Mining Incidents

Sparta, WI Plant Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by USS Holdings Inc
Sparta, Monroe County, WI  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4703644

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
19
Years on record
2012–2025
Latest incident
Feb 2025
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2012
41
citations
9
significant & substantial
$6,162
proposed penalties
$6,162
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 20,432 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 2,520 0 0 0.0
2025 Q2 23,225 1 0 43.1
2025 Q1 0 1 0
2024 Q4 2,520 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 2,520 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 2,520 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 15,582 2 0 128.4
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

19 on file

2025 · 1 incident

February 20, 2025 WI · Metal/Non-Metal FIRE
U S Silica Company · Accident type, without injuries

While operating the Volvo 550 excavator a hydraulic leak started during operation that led to a fire in the engine compartment. The operator observed the fire and safely exited the equipment.

2024 · 1 incident

February 8, 2024 WI · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
U S Silica Company · Fall onto or against objects

While staging material for a maintenance task, the employee tripped over a chain hoist and landed awkwardly on a guard the employee had just removed. The resulting injury was a fracture to the fingertips of both the left ring and middle fingers, as well as five sutures.

2018 · 5 incidents

August 8, 2018 WI · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
U S Silica Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee climbed down from haul truck, jumped off bottom step, landed on uneven ground with right foot and rolled ankle. Employee was put on crutches/restrictions on 08/21/18.

June 26, 2018 WI · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
U S Silica Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employees were removing a hopper with a chainfall attached. With the hopper secured, last bolt was removed, the employees did not realize hopper was top-heavy, hopper flipped back and crushed employee hand between hopper and HDPE pipe that was below.

May 4, 2018 WI · Metal/Non-Metal crane operator, mobile equipment operator (meo), dragline operator, dropball operator, rigger POWERED HAULAGE
U S Silica Company · Struck against a moving object

Employee was driving an end loader feeding material. Employee backed up loader while grasping the steering wheel with left hand and looking over right shoulder, the loader made contact with a hole in the pad area, jarring the employee in the cab. Employee reported incident 06/14/18. PT prescribed 07/05/18

March 13, 2018 WI · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
U S Silica Company · Struck by falling object

As ee was removing teeter water piping in the Hydrosizer using a pipe wrench the end of the pipe came out and fell pinching ee thumb between the pipe wrench and the shell of the Hydrosizer steel plate.

January 31, 2018 WI · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
U S Silica Company · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

On 01/31/18, EE reported that while working in the rail yard ee slipped on ice & twisted left ankle. EE was not wearing ice cleats at time of the event. EE was offered & refused medical treatment. On 02/05/18, a medical evaluation and diagnostics revealed a fracture on left ankle. EE was put on restricted duty as of 02/05/18.

2017 · 3 incidents

December 31, 2017 WI · Metal/Non-Metal ELECTRICAL
U S Silica Company · Accident type, without injuries

At 9:02 am an employee noticed flames coming from the rental heater. Three employees tried to use fire extinguishers on the flames but it wouldn't extinguish. They called 911 and the fire dept. came around 9:25 am. and extinguished the fire by 9:38 am. The United rental heater was a 2012 Almand MH1000 which was a total loss.

June 14, 2017 WI · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
U S Silica Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While doing a screen change on a Rotex Mineral Separator, an operator was tightening a bolt with a wrench. The wrench slipped and the operator's hand contacted an edge on the equipment. The operator suffered a laceration on right hand (third finger) that required 4 stitches.

February 3, 2017 WI · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
U S Silica Company · Fall onto or against objects

At night, a Maintenance Tech slipped on a sanded patch of ice and fell to the ground - hitting face. The upper rim of safety glasses cut forehead / brow directly above left eyebrow. EE was taken to the local hospital where EE received 5 stitches to close the wound. EE returned to work to finish the shift. EE has not missed any regularly scheduled work.

2016 · 1 incident

August 13, 2016 WI · Metal/Non-Metal FIRE
U S Silica Company · Accident type, without injuries

Abandoned farmhouse at entrance to mine property was set on fire / arson. Fire was not the cause of mining operations. No miners were at risk as plant was shut down for weekend - no shift at work. Building had no electricity or active heating sources. Fire Marshal investigated scene on 08/14/16 and indicated suspicious cause - most likely arson.

2015 · 1 incident

March 31, 2015 WI · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
U S Silica Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Operator was tightening a bolt on a pipe flange with a wrench when the wrench slipped off the bolt, pinching his finger between the wrench and a beam. Operator was wearing gloves at the time.

2014 · 2 incidents

July 8, 2014 WI · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech OTHER
U S Silica Company · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Squatting down to move into work position and felt knee pop. Treated using first aid until 9-26-14 when it became reportable due to medical treatment.

May 13, 2014 WI · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec OTHER
U S Silica Company · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A Service Worker suffered a fatal heart attack at a residential property owned by the company and adjacent to the active mine site. The Service Worker was removing an inactive LP gas tank when he fell ill. EMS was called by his coworker, and the victim was rushed to a local hospital. The fatality was due to natural causes and was not related to any mining activities.

2012 · 5 incidents

November 27, 2012 WI · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
U S Silica Company · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using a hand bender to straighten out a ground rod. His right, ring finger became stuck in the frame work of the bender. As he put pressure on the board, the momentum of his body caused the bender to twist. This forced his finger to twist in a sideways direction, ultimately, resulting in a finger fracture.

October 19, 2012 WI · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
U S Silica Company · Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

EE was working on a scaffold approx. 5 feet high, cutting a lentle over the door to the Dryer MCC bldg. the saw hit a piece of rebar causing it to bind and kick back. This action caused the scaffold to move near the edge of the concrete stoop it was on. EE lost his balance during this move, causing him to fall. A spotter was with him but unable to react quickly enough.

October 5, 2012 WI · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
U S Silica Company · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

The employee was working with a co-worker to set up a light plant, fading light conditions, poor communication with co-worker, and improper body positioning all contributed to the injury.

September 20, 2012 WI · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman HANDLING OF MATERIALS
U S Silica Company · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was pulling cable off of a large spool of wire. While he was pulling, he felt a sharp pain in his groin/abdomen. He continued his work shift. Over the weekend the pain and a present bulge did not subside. Employee sought medical treatment on 9/25, where he was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia.

June 14, 2012 WI · Metal/Non-Metal miner, prospector, nec HANDLING OF MATERIALS
U S Silica Company · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was handling rebar and dropped one end and the other end came up and hit him in the neck area causing a laceration and chipped tooth.