredge/Barge Operator
2000-08-02 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.18 0.84 0.21 Front-end Loader Operator
2000-08-02 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.25 0.45 0.56 Truck Driver
2000-08-02 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.17 0.48 0.35 Washer Operator
2000-08-02 Respirable dust, <.1mg 0 Dragline Operator
2000-08-02 Quartz, respirable, >1% Qtz 0.64 0.75 0.85 Front-end Loader Operator
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.

Wooster Plant recorded 7.84 reportable injury cases per 100 full-time workers in 2006.

Injury rate, 2006
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.
7.84
total case rate
7.84
days-away rate
0.000
fatality rate
Above average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 3.41 and the all-US-mining average was 3.91 cases per 100 workers.
In Ohio, metal and nonmetal mining averaged 2.79 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
2006 * 7.84 7.84 0.000
2005 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2004 * 0.00 0.00 0.000
2003 * 7.54 0.00 0.000
2002 * 8.36 8.36 0.000
2001 * 15.37 7.68 0.000
2000 * 16.09 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. Prairie Lane Corp 1950 to 2004
  2. Wooster Aggregates, LLC 2004 to 2008
  3. The Olen Corporation 2008 to present
Source: MSHA controller and operator history, updated weekly.
Workforce and production
Year Employees
2026 6
2025 6
2024 5
2023 5
2022 5
2021 5
2020 5
2019 6
2018 5
2017 5
2016 5
2015 5
2014 5
2013 5
2012 5
2011 6
2010 8
2009 6
2008 7
2007 8
2006 10
2005 12
2004 15
2003 14
2002 13
2001 12
2000 11
Source: MSHA quarterly employment and production, updated weekly.

Wooster Plant sits in Wayne County, Ohio, where the Census mining category is 0.3% 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.
Wayne County, Ohio · Population 116,618
0.3%
Mining share of county employment
$71,769
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 4,282 0 0 0.0
2026 Q1 2,903 0 0 0.0
2025 Q4 4,188 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 4,509 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 4,225 2 1 473.4
2025 Q1 2,251 0 0 0.0
2024 Q4 3,141 1 0 318.4
2024 Q3 3,244 2 0 616.5
Show 98 earlier quarters
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2024 Q2 3,017 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 1,862 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 2,623 0 0 0.0
2023 Q3 3,102 1 0 322.4
2023 Q2 2,937 0 0 0.0
2023 Q1 2,257 0 0 0.0
2022 Q4 2,406 0 0 0.0
2022 Q3 3,051 0 0 0.0
2022 Q2 3,102 0 0 0.0
2022 Q1 2,043 1 0 489.5
2021 Q4 2,988 0 0 0.0
2021 Q3 3,111 0 0 0.0
2021 Q2 3,020 0 0 0.0
2021 Q1 2,040 0 0 0.0
2020 Q4 3,233 1 0 309.3
2020 Q3 2,687 0 0 0.0
2020 Q2 3,110 0 0 0.0
2020 Q1 2,246 0 0 0.0
2019 Q4 2,954 0 0 0.0
2019 Q3 3,378 0 0 0.0
2019 Q2 3,542 0 0 0.0
2019 Q1 2,394 0 0 0.0
2018 Q4 3,444 0 0 0.0
2018 Q3 3,921 0 0 0.0
2018 Q2 3,539 0 0 0.0
2018 Q1 2,116 0 0 0.0
2017 Q4 3,601 1 0 277.7
2017 Q3 4,016 0 0 0.0
2017 Q2 3,976 2 0 503.0
2017 Q1 2,515 0 0 0.0
2016 Q4 3,493 0 0 0.0
2016 Q3 4,215 0 0 0.0
2016 Q2 4,112 1 0 243.2
2016 Q1 2,131 2 0 938.5
2015 Q4 3,455 0 0 0.0
2015 Q3 3,666 0 0 0.0
2015 Q2 2,826 1 0 353.9
2015 Q1 2,941 0 0 0.0
2014 Q4 2,823 1 0 354.2
2014 Q3 3,844 0 0 0.0
2014 Q2 3,113 0 0 0.0
2014 Q1 2,780 0 0 0.0
2013 Q4 2,767 0 0 0.0
2013 Q3 3,142 0 0 0.0
2013 Q2 3,248 0 0 0.0
2013 Q1 2,994 0 0 0.0
2012 Q4 3,570 2 0 560.2
2012 Q3 2,924 0 0 0.0
2012 Q2 3,850 0 0 0.0
2012 Q1 2,231 0 0 0.0
2011 Q4 3,402 0 0 0.0
2011 Q3 2,912 0 0 0.0
2011 Q2 4,566 0 0 0.0
2011 Q1 2,414 0 0 0.0
2010 Q4 5,604 1 0 178.4
2010 Q3 4,393 0 0 0.0
2010 Q2 3,750 3 1 800.0
2010 Q1 3,377 0 0 0.0
2009 Q4 3,770 0 0 0.0
2009 Q3 3,323 0 0 0.0
2009 Q2 3,124 0 0 0.0
2009 Q1 2,421 0 0 0.0
2008 Q4 3,165 0 0 0.0
2008 Q3 3,360 0 0 0.0
2008 Q2 4,285 0 0 0.0
2008 Q1 2,651 0 0 0.0
2007 Q4 4,285 0 0 0.0
2007 Q3 4,351 0 0 0.0
2007 Q2 4,253 1 0 235.1
2007 Q1 3,040 0 0 0.0
2006 Q4 4,905 0 0 0.0
2006 Q3 4,444 1 0 225.0
2006 Q2 7,692 0 0 0.0
2006 Q1 8,465 0 0 0.0
2005 Q4 8,234 0 0 0.0
2005 Q3 8,254 1 1 121.2
2005 Q2 6,586 0 0 0.0
2005 Q1 5,792 0 0 0.0
2004 Q4 7,496 0 0 0.0
2004 Q3 6,859 1 1 145.8
2004 Q2 6,789 0 0 0.0
2004 Q1 5,037 0 0 0.0
2003 Q4 6,968 0 0 0.0
2003 Q3 8,217 1 0 121.7
2003 Q2 7,060 0 0 0.0
2003 Q1 4,278 0 0 0.0
2002 Q4 6,518 1 0 153.4
2002 Q3 6,492 4 1 616.1
2002 Q2 6,606 0 0 0.0
2002 Q1 4,311 2 0 463.9
2001 Q4 6,830 0 0 0.0
2001 Q3 7,348 0 0 0.0
2001 Q2 7,209 0 0 0.0
2001 Q1 4,643 0 0 0.0
2000 Q4 6,471 0 0 0.0
2000 Q3 7,450 4 0 536.9
2000 Q2 6,544 0 0 0.0
2000 Q1 4,392 8 3 1821.5
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

18 on file

2010 · 1 incident

September 23, 2010 OH · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
The Olen Corporation · Struck against stationary object

Employee was pulling the chain to open the front gate when he was swing his right arm up to get the slack out of the chain his right wrist hit the corner of the office hour sign. This caused a laceration.

2008 · 1 incident

July 17, 2008 OH · Metal/Non-Metal barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand MACHINERY
The Olen Corporation · Struck by flying object

He was operating the clam dredge. He was adjusting a water hose, when bucket came back up and flung a rock at him. The rock struck him in the L upper arm, causing a laceration.

2006 · 1 incident

April 19, 2006 OH · Metal/Non-Metal barge/boat/dredge/towbarge/towboat/leach operator, riverman, deck hand MACHINERY
Wooster Aggregates, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Operating clam shell dredge bucket when rock came out and broke the windshield. Glass and the rock hit his right cheek.

2005 · 1 incident

February 16, 2005 OH · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Wooster Aggregates, LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Driving in a pipe, the hammer came down and hit his hand.

2003 · 1 incident

September 15, 2003 OH · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Prairie Lane Corp · Fall down stairs

EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING UP STEPS TO STORAGE TRAILER AT MAIN PLANT. GOING FROM 1ST TO THE 2ND STEP HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF 1ST STEP CAUSING HIM TO FALL FORWARD LANDING ON HIS RIGHT ARM & HAND RESULTI NG INJURY A STRESS FRACTURE OF THE BONE BETWEEN INDEX KNUCKLE AND THUMB OF RIGHT HAND. DR PLACED A REMOVABLE SPLINT ON RIGHT HAND.

2002 · 1 incident

June 4, 2002 OH · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Prairie Lane Corp · Fall onto or against objects

EE WAS INSPECTING THE RADIAL STACKER THAT HAD BEEN LOWERED TO THE GROUND STANDING ON THE UPPERSUPPORT LEG OF THE STACKER EE JUMPED OFF LANDINGON A ROCK ON THE GROUND CAUSING HIS ANKLE TO TWIST OVER BREAKING THE SMALL BONE IN HIS LOWER RT. LEG. APPROX. A 4' JUMP.

2001 · 2 incidents

December 11, 2001 OH · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner MACHINERY
Prairie Lane Corp · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS HOISTING A GEAR ON A CRUSHER BEING REBUILT IN OUR SHOP. THE GEAR SHIFTED OFF THE CHAIN USED FOR LIFTING, PINCHING HIS WRIST BETWEEN GEAR AND SHOP FLOOR.

June 18, 2001 OH · Metal/Non-Metal backhoe operator, trackhoe operator, crane operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Prairie Lane Corp · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WAS STORING SCREENS IN STORAGE TRAILER AT MAIN PLANT. EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE A SMALL PALLET THAT SCREENS WERE BANDED TO FOR SHIPPING. EMPLOYEE DID NOT NOTICE PALLET WAS BANDED TO ANOTHER PALLET FULL OF SCREENS UPON TRYING TOLIFT PALLET HE STRAINED HIS BACK.

2000 · 2 incidents

October 19, 2000 OH · Metal/Non-Metal backhoe operator, trackhoe operator, crane operator MACHINERY
Prairie Lane Corp · Struck by flying object

EMPLOYEE WAS WELDING AND GRINDING ON PROCESSING PLANT WHEN A PIECE OF STEEL SLAG BECAME LODGED ON RIGHT EYE. EMPLOYEE THOUGHT HE REMOVED THE SLAG AND CONTINUED TO WORK. THE EYE CONTINUED TO BE IRRITATED PROMPTING THE EMPLOYEE TO SEEK MEDICAL HELP IN COMPLETE REMOVAL OF SLAG. TWO FORMS OF EYE PROTECTION WAS WORN.

March 1, 2000 OH · Metal/Non-Metal backhoe operator, trackhoe operator, crane operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Prairie Lane Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

OPERATOR WAS HELPING THE MECHANIC BEND A PIECE OF ROUND BAR USED TO MAKE A CABLE GUARD FOR THE DRAGLINE BOOM. A FLAKE OF RUST CAME OFF ROUND BAR LODGING IN OPERATOR'S LEFT EYE.

1995 · 1 incident

March 24, 1995 OH · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver POWERED HAULAGE
Prairie Lane Corp · Struck against a moving object

NEW DRIVER WILLIFULLY DROVE THE EMPTY EUCLID UNIT INTO A DRAINAGE DITCH IN HIS OWN ATTEMPT TO TURN THE UNIT AROUND. WHEN THE FRONT TIRE JAMMED AGAINST THE SIDE OF THE DITCH, IT JERKED THE STE ERING WHEEL OUT OF HIS HANDS, AUSING HIS INJURY. DRIVER WAS HOLDING THE STEERING WHEEL INCORRECTLY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.

1994 · 1 incident

October 8, 1994 OH · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Prairie Lane Corp · Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE TRIPPED AND FELL, WHILE WALKING BACKWARDS IN HORSEPLLAY WITH ANOTHER PERSON,OVER ANND OPEN ACCESS HOLE ON TRUCK SCALE PLATEFORM BEING SERVICED. THE FALL REPORTEDLY RESTULED IN A HAIR LINE FRACTURE OF HIS TAILBONE.

1993 · 1 incident

January 28, 1993 OH · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Prairie Lane Corp · Over-exertion in lifting objects

LIFTED A PLANATARY OFF A B 30 EUCLID DISPLACED LUMBAR & SPRAINED LUMBAR

1992 · 1 incident

June 17, 1992 OH · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner MACHINERY
Prairie Lane Corp · Struck by flying object

WORKING ON A NORTHWEST DRAGLINE AND GREASE FLEW OFF AN AIR WRENCH W/SOCKET AND WENT INTO MY RIGHT EYE.SUBCONJUNCTIVAL HEMORADGE.

1990 · 1 incident

October 2, 1990 OH · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman FIRE
Prairie Lane Corp · Contact with hot objects or substances

EMPLOYEE WAS USING A TORCH TO CUT OFF A BOLT FROM A STEEL PLATE AND CAUGHT HIS PANT LEG ON FIRE. USING HIS HAND TO PUT OUT THE FIRE HE RECEIVED A 2ND DEGREE BURN ON HIS LEFT HAND 5TH DIGIT FIN GER.

1989 · 1 incident

October 2, 1989 OH · Metal/Non-Metal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Prairie Lane Corp · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLS STARTED TO STED DOWN OFF A NORTHWEST DRAGLINE TRACK AND HIS L FOOT SLIPPED AND HE FELL OFF THE RIB BACKWARDS WITH HIS L LEG CAUGHT BETWEEN A BAR AND THE TRACK

1988 · 2 incidents

October 15, 1988 OH · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Prairie Lane Corp · Struck by flying object

EMPL GRINDING OFF PATCH TO BE WELDED ON CHUTE & PIECE OF METAL FLEW OFF & WENT INTO HIS RIGHT EYE.

April 11, 1988 OH · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Prairie Lane Corp · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB STEPS OUT OF GRAVEL BIN TOSSED A SHOVEL OUT WHICH RE-ENTERED BIN THROUGH ANOTHER OPENING & STGRUCK HEAD OF ANOTHER EMPLOYEE STILL DOWN BELOW IN THE BIN