Lyons Mine Metal/Non-Metal

Miner was dumping a Tilt cart when the cart shifted back into miner's body and miner felt a pinch in miner's back. Miner reported the injury on 1.24.23 but declined medical attention, miner went to the doctor on 1.30.23

Doing a team lift on a hoist framework and felt a sharp pain, was seen and placed on lift/carry restrictions on 5/25/22. Restrictions removed on 6/6/22

Everything is good working order, employee lost grip and fell

EE was descending stairs in the mill when knee locked up causing EE to fall down the remaining 3 to 4 stairs. EE initially felt fine, but on May 5th, 2021 was seen by a doctor because of pain in left shoulder, which was caused by the fall. EE was informed that EE had inflammation and was given a Cortisone shot to reduce it.

A maintenance laborer was grinding on a part which was secured in a vise in the shop. While grinding on the part, the grinding wheel came apart, throwing a piece of the wheel and hitting the left forearm of the employee causing a laceration to the arm. Five stitches were used to close the laceration.

Bottom south wheel assembly on the south skip, east wheel became misaligned causing contact with guide plates, timbers, and beams causing the bracket to bend. This prevented full movement of the south skip to the loading position. It was determined that tension on the wheel assembly may have been too high. Inspection and adjustment procedures are being reviewed with all shifts.

Employee was pulling a barrel of colorant off of a pallet when EE felt a pop in EE's neck and back area.

Employee was hanging power cable overhead along the back when the basket shifted a little, which jarred the employee. The day of incident they felt fine, but was feeling sore on the 14th of Sept so was taken in and was told they had some muscle spasms in lower back.

EE was exiting the hoist drum after pulling slack. When the EE stepped down EE heard a pop in EE's left knee. After several diagnostic visits it was determined there was a small tear in the left meniscus. This didn't become reportable until restrictions were given starting on 7/2/2020.

EE was descending ladder. Forgot to untie ladder from anchor, re-ascended and untied it. EE then descended again. EE thought EE was at the bottom, stepped down not realizing there was still one rung of the ladder, lost balance and braced self by grabbing the ladder with right arm. Pain in EE's right shoulder began at the time. Restrictions were given to EE on 4/21/2020.

North skip dump wheel broke off due to fatigue causing the skip to not be able to exit the dump scrolls.

EE and IE were holding a cast aluminum 5" off a power station, the box fell on IE's finger.

The miner was assisting in changing out the north hoist rope, the hoist rope was stopped in a small sheave. EE put EE's boot on the hoist rope and it moved knocking EE onto the ground striking EE's elbow and hand.

We lowered the maintenance cage for the monthly visual inspection and the cage hung up in the shaft. We lowered a remote camera into the shaft to get a visual of any bulges that were created by recent rains and saturated ground conditions. All bulges were corrected and the shaft was returned for use.

North skip dump wheel broke off due to fatigue causing the skip to not be able to exit the dump scrolls.

EE was lifting and stacking 2 top boards (3/4" plywood, 40" x 48") when ee felt a "pop" in wrist / forearm.

While pulling down on the bell signal lever during shaft inspection the bell housing came apart causing pain in employee's right shoulder.

Employees were removing a section of duct work to be replaced, when it suddenly broke free, striking the ladder that the victim was standing on. Victim fell from either the second or third rung striking the floor and fracturing hip.

The employee reported to EE's supervisor that EE was feeling a dull pain in EE's lower left back and around EE's left elbow area while EE was performing EE's regular job duties of sewing and stacking 50 lb bags of salt.

Employee torqueing a bolt with a ratchet wrench. The wrench slipped off the bolt and smashed the right pinky finger tip causing a fracture to the tip.

Electronic board in the hoist drive had a fault causing the hoist to become inoperable. Miners were on the skip in the shaft.

Divider wall in the shaft between the south skip compartment and the ventilation compartment shifted into the ventilation compartment, creating an offset in a guide splice. The south skip impacted the offset guide breaking the guide and then impacting the guide and divider timbers on a subsequent trip.

Door did not close completely on the north skip on a prior trip, contacted the shaft collar and broke the door arms. Subsequent trip, the broken door would not close at all at the dump and hung the skip in the headframe. Mgmt became aware of the skip damage at 7:22am.

Employee set skip up to return to production hoisting following a mantrip, but failed to correctly engage the latching mechanism on the south skip door. After a few production hoisting cycles, the door latch arm disengaged during a dump cycle. When the skip exited the dump point, the latch arm contacted a headframe structural member, wedging the skip and damaging the skip door

The Mechanic was exiting a telehandler and stepped on a chunk of salt with his left foot causing him to sprain his ankle.

Employee as hanging cable along the back. He was kneeling in a man basket as the basket was being raised when he lost balance and placed his hand on the railing. There was a 1x1 board hanging from the back that smashed his right ring finger between it and the railing as the basket was being raised causing a contusion.

Keeper plate for a hinge pin on the north skip fatigued and broke allowing the pin to come out and the door to not close properly upon exiting the scrolls. The door caught a cross brace in the headframe and hung up in the headframe, damaging the skip, the cross brace, and guides.

Maintenance had been done to the north skip, West Safety Dog Shaft the evening of 8/20/14. Around 8:30am on 8/21 the SW Safety dog from the north skip came off of the skip. Plastic bushing liners on the shaft had migrated out of position and the set screws had come loose on the safety dog. The dog hit a guide mounting plate and damaged the plate and guide before coming off the skip

Employee was dumping a self dumping hopper with a forklift. While dismounted from the forklift and dumping the hopper the employee smashed his left middle finger due to improper hand placement. The employee was taken to the ER where it was determined to be fractured and he also received sutures. Immediate visits to specialists followed for initial observation.

Employee was impacting a roof bolt when the plate spun around hitting his right middle finger, reported it and then went back to work. The employee went to the emergency room on Saturday as it was not feeling better. It was at this point that the injury became reportable (2/22/2014) when an x-ray was taken and a splint was given to immobilize the finger.

Coil that pulls in the safety circuit reset cellunoid failed. Replacement was available and required 10 minutes to correct once an electrician was called to site.

Miner was using a mucker bucket to scale the face. When a piece of the face came loose the force of the mucker caused the mucker to bounce. The employee's head stuck the ceiling in the cab of the mucker causing stiffness and soreness in the employee's neck and upper back. Employee received restricted duty and a prescription on 1/13/14 making the injury reportable.

Brake linkage arm on the main hoist wore at a pin & bushing connection causing the mechanical linkage to bind and then crack and break the end of the arm.

Employee was driving an LHD, went through a dip in the floor causing him to jam his right shoulder as he was resting his upper body on the arm rests of the machine. Complained of some limited motion. Doctor examinations initially resulted in first aid only, but on 10/7/2013 it became reportable due to medical treatment provided (steroid shot).

On 9/10/2012 employee reported pain in right side of his ribs. He stated that it was a strain due to over exertion of shoveling muck. Employee saw a doctor on 9/11/2012. Doctor prescribed medicine and returned to full duty with no restrictions.

The miner was cleaning a work area when he picked up a timber using improper lifting techniques. While lifting he felt a pull in his groin and released the timber.

Employee, was backing the drill away from the face in the fresh air way. He had the door open, when he backed over a rock causing the door to slam shut on his left 5th fingertip.

While using the stretch wrapper a pallet spun and struck the IE on the foot.

The emergency shaft was cleared with an empty inspection cage. Next empty trip down, the cage did not reach bottom. The cage was hoisted back to the suface. The hoist cable was under the cage and tied into a knot. The hoist rope was damaged and will need to be replaced. The shaft will be inspected for obstructions and necessary repairs made before entering the mine to work.

Before the weekly inspection of Lyons Salt's emergency shaft, it was determined there was not communication between the surface hoist and shaft bottom. No one was injured. The phone at the emergency hoist did not work.

Injured employee was moving an empty pallet from a stack of pallets to the ground in order to stack bags of salt on it.

This started as a first aid incident only and became a reportable when physical therapy was ordered. IE hit left elbow on door of #5 Tram while mucking salt. Diagnosed with tendonitis by doctor and returned to full duty. 2 weeks later at follow-up visit, the doctor observed no improvement and ordered therapy.

Injured employee was using a forklift to load trucks in an outside storage area. Since the ground is uneven, the IE was bounced around in his forklift causing lower back pain.

The newly installed Lilly for the main hoist was thought to be improperly adjusted by the oncoming hoist operator as the over speed would kick the hoist "too quickly" (it was working). It was later determined that it was in fact, working properly. This does not meet the definition of a reportable accident and this report is being filled out under an abundance of caution.

Injured employee was driving a forklift. The tire broke apart and caused the forklift to hit a steel beam which forced employees legs into the steering column of the forklift. Claimant sustained a stained right knee.

Lowering board when it swung and struck left thigh and a splinter from the board stuck in leg causing foreign body injury and puncture wound.

Employee reported lower back pain after restacking a pallet of salt bags.

While walking through the warehouse and employee was struck by a forklift which caused his right ankle to be broken.

Employee closed elevator door on hand causing his right index finger to become broken.

Employee was restacking bags of salt onto pallets when he strained his hip and back.

Shaft work was in progress, hoist drive kicked out due to GFI. Was reset and kicked out again. Shaft workers stuck in shaft for over 1 hour while drive was troubleshot and enough operational capacity given to bring the workers to surface. Later it was found that damp weather conditions had resulted in condensation of moisture in and around the hoist motor ventilation system.

Spring in the hoist joystick controller that would return the joystick to neutral (deadman) failed due to fatigue. At the initial time of failure, the gearing in the joystick was caused to slip, only allowing hoist travel in one direction. The spring was replaced and the joystick and hoist returned to operating condition.

1 1/2" Gutter Hanger became lodged in employee's arm when it fell from the roof.

The man doors on the south skip were not properly secured by an employee at the end of 2nd shift. When the south skip was taken into the dump scrolls to test safeties, it became stuck on the "A-Arm" because of the open doors. The skip was damaged making it difficult to extract and interfering with the use of the hoisting equipment for several hours.

Employee was replacing an empty propane tank with a full tank, slipped on uneven and loose ground, and twisted her back.

Employee was getting out of the mule and strained his back.

Employee pitched a 50lb bag of salt into hopper and felt a pop in right wrist. Employee was seen by doctor. Doctor gave employee a wrist brace to wear. Doctor released employee to full duty with no restrictions.

The primary power to the escape shaft hoist was interrupted due to a customer truck contacting power lines that provide power to the hoist. A backup generator is available and was started at this time. The backup generator did not provide voltage and thus the escape shaft hoist did not have a power source. Replacing generator with new. Currently wired in a rental generator.

Employee was working on Stamler Feeder Breaker to clear a plug and a hydraulic hose blew spraying employee with hydraulic oil. Employee was burned on right forearm and face. Employee was transported to ER for treatment.

Employee reported swelling in right knee on Monday, 1/25/2010. Employee stated swelling was due to walking up and down the tipple belt incline on Saturday, 1/23/2010. Employee was treated on Monday, 1/25/2010 and placed on retricted duty until further notice.

Employee was baring down a slab when the bar was driven down, striking employees shin.Employee was treated by doctor on 1/20 and placed on light duty.Follow-up visit with doctor was conducted on 1/25, employee was then taken off of work.

Dropped a pallet board on the arch of his foot ( right), the pallet board, it weights about 35 pounds.

Employee was helping to remove a latrine from the work truck when he felt a twist in his shoulder. Incident did not become reportable until 12/14/2009 when the doctor supplied a sling for the arm and shoulder.

On 10/20/09 @ 19:23 an accident occurred on the main man hoist. The incident involved the south skip, when it was traveling to the dump pockets, failed to be stopped by the hoist operator. The skip hung in dump position in the head frame and severely damaged. Investigation revealed operator error was involved in the accident. Accident was reported to MSHA on 10/20/09.

Employee was throwing bags at #1 when he felt back hurt and told his lead man and was taken to the ER to be seen. When throwing bags he is picking the bags off up a metal table and stacking them on a pallet. He was looked at given no meds but put on a restriction for 5-6 days.

EE reported sore back on 8/28/09. Did not want to see doctor. 9/08/09 reported back not better. Took employee to doctor on 9/08/09 & 9/14/09. Doctor stated it would take time for strain to heal. No meds, No restrictions. 9/23/09 EE reported not any better. Treating physican recommended physical therapy. At this point, 9/23/09, the injury became reportable. No restrictions. .

There was a hyd. leak with the fluid in the gear box, this stalled the hoist and it would not budge, so I called MSHA and reported the hoist down, the hoist this time really never went down. We allowed it to cool a few minutes and as the ATF Fluid cooled, the hoist functioned as required.

Hoist at the main shaft had power problems - lack of power reaching the hoist itself. Found through troubleshooting process that a voltage phase monitor (electrical component) had failed. Replacement of the failed part returned the hoist to service some 2 hours later. Five miners underground were evacuated out the secondary escape shaft.

Employee stepped down off of step and felt something pull in his calve.

Had a hyd. problem on the main hoist and when it became obvious that it was going to be an issue, the hoist was shut down, then the crews were pulled in the secondary and MSHA was notified of the down shaft.

EE was going to the 4th floor when at the elevator, he put his hand in between the doors and injured it, this is the type of closing door that is pull down/pull up. He couldn't get the door to unlatch it, seemed so he took his hand off the handle, pushing on it, his hand came to the pinch point of the door. He was seen by the doctors and ace wrapped. One day of light duty.

Employee was walking across railroad track, twisted knee, and felt pain. He was examined by physician on 7/06/09.Returned to work with no restrictions.On 11/11/09 he complained of knee pain and requested follow-up with doctor. On 11/12/09 he was examined by doctor and given a shot.As of 11/12/09 this injury became reportable.

Employee was mucking out with the LHD when he ran over a rock and hit his head on the cab. Employee pulled the muscles in his neck, he finished his shift then went to the doctor the next day and received medical treatment in as much as a prescribed pain killer. He returned to work the next shift, there was no lost time.

On the hoist, the connecting rod for the break snapped at the head and the hoist was down until repaired, the crew was pulled from the mine.

Fuse tripped the main hoist and caused the hoist to be non operational until approximately 3:00a.m. on 05/27/09 when the fuse was repaired and the hoist was placed back into service. This was electrical damage not mechanical damage.

Employee was powdering a room. An anfo loading air hose became stuck. The employee was working to free the hose when the hose became free and pushed the employees hand into the rail of the basket on his piece of equipment.

Employee was standing at the end of bag line stacking bags on a pallet. The fork truck driver picked up the pallet and then realized the pallet was too high for the employee to stack the last two bags. The fork truck driver sat the pallet back down and when he did, he pinched the side of employee's left foot with the pallet. Employee was taken to ER for treatment.

Employee was dumping 50lb bags of salt on the surface, in the A Frame. He stated he twisted wrong and pulled a muscle in his back. He was taken to the doctor on 3/26/2009. Doctor placed him on restricted duty. He had a follow-up appointment with the doctor on 4/8/09. The doctor returned him to full duty as of 4/09/09. Employee reported the injury on 3/26/2009.

Lowering an LHD bucket down the shaft, slung beneath the skip. The bucket became lodged in the shaft and broke free from its slings. Damage to the shaft structure and skip guides has occured.

On 04/02/09 the Company received a Health Insurance Claim Form from an eye doctor for the employee. This is the first notification the Company has received in regards to an injury for this employee. Per the claim form, the employee claims to have gotten metal in his eye while grinding on a piece of equipment. Workers Comp Claim's Administrator is investgating the claim.

EE was assisting maintenance repair roller on bottom of conveyor belt. Had hatch to bin open to gain access. EE stepped into the open hatch and caught self, injuring right front leg (knee), left shoulder and left hand.

Scaling in the mine felt a sharp pain - told supervisor not known if it was an issue. Completed form and told HR in December. Went to doctor - his ortho surgeon on 1/5/09. Was put on restrictions at that time - so now reportable.

EE working in a tight spot, hand got caught between dump door and angle iron (used for bracing), lost fingernail.

Blizzard conditions developed in the morning of 12/22/07 at the mine. Operations were running as a typical production day. As the high winds continued from the blizzard, the local power lines were briefly shorting out power to the mine. On one such occurrance, the power remained out. After 15 minutes with no power, MSHA was called and miners brought safely to the surface.

While driving forklift in storage area - something seemed to be in her eye. She was wearing safety Rx glasses. Taken to doctor, no foreign bodies found in her eye. Prescription for Erythromycin ointment for preventative care.

Truck driver was being loaded on scales. When told to come in to sign paperwork, he did not respond. Scale operator and mill operator found driver in cab of truck not breathing and no pulse. No signs of injury or trauma. Coroner arrived on site and pronounced him dead after 25 minutes of CPR.

Thunder storms were building and moving northeast across Kansas. The north edge of the storm was just to the south of the town of Lyons. At 7:45 pm all electricity was out in Lyons and Sterling, Kansas. The storm knocked the power out feeding Lyons somewhere southeast of Lyons.

We were replacing guides in the N. Compartment of main mine shaft. Three mancrew was ready to install a guide when all the power went out in L. Kansas and part of Rice County. Main electrical sub station for Lyons and part of the county had failed. The main electricla sub.for Lyons and part of the county had failed. It took from 11:30 pm until 2 am for the problem to be fixed

A section fo shaft guide came out in north compartment, allowing the tipping box to tip and ride the remainder of shaft on the wrong side of guides. As the north skip approached the shaft collar, the box had more clearance to tip further, causing a wedging effect that put force on the tower guides and breaking out four lengths .

EE used a piece of pipe to beat on hopper, due to wet salt not coming out of hopper. EE smashed his left thumb between hopper and pipe.

Employee picked up 50# damaged salt bag to empty into salt hopper - felt pain in lower back - strained lower back.

North skip got hung up. Operator didn't realize North skip was hung up & was bringing South skip up. After spooling off approx 100' of cable on North skip, operator realized what was happening & stopped hoist & set brakes. After a while, the South skip started creeping downward & then took off setting South skip down hard & pulling North one through the limits. Damaged skips.

NORMAL HOISTING WAS BEING DONE WHEN THE OVER TRAVEL CONTACT FAILED, TRIPPING THE BRAKES TO THE SKIP.

Normal Hoisting made when a fuse blew on the main hoist motor cooling fan. This shut the hoist down and set the brakes. The fuse controlling the blower fan is located in the dc 2000 thy ristr control panel and is set up to shut the motor down and set the brakes on hoist if this blower fan fuse blows. This is a 4 amp fuse.

A small 2.8 amp fuse flew ont he dc drive unit that controls the emergency stop circuit. This caused power loss and brakes to set. Replaced fuse and ran safties. Everything ok.

In the area where the guies were knocked out, it was noticed that too many holes had been drilled over time while doing shaft repair, causing a weakness or causing a split zone in the guides. As the loaded 24,000 16 skip travels thru this area the horizontal forces exerted could split the guide along the area where too many holes were drilled.

Coil on Hoist motor brake failed causing motor brake to set.

Backing up tram hit a chunk of salt and he bounced around inside cab striking head and cutting head.

Employee was moving a monitor on shelf and it tipped and fell onto her face.

Employee was participating in the Kansas state shoot out competion in Hutchinson, KS. He was wearing a full rescue pack and outside working on the problem with the team. The temperature was 91 F with 100% humidity. EE became dehydrated with heat exhaustion.

S. Bull Wheel alignment wasn't right & reported it.Inspection was noticed that S.Support pedestal had $ bolts, broke & was allowing pedestal to move, which was throwing sheave alignment to be off, also found 2 broken bolts, in S.Pedestal supporting N.Sheave. Each sheave is supported by 2 pedestal switch 8 bolts. mining shut down immediately & wait for special bolts due 2/25/05.

PALLETIZING BAGS, EE BENT OVER TO REPOSITION 50 LB BAD OF FINE ROCK SALT ON PALLET.

After person replaced some blown fuses on hoist drive system,operator, ee ran safety's with a fully loaded skip going down ward and counter balanced empty one going upward. when he passed overspeed ee which is closed to bottom. loader skip did not stop in time before getting bottom. damage appears to be broken bolts hd dumping bucket on bottom skip.

CONVEYOR BELT #301 WAS RUNNING IN THE HAND POSITION (NOT IN SEQUENCE) & OVERLOADED THE BELT IT FEEDS - #205. WHEN BELT #205 WAS GIVEN THE SIGNAL TO START, IT WAS OVERLOADED & NOT EQUIPPED WITH A ZERO SPEED SWITCH. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVE TO SPIN IN THE BELT & BURN IT. OUR ACTION WAS TO EQUIP THE BELT WITH A ZERO SPEED SWITCH. DAMAGE AMOUNTED TO RESPLICING A SECTION INTO BELTLINE.

BAGGING OPERATOR BENT DOWN TO CLEAN OFF AND REPOSITION FOOT PEDAL WITH RIGHT HAND, RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER WAS PINCHED BETWEEN V-BELT CATHEADS WHEN RETURNING HAND TO BAGGING.

WHILE REPAIRING THE HEAD PULLEY'S BAD BEARING - MINER PINCHED HIS LEFT MIDDLE FINGER BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND BEARING PLATE, SMASHING IT, RESULTING IN A BRUISE AND CUT WHICH WAS TREATED AT THE CLINIC WITH STITCHES AND A TETNUS SHOT. HE WAS RELEASED TO REGULAR DUTY THE SAME DAY.

HEARING LOSS. CONFIRMED STS, RECORDABLE SHIFT IN LEFT EAR NO SIGNIFICANT SHIFT IN RIGHT EAR.

TRIPPED & USED HANDS TO BREAK FALL - RESULTING IN FRACTURE OF LEFT ARM.

GOING DOWN STAIRS, HIS LEFT KNEE BUCKLED AND HYPEREXTENDED. AS OF 7/9/02 EMPLOYEE IS ON RESTRICTED DUTY & WILL REQUIRE FURTHER TREATMENTS.

DRIVING LOADER HE HIT A CHUNK OF SALT CAUSING WHIPLASH TO NECK. WAS NOT LOST TIME UNTIL 11/19/01

CLEANING GREASE FROM HOIST DRAIN PIT, CLEANING SOLVENT CAUSED A REACTION TO FOREARMS, MUD SECTION, GROIN, INCLUDING RASH, PUFFINESS AND REDNESS.

EE SHUT DOWN DUST COLLECTOR TO CHECK V BELTS ON FAN DRIVE SYSTEM. FAN WAS STILL FREE WHEELING WHEN EE CHECKED BELTS CAUSING FINGER TO PULLED BETWEEN SHEAVE AND BELTS. ALL OF RIGHT INDEX FINGER NAIL WAS REMOVED & EE PUT ON RESTRICTED DUTY.

CAUGHT RIGHT THUMB ON SQUARE EDGE OF A POST CAUSING LACERATION TO THUMB. TREATMENT: 5 STITCHES.

EXITING 2 TON TRUCK ON PASSENGER SIDE--SLIPPED & FELL ON WET AREA ON RUNNING BOARD ON TRUCK. REPORTABLE REASON: SPLINT ORDERED BY DR. TO IMMOBILIZE WRIST.