Stillwater Mining Company · Contact with electrical current
The employee was performing routine preventative maintenance on a transformer when EE was fatally electrocuted.
Stillwater Mining Company: 10 recorded fatalities operator
Controlled by
Sibanye Stillwater Limited
MSHA operator ID: L14843
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Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
7,878
citations
1,362
significant & substantial
$4,067,360
proposed penalties
$3,042,016
paid to date
75% of proposed penalties paid to date, a $1,025,343 gap.
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Labor enforcement (WHD)
US Labor Department wage findings since 2002
2
labor cases
$599,636
back wages owed
750
employees affected
Violation types
Wage & hour (FLSA) (1)
Source: US DOL Wage and Hour Division enforcement records, matched by employer name and state.
Inspection activity
MSHA inspections since 2000
756
inspections on record
114,402
inspection hours
6.9
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.7,878 citations across 114,402 inspection hours.
Source: MSHA inspections data, updated weekly.
Penalty disposition
ⓘ
Differences between proposed and paid penalties reflect both settlements and conference reductions and amounts still owed. Outstanding is the balance currently owed.$4.0M
proposed penalties
$3.5M
current assessed
$3.0M
paid to date
$452K
outstanding
7,575 assessments are final orders; 237 contested dockets.
Of $1.6M in penalties contested before the Commission, $927K was upheld in final decisions.
As of the most recent assessment on 2026-07-13.
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.17.5%
significant & substantial
4.0%
high negligence or reckless
17.7%
reasonably likely or greater
35.2%
permanently disabling or fatal if injury occurs
Negligence coding: 0.1% none, 13.4% low, 82.4% moderate, 4.0% high, 0.0% reckless.
Source: MSHA violations gravity and negligence coding, updated weekly.
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.2.19
total case rate
1.09
days-away rate
0.137
fatality rate
Above average. The US metal and nonmetal mining average was 1.65 and the all-US-mining average was 1.97 cases per 100 workers.
| Year | total case rate | days-away | fatal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.12 | 0.80 | 0.000 |
| 2025 | 2.19 | 1.09 | 0.137 |
| 2024 | 3.17 | 2.26 | 0.000 |
| 2023 | 2.92 | 1.94 | 0.000 |
| 2022 | 1.86 | 1.17 | 0.000 |
| 2021 | 3.03 | 1.91 | 0.132 |
| 2020 | 3.57 | 1.99 | 0.000 |
| 2019 | 3.77 | 2.69 | 0.000 |
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.
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: 2026-07-23
ⓘ
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.18%
of limit-tested samples over the exposure limit
533
samples
359
limit-tested
Most sampled contaminants
- Diesel particulate (total carbon)15224 over
- Total Carbon,calculated from elemental carbon.7923 over
- Total Carbon,TC7923 over
- Diesel Particulate Material239 over
Area samples (mill and shop air)
Last sampled: 2026-07-1223
samples
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.
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.
807
citations taken to the federal commission · 10% of citations on record
- Settled 647 · 80%
- Stood as issued 39 · 5%
- Vacated or withdrawn 3 · 0%
- Still open 118 · 15%
70%
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 345 decided S&S contests · industry: 79%
40%
Penalty reduction in decided contests
$1.2M proposed, $741K 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 2026-07-21. Vacated and withdrawn citations are removed from the file this view attributes through, so that outcome is slightly undercounted here.
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 operator contested before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, with the outcome on record.
| Docket | Decision | Judge | Year | Proposed / upheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEST20020197M | Settlement | Weisberger | 2003 | $85K → $40K |
| WEST 2022-0211 | Dismissal | Miller | 2022 | $75K → $0 |
| WEST 2012-1265M | Settlement | Simonton | 2013 | $52K → $35K |
| WEST 2023-0017 | Dismissal | Simonton | 2023 | $42K → $42K |
| WEST 2012-235M | Settlement | Lesnick | 2012 | $39K → $29K |
| WEST 2021-0011 | Settlement | Miller | 2021 | $39K → $14K |
Source: FMSHRC civil penalty dockets and decisions (public record), updated weekly.
Top causes
- POWERED HAULAGE 6 fatalities · 199 non-fatal
- MACHINERY 2 fatalities · 457 non-fatal
- FALL OF ROOF OR BACK 1 fatality · 206 non-fatal
- ELECTRICAL 1 fatality · 6 non-fatal
- HANDLING OF MATERIALS 555 non-fatal
- SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON 294 non-fatal
Incident timeline
2026
8
2025
22 (1f)
2024
42
2023
58 (1f)
2022
37
2021
56 (2f)
2020
66
2019
63
2018
52
2017
41
2016
42
2015
47
2014
61
2013
61
2012
56
2011
55 (1f)
2010
53
2009
53
2008
60
2007
67
2006
80
2005
75 (1f)
2004
88
2003
137
2002
135
2001
157 (3f)
2000
188 (1f)
1999
177
1998
122
1997
76
1996
38
Mines on record
Fatalities under this operator
10 recorded
Stillwater Mining Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
Tangled in drill steel while installing ground support.
June 9, 2021
MT · Metal/Non-Metal
bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss
Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Stillwater Mining Company · Struck against a moving object
On June 9th, 2021 at 2:00 pm the operator was made aware of a collision underground between a locomotive and a UTV resulting in a Fatal incident.
June 9, 2021
MT · Metal/Non-Metal
bull gang foreman, labor foreman, leadman, section foreman, shift boss
Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Stillwater Mining Company · Struck against a moving object
On June 9th, 2021 at 2:00 pm the operator was made aware of a collision underground between a locomotive and a UTV resulting in a fatal incident.
October 31, 2011
MT · Metal/Non-Metal
discontinued 1/31/2014. several other codes cover scoop car operator
Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Stillwater Mining Company · Struck against stationary object
Employee was operating a 4 yd mucker, MU452, on the 38W Level & was found fatally injured. Investigation is currently in progress.
Stillwater Mining Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)
An employee was attempting to repair air lock doors when he received a fatal crushing injury.
Stillwater Mining Company · Struck by powered moving object
THE EE WAS ON ONE KNEE MAKING AN AIR HOSE CONNECTION. A OPERATOR, OPERATING A 3.5 YD SCOOP ENTERED THE WORK AREA STRIKING THE EE WITH THE BUCKETCAUSING FATAL INJURIES.
Stillwater Mining Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
THE MINER WAS FATALLY INJURED WHEN HE STEPPED OFF THE MUCKER HE WAS OPERATING. THE MINER PARKED THE LHD ON A 15% GRADE ON THE 66W RAMP. WHEN HE REMOVED HIMSELF FROM THE OPERATORS COMPARTMENT THE LHD BEGAN TO ROLL DOWN THE RAMP. THE MINER WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BUCKET & THE RIB.
Stillwater Mining Company · Struck by falling object
THE EE FINISHED DRILLING THE LEFT RIB, WAS STILLBOLTING WHEN HE LEFT HIS JACKLEG,HE WAS MOVING AWAY FROM HIS JACKLEG WHEN A PIECE OF ROCK CAME OUT OF THE RIGHT RIB, STRIKING EE & KNOCKING HIM TO THE GROUND. HE SUSTAINED A DISLOCATED HIP & A FRACTURED PELVIS. HE WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR TREATMENT OF HIS INJURIES.
March 13, 2000
MT · Metal/Non-Metal
motorman, motor person, swamper, switchman, locomotive operator
Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Stillwater Mining Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object
EMPLOYEE WAS FATALLY INJURED WHILE WORKING ON THE 5000W RAIL HAULAGE LEVEL. HE WAS PINNED UNDER A RAIL CAR. ACCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
For insurers, brokers, and safety consultants
Where Stillwater Mining Company stands on silica, penalties, and injury rate
MSHA's standard limits respirable silica to 50 micrograms per cubic metre, but MSHA publishes dust and quartz as separate files and never the silica figure itself. We derive it per sample, score it against the limit, and set the operator's injury rate against a benchmark built from the full MSHA operator record. With the 26-year penalty trail, contest posture, and fatality history. Delivered as a PDF with the underlying data as CSV.
The federal record itself stays free on this site. What costs money, and why.