Mining Incidents

Vest Plant Metal/Non-Metal

Kermit, Winkler County, TX  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4105326

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
26
Years on record
2018–2025
Latest incident
Nov 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2018
325
citations
72
significant & substantial
$303,172
proposed penalties
$256,434
paid to date
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Quarterly safety rates
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2025 Q4 48,428 16 2 330.4
2025 Q3 7,032 22 4 3128.6
2024 Q4 64,495 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 66,641 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 5,741 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 65,614 27 8 411.5
2023 Q3 5,618 7 0 1246.0
2023 Q2 66,161 0 0 0.0
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

26 on file

2025 · 2 incidents

November 10, 2025 TX · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employee was working on the Silo spout 7B, was in man lift with another employee untangling cable. Started to get cable untangled and used spud wrench to turn motor until cables untangled. When they untangled it activated the slack sensor and motor was energized and began to spin spud wrench cutting employee left arm top of wrist 3" down

July 3, 2025 TX · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was closing lid on a box truck when driver re-entered the cab and proceeded to drive away with employee still on top. Employee was caught by fall protection. Employee was Rescued via Emergency Ladder within Seconds. No Immediate Signs of injury at the time of the Accident, Employee was feeling soreness the next day and taken for Medical Evaluation 2 days after the incident

2024 · 3 incidents

August 27, 2024 TX · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Fall from machine

Employee was performing the pre-operational inspection of the Komatsu 155AX dozer. Employee's foot got caught in the tracks of the dozer causing EE to fall off the tracks and fracturing their ankle.

June 1, 2024 TX · Metal/Non-Metal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was walking to get the dry plant sample, tripped and fell and hit elbow and was in moderate pain, didn't need medical assistance at that point. On 6/1, after sleeping, employee complained of swelling and pain, medical treatment with orthopedic follow-up to evaluate shoulder sprain or possible rotator cuff injury. Not permitted to return to work until 6/5.

April 19, 2024 TX · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Fall down stairs

Employee 1 (E1) attempted to separate two employees that were in a confrontation, E1 fell down the steps of the E-House injuring EE's ankle. E1 declined medical treatment. On April 21, E1 was unable to put on EE's work boots due to swelling and requested medical treatment. Injury was diagnosed as a broken ankle.

2023 · 1 incident

September 8, 2023 TX · Metal/Non-Metal silo operator, bin puller, truck loader SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE slipped on a water bottle and dislocated thumb when trying to catch themselves.

2022 · 1 incident

January 6, 2022 TX · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Employee was replacing the guarding on the top of BE307 and when they picked up a 5 gallon bucket and turned to walk back to the man lift. Employee stepped on a race from one of the bearings that had been replaced and fell hitting right leg on some guarding.

2021 · 2 incidents

November 10, 2021 TX · Metal/Non-Metal silo operator, bin puller, truck loader SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was loading trucks in the silos and caught the toe of EE's shoe and sprained EE's knee.

June 15, 2021 TX · Metal/Non-Metal warehouse, supply handler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE was walking and turned back to talk to another employee and tripped over forks of forklift using hand to catch fall. Wrist was not broken just had splint put on the sprained wrist.

2020 · 6 incidents

November 29, 2020 TX · Metal/Non-Metal outside foreman, leadman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Fall onto or against objects

Employee had worked night shift. Had already clocked out and was about to head home when employee stopped into building by parking area to grab a burrito. Employee tripped on flat ground and fell into the stairs. Catching forehead on step, and cracking bone in left wrist while bracing for fall.

October 16, 2020 TX · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech STRIKING OR BUMPING
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was hooking cable on the crane and turned to look at the crane operator. When the employee turned back the headache ball hit the employee and chipped the front tooth.

July 3, 2020 TX · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Struck by flying object

Employee cutting bearing with grinder, cutting wheel. Wheel broke and piece flew off, cutting employee on right forearm in two places. Requiring stitches.

March 19, 2020 TX · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer STRIKING OR BUMPING
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Struck against stationary object

2-26-20 employee struck elbow on hand rail. 3-4-20 elbow swelled, prognosis Bursitis. No restrictions. 3-19-20 elbow infected. To Doctor. 3 prescriptions and work restriction until 4-1-20.

January 30, 2020 TX · Metal/Non-Metal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor POWERED HAULAGE
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

While determining which troughing rollers to be replaced, employee caught hand and arm in moving conveyor belt, causing abrasion to left hand and broken left arm. Employee transported to Emergency Room

January 7, 2020 TX · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was attempting to remove a large nut on SCR 311 in order to adjust the hanger arm with a 36" pipe wrench. Nut would not break loose so second employee came in to help. Both employees were pulling on pipe wrench when nut gave way, causing second employees thumb to be bent backwards, injuring tendons in thumb.

2019 · 5 incidents

November 21, 2019 TX · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee clocked in and returned to personal car to retrieve back pack. Using a pocket knife, employee was attempting to cut a zip tie off back pack. Knife slipped cutting left index finger. Initial first aid was preformed, however, bleeding continued and employee was transported to ER where stitches were received.

May 19, 2019 TX · Metal/Non-Metal plumber, pipefitter, millwright MACHINERY
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Struck by flying object

Failure to LOTO while unbinding an auger at the lime silo. Employee applied a pipe-wrench and failed to remove it when the auger was being bump tested. Employee was struck on the left side of face causing an open fracture of the jaw.

April 30, 2019 TX · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was cutting a zip tie with pocket knife and cut EE's left thumb requiring 3 stitches

April 12, 2019 TX · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee received a small puncture and laceration to the 4th and 5th fingers of the left hand while touching a piece of metal with bare hands.

April 6, 2019 TX · Metal/Non-Metal superintendent HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Iron Oak Permian LLC · Struck by flying object

Employee was struck in the eyelid by a metal shard which was created by striking metal on metal. Employee was prescribed a medication for the eye to prevent injury. Returned to work with no restrictions.

2018 · 6 incidents

November 19, 2018 TX · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner STRIKING OR BUMPING
VB Operations, LLC · Struck against stationary object

After climbing stairs to plate presses, employee was standing on landing, the employee used EE's hands to gesture inadvertently striking the hand rail with EE's little finger of EE's left hand. Employee reported injury but refused medical attention. The next day the finger had swollen and changed color, employee was taken to family clinic. A fracture was found via x-ray.

September 11, 2018 TX · Metal/Non-Metal plumber, pipefitter, millwright HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
VB Operations, LLC · Rubbed or abraded

While training a conveyor belt, using a hammer to adjust return roller, employee missed roller frame and the hammer was caught between the belt and roller, pulling hand against the belt, causing a friction burn on the top of left hand.

July 26, 2018 TX · Metal/Non-Metal plumber, pipefitter, millwright EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
VB Operations, LLC · Struck by flying object

EE was changing bearing at tail of BE304. When tensioner bar was removed, stored energy released and hand was smashed between 2 pieces of plate resulting in lacerations requiring stitches and 2 fractured fingers on left hand.

February 17, 2018 TX · Metal/Non-Metal steel worker, iron metal worker, iron worker STRIKING OR BUMPING
VB Operations, LLC · Struck against stationary object

Employee was crouched down, below a piece of steel angle, working and stood straight up when finished. Hit their collarbone on steel angle breaking the collarbone.

February 4, 2018 TX · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
VB Operations, LLC · Struck by flying object

Wet Plant Attendant reconnected a 2" rubber airline to a 2" metal nipple. The airline was recharged and end of airline blew off nipple striking employee in mouth. Employee was taken to ER in Kermit, Texas where EE received 3 stitches in lip. Also has a broken front tooth. Clamps were not tighten enough to prevent blow off.

January 30, 2018 TX · Metal/Non-Metal plumber, pipefitter, millwright HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
VB Operations, LLC · Struck against stationary object

Congested work area working in a non permit confined space. Limited space for movement. Employees left pinky finger sustained a laceration requiring stitches.