Sperry Mine Metal/Non-Metal

An operator was filling a tank on truck #40. The operator's foot slipped off the edge of the platform causing them to slip, and they fell into a handrail, breaking three ribs on their left side. The other operator they were with immediately came over to the scene, laid them down and called for help.

An employee was operating a mill loader to run rock from the mine stacker pile to the mill. They were on the west side of the pile to grab a bucket of fines; the employee then began to back up and came to an abrupt stop (loader backed into the radial stacker). They then turned around to look and saw that the radial stacker was coming down on top of the loader.

A mine maintenance employee was assisting in performing an annual service on the 2-belt hydraulic take-up. The employee placed their left ring finger in-between the two guards and pulled back on the guarding, this resulted in pinching of the employee's finger. The employee was wearing leather gloves at the time of the incident.

A miner was dumping trash dumpsters. The employee followed proper shutdown procedures of the forklift and tried to assist the dumpster by pushing up on the rear. When that didn't work the employee grabbed the dumpster from the side and pulled down, causing the dumpster to tip. The pin that holds the dumpster lid failed, causing the lid to fall on the employee's right hand.

Dust had built up on a beam used for hoisting. When utilizing the equipment, the dust was liberated and was able to get behind the worker's safety glasses and into eye.

A miner was diagnosed with COVID on 10/1/21. On 10/4/21, a second miner reported symptoms and tested positive for COVID. The second miner switched equipment with the first miner halfway through the shift, on the first miner's last day at work prior to becoming symptomatic. Based on further investigation, the second miner's exposure likely happened in the workplace.

A mine mechanic was attempting to drive out the front pivot pin from a roof bolter using a 20# sledgehammer and a T-handle drift pin. The employee missed a swing, which resulted in the employee's right index finger getting caught between the handle of the sledgehammer and the drift pin. The finger was lacerated along the top and required 7 stitches.

The employee was installing new light fixtures in the loading pocket. The mine was running production and dust was present in the environment each time the skips loaded. The employee was evaluated and diagnosed with a foreign object in the left eye.

The shift supervisor came to the employee and parked the personnel carrier to give morning break. The employee was climbing into the back of the personnel carrier when the employee felt a pop in left shoulder. The employee was evaluated and diagnosed with a left long bicep tendon and rotator cuff tear.

Employee was preparing to weld a broken pick holder on the north crusher. Employee was descending a ladder into the crusher hopper while carrying a MIG welder feeder box. Employee lost balance and fell from ladder. Employee was evaluated and diagnosed with fractured left tibia and fibula.

Maintenance was performing quarterly inspections on the #2 Hoist. As they were raising the man cage, a fray in the outer strands of the south guide rope snagged. No personnel were in the mine at the time.

The main hoist experienced electrical issues, causing it to run slowly. The hoist stayed in operation, and the mine maintained two means of egress.

Employee was replacing production loader push plate hose at south break room. As employee pushed on wrench they felt a pop in the left shoulder. Employee was evaluated and diagnosed with a superior labral tear.

Damage to the south hoist rope prevented the mine from running the #1 hoist removing the shaft from service. Mine operations were suspended as two means of egress were not available.

#1 shaft hoist rope was rejected during non destructive testing removing the shaft from service.

The #1 production hoist computer failed preventing the mine from running the #1 hoist. Miners were evacuated immediately as two means of egress were not available. New computer was installed to correct issue.

Damage to the control power in the ore pocket prevented the mine from running the #1 hoist. The mine still maintained two means of egress with the #2 and #3 hoists.

The #1 hoist drum bearing housing slid to the south preventing the mine from operating the hoist. The mine still maintained two means of egress with the #2 and #3 hoists.

Damage to the #1 hoist drum bearing housing prevented the mine from operating the hoist. The mine still maintained two means of egress with the #2 and #3 hoists.

Damage to the foot gate controls prevented the mine from raising and lowering personnel with the #3 hoist. The mine still maintained two means of egress with the #1 and #2 hoists.

The #1 hoist electrical breaker was locked out to allow mine personnel to reposition the brake counter weight proximity switch. After repositioning was completed, the #1 hoist electrical breaker would not turn back on preventing the mine from raising and lowering personnel with the #1 hoist. The mine still maintained two means of egress with the #2 and #3 hoists.

Employee had finished loading ANFO and was in the process of wrapping up the on/off control valve hose. Employee's feet got caught in the hose and he fell to the ground. Employee was evaluated and diagnosed with a right upper arm contusion.

Failure of the #1 hoist plc processor prevented the mine from raising and lowering personnel with the #1 hoist. The mine still maintained two means of egress with the #2 and #3 hoists.

Damage to the topside ore bin vibratory feeder prevented the mine from emptying the ore bin (which was full) and the #1 hoist south skip could not be unloaded. This prevented the mine from raising and lowering personnel with the #1 hoist. The mine still maintained two means of egress with the #2 and #3 hoists.

Supervisor was walking from the map case back to his truck and stepped in hole (7 inches) and fell to the ground. Supervisor was evaluated and was diagnosed with a right shoulder strain.

Damage to the south skip in the #1 shaft wouldn't allow the skip to close normally, causing the skip to become stuck in the bottom of the shaft. The mine still maintained two means of egress with the #2 and #3 hoists.

Damage to the south skip in the #1 shaft wouldn't allow the skip to close normally, causing the skip to become stuck in the bottom of the shaft. The mine still maintained two means of escape with the #2 and #3 hoists.

Damage to the South skip in the #1 shaft, due to normal wear a part of the skip became bent and wouldn't allow the skip to close normally and would require the skip to be repaired. The mine still maintained two means of escape with the #2 and #3 hoists.

3rd shift hoist operator had the #1 hoist stop running-an electrician was called out. MSHA was notified at 4:50 am. The electrician determined the PLC needed rebooted. #2 and #3 hoists where available at all times, no evacuation was necessary.

While hoisting rock, the 3rd shift hoist operator had the brakes set and lock up on the #1 hoist. After troubleshooting, maintenance personnel determined that a faulty output signal was affecting the hydraulic system. This output card was replaced and the hoist was put back into service. The mine maintained two means of escape with the two other operating personnel hoists.

Unloading/lifting two wheeled nigtrogen cart from the bed of #53 Kubota RTV. Injured employee was working with another employee to lift the two wheeled cart out of the Kabota when he felt pain in his left hip area. Diagnosed as Left Hamstring Strain.

3rd shift hoist operator had the hoist stop running- an electrician was called out, MSHA was notified and the foreman began the process of evacuating the mine. The electrician arrived 3:00AM and determined immediately that the problem was not a failed drive, but an issue with the PLC. The PLC needed the program rebooted. Evacuation was cancelled as the hoist was functioning.

At 3:25PM it appeared that the circuit board for the Avtron hoist failed. The procedure to replace circuit board takes over 30 minutes. MSHA was notified at 3:30PM that our hoist was down and the miners would evacuate using the emergency hoist at the #3 shaft.

Employee was driving #19 Haul Truck South on R43 and failed to maneuver vehicle through jog in road at XC4W and haul truck impacted 26 x 26 pillar.

Injured back while assisting shift supervisor with injured employee.

Hoist rope came off sheave wheel. Anticipated rope damage. Later inspection determined no damage on hoist rope.

Employee was preparing a new roof bolter boom to be lowered into the mine for assembly. Boom was suspended in mine shaft and when employee was positioning the boom, the boom extension cylinder guard came loose, striking the employee on the hard hat. Employee is diagnosed with cervical-thoracic strain.

Medical monitoring showed a recordable shift in left ear- noise induced hearing loss.

Employee was clearing a rock jam out of #2 Belt Transition with a steel pole and experienced an AC Joint strain to the right shoulder.

Employee placed hand in a pinch point while pulling door shut on loader. Unanticipated assistance shutting door from another employee in the area. Resulting in tuft fracture to right middle finger, 5 stitches and a tetanus shot.

Drilling hole near bent bolt to replace it. Drill bit had broken tip out on last hole. Before he could install new bit, a piece of 2' wide, 6"-8" thick, 6'-7' long shale fell in pieces hitting employee. Bending of previous bolt pryed shale loose creating potential to fall which was unrecognizable. 18 stitches in R hand, & upper minimally displaced fracture upper anterior maxilla.

Filling drilled holes with ANFO and developed a rash, allergic dermatitis.

The employee pulled a 2'x18" rock off the arm of a production loader and it landed on the right side of her right foot causing a contusion.

Was stepping off a haulage truck when the employee twisted his right ankle. Resulting a sprained ankle.

The employee was walking under an overhead pipe. He failed to duck far enough to clear pipe and hit his hardhat on the pipe. He felt a sharp pain in the upper part of his neck and back of his head.

Was hand scaling when a large rock was knocked loose. The rock fell onto the scaling bar, causing the scaling bar to hit the employee on the lower right leg.

While stepping down off of a tractor, the employee missed the last step, fell backwards to the ground and hit his head on a rock, receiving a contusion to the back of his head and lower back.

Environmental freeze/thaw effect on rock within bedding planes or cracks near entrance to #3 shaft. Estimated 20-25 tons of rock fell.

Environmental freeze/thaw effect on rock within bedding planes or cracks near entrance to #3 shaft. Estimated 20-25 tons of rock fell.

In assessing a fall of ground, the employee instinctively jumped back when he heard more material fall (in this case it turned out to be ice). The employee fell backwards injuring his right knee - tore quadriceps tendon.

Empmloyee was operating a 3/4" pneumatic impact to tighten bolts on crusher. The air movement was circulating dust/dirt. Employee noticed irritation in eye. Was later found to be a metal foreign body in left eye. Foreign body was removed and eye was treated with anti-biotic drops and patch.

On 11/10/04, the employee was working in the mine ore pocket while other employees in the area were welding. There was not proper ventilation at the time. The employee's nasal passage and throat became irritated by the smoke. On 11/22/04, the employee reported that his throat was still sore. He was examined by R. Nevling, P.A. and diagnosed with upper airway irritation.

After hand scaling for approximately 4.5 hours and task was completed, employee felt sore in right forearm. Employee was examined by company physician on 10/1/04. Intersection syndrome was diagnosis.

Employee was shoveling fines from floor of bin room into ore bin in the headframe. He felt his left shoulder pop, but initially refused medical treatment. The pain persisted, and at his request, he saw the company physician on 10/1/04. An A-C Joint strain was diagnosed.

THE EE WAS ROLLING UP AND PULLING 4" COLLAPSABLE WATER HOSE. WHILE DOING SO, HE WAS WALKING BACKWARDS AND TRIPPED OVER A LARGE ROCK FALLING TO THE GROUND. HE BROKE A BONE IN HIS RIGHT LEG AS A RESULT OF THE FALL.

THE EE WAS HOLDING UP A BUSHING WITH A TIRE SPOON AT THE REAR OF THE MECHANICAL SCALER BOOM WHILE ANOTHER EE WAS INSTALLING A PIN FROM THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SCALER. THE OTHER EE DROVE IN TH E PIN, WHICH HIT THE TIRE SPOON, WHICH HIT THE EE'S CHIN. THE EE NEEDED 9 STITCHES TO TIE UP THE LACERATION TO THE CHIN.

EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO MOVE A PIECE OF DIAMOND PLATED STEEL THAT WEIGHED 360 LBS. WHEN THE EE TRIED TO PICK UP 1 CORNER OF THE PIECE OF STEEL, HE FELT A PAIN IN HIS BACK WHILE TWISTING. THE EE W AS TAKEN TO THE DOCTOR & WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A MILD BACK STRAIN.

EMPLOYEE REPORTED ON APRIL 11, 2002 THAT HE HAD RASH AND BLISTERS ON BOTH ARMS FROM GROUTING. HE HAS BEEN LAID OFF SINCE 2/8/02.

EE WAS PUTTING NEW PINS INTO THE FEEDER BREAKER DRAG CHAIN. WHILE SITTING IN AN AKWARD POSITION,HE USED HIS LEFT HAND FOR SUPPORT. HE PLACED HISHAND APPROXIMATELY 2" AWAY FROM A PIN HE WAS ATT EMPTING TO DRIVE DOWN WITH A HAMMER. WHEN HE SWUNG THE HAMMER HE HIT HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER & FRACTURED THE TIP.

EMPLOYEE WAS REMOVING DISCHARGE HOSE FROM TRASH PUMP. THE PUMP WAS OFF & THE HOSE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED SO THE PUMP COULD BE PLACED IN STORAGE. WHEN THE DISCHARGE HOSE WAS REMOVED, HOT WATER, M UD & GRAVEL SPILLED ON TO THE BOTTOM OF THE EMPLOYEE'S LEFT FOREARM. THIS RESULTED IN A MILD 2ND DEGREE BURN. PUMP MAIN CAUSE.

CONTRACTOR WAS WORKING IN THE MINE REPAIRING A BELT. THE CONTRACTOR WAS CUTTING A PIECE OF BELTWITH A UTILITY KNIFE AND A STRAIGHT EDGE. WHILE CUTTNG THE BELT, HIS HAND SLIPPED CUTTING HIS RIGHT THIGH JUST ABOVE THE KNEE

SKIP DUMP ORE BIN WAS PLUGGED & A SKIP OF ROCK WAS LOADED. THE SKIP COULD HAVE BEEN DUMPED AT ANY TIME BUT WE DID NOT WANT TO ADD TO THE PLUGGEDBIN. THE EMERGENCY HOIST WAS USED TO LOWER & RAI SE EMPLOYEES INTO AND OUT OF THE MINE. WHILE THEHOIST WAS BRINGING PEOPLE OUT A SEAL LEAKED & THE LOW ENGINE OIL SWITCH SHUT THE MOTOR OFF. WE ADDED OIL TO GET THE HOIST TO THE SURFACE.

CORE HOLE WAS DRILLED FROM SURFACE TO MINE. HOLE WAS USED TO COLLECT REQUIRED GEOLOGIC DATA FOR PROPOSED VENT SHAFT. HOLE COULD NOT BE IMMEDIATELY PLUGGED AND WATER FROM AQUAFIER ABOVE MINE SE AM LEAKED INTO STRATA ABOVE MINE SEAM. THE WEIGHT OF WATER RESULTED IN A ROOF FALL 30'W X 60'L X 10'H DIRECTLY WEST OF THE CORE HOLE.

THE EE WAS OPERATING A CLEAN OUT LOADER IN A FACE THAT HAD BEEN DRILLED POORLY & HAD AN UNEVEN FLOOR. THE EE LOWERED THE BUCKET TO THE GROUND & WAS PUSHING A LOAD OF ROCK TOWARD THE FACE. THE BUCKET HUNG UP ON A LIP, STOPPING THE LOADER ABRUPTLY.

EMPLOYEE CLIMBED A ROCK PILE TO INSPECT THE ROOF CONDITION. WHILE DESCENDING THE ROCK PILE, THE EMPLOYEE TWISTED HIS RIGHT KNEE. THE EMPLOYEE WAS TAKEN TO THE DOCTOR ON 10-20-00 AND DIAGNOSED WITH A SPRAIN TO THE RIGHT KNEE.

THE EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING POWDER AND CAME INTO CONTACT W/AMMONIUM NITRATE (ANFO). HE COMPLAINED OF RASH AND ITCHING, SO HE WAS TAKEN TO THE DR. THE DR. DIAGNOSED THE EMPLOYEE W/CONTACT DERMAT ITIS. HE WAS GIVEN A STEROID INJECTION AND RESTRICTION FROM WEARING GLOVES AND WORKING W/ANFO.

EE WAS SCALING CORNER RIB, PRYING A SMALLER ROCK WITH LEVERAGE POINT AGAINST A LARGER ROCK SHARING THE SAME FRACTURE SYSTEM. BOTH ROCKS FELL AND THE LARGER LANDED ON EE'S FOOT. FRACTURED LEFT GREAT TOE.

EMPLOYEE SPENT 6 HRS. SHOVELING THE 2 BELT IN THE MILL, THEN ANOTHER 6.5 HRS. OPERATING FRONT-END LOADER. WHILE OPERATING LOADER, HE STARTED TO FEEL STIFFNESS & PAIN IN HIS BACK, WHICH BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE AS THE SHIFT WENT ON. 6/1/00, HE COMPLAINED OF EXTREME SORENESS & DIFFICULTY WALKING SO WAS TAKEN TO DOCTOR; TOLD NO LIFTING OVER 10 LBS; NO BENDING, CRAWLING,

THE EE S FORE MAN WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLEAN OUT A VENT ON #3 RAYMOND MILL FROM THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE MILL. THE MATERIAL IN THE LINE RELEASED ALL AT ONCE, BLOWING OUT THE TOP OF THE VENT AND INT O THE EE S FACE HE WAS STANDING ON THE TOP SIDE WORKING ON A MILL BEARING EE USED THE EYE WASH STATION TO REMOVE DEBRIS, BUT ALSO NEEDED TO SEE THE DR TO HAVING REMAINING DEBRIS FLUSHED OUT.

EE WAS DRIVING A HAULAGE TRUCK AND HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND FELT A POP IN HIS NECK. HE FELT NO PAIN IN HIS NECK UNTIL 2 DAYS AFTER THE INCIDENT. ON 3/30/00, EE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH HERNIATED D ISC.