Graymont Superior Lime Plant Metal/Non-Metal

Buckets on a loadout spout were stuck. Trying to break free the material, the employee banged on the buckets from the inside with a sledgehammer. This resulted in the loadout spout becoming unstuck, and it swung forward and hit the employee in the face, knocking out the bottom half of their two front teeth. EE will have crowns put on. No restrictions and did not miss work.

Employee was conducting a routine task. Inspecting a belt. They lifted a top cover of the guard to check the tracking. When they grabbed the cover by both sides to place it back on, it slipped from their left hand, smashing a finger between the side guard & the top guard angle iron. Employee was wearing gloves, & it put a hole through the gloves.

Employee slipped on a plant road. EE did not fall but had discomfort in front & back of EE' left knee when catching balance. EE followed RICE principles. EE was still experiencing pain so EE went to Occupational Medicine on 1/17/23. EE was given no restrictions & told to continue RICE. EE was still experiencing pain and was given restrictions on 2/14/23 at a follow-up appointment.

Investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing. Minimal damage was done to the kiln girth gear due to the fire. Impairment was the downtime of the kiln. The kiln returned to operation within 24 hours. No injuries. Superior Fire Department assisted in extinguishing the fire.

EE was struggling with the quality of Hydrate. EE decided to dump the material. EE locked-out the Hydrator and screw to troubleshoot. Once the cover was open EE noticed that there was no material in the screw housing. EE used a sledge to free the material from the chute. As EE was banging on the chute, material fell into the screw housing, inundating EE.

Employee was doing the daily task of using a forklift to empty a dumpster filled with off-spec material into a front end loader bucket. As employee went to empty the dumpster the full bucket immediately bounced back causing employee's left hand to be pinned against the forks and the frame of the dumpster.

Coal fire started in coal yard at approximately 12:30 AM on 4/2/2020. Heavy equipment operators used equipment to extinguish. Fire department and police department were called in as well to assist.

Employee was repairing a conveyor belt guard, was holding the guard up with left hand so it wouldn't fall into the stone bin. As EE was holding the guard employee was using a grinder in right hand to cut off the last fastener holding it in place. The guard shifted, causing the grinder to strike employee's left hand, resulting in a laceration.

Employee was starting up Hydrator and was troubleshooting when lime bridged over, fell, and inundated employee with lime in eyes. We went to the clinic the following day and received medication. Employee was excused from working last night shift. Employee has now been cleared by the doctor to fully return to work.

Smoldering coal fire started in coal yard. No structures or employees were affected. Contacted MSHA. Used D9 dozer to extinguish. Continued to monitor over the next week.

Smoldering coal fire was noticed in coalyard on 2/3/20. Plant management was called, MSHA was called, and the operator then used dozer to extinguish. Monitored return over the next few days.

Smoldering coal fire in the coal yard. Heavy equipment operators spent time using FEL, dozer, and excavator to extinguish.

Coal fire (smoldering) in the coal yard. HEO notified management. Management called MSHA online. Have been working on extinguishing fire this past week.

At 4 AM on 12/12 a coal fire was noticed in the coal yard. MSHA was contacted. The HEO used the excavator to mitigate the smoldering. The fire was out by 2 PM on 12/13.

There was persistent smoldering on the coal stock pile. Removing and extinguishing of embers took more than 30 minutes.

During cleanup after a lime kiln de-slagging job an employee got lime kiln dust in the right eye from debris that fell from above EE.

Chain handrail broke, employee fell backwards off catwalk. Employee landed on pallet of bricks 4.5 feet below.

Indoors, good lighting, dry floor. Falling material hit employee's jackhmmer bit causing the handle to strike employee in the chin resulting in a 1 inch laceration and a 1/2 inch laceration.

Employee was working as a relief Assistant Kiln Op, while removing an inspection cover for a girth gear on kiln 5, EE strained right shoulder. A 480v heater was placed in the area on the prior shift, employee did not move the heater prior to trying to remove the cover, resulting in an awkward body position.

Employee exiting their vehicle in employee parking lot and dust particles from the lot impacted left eye. Winds were 15-20 mph. Rinsed eye out, received medical attention for scratched cornea, prescribed antibiotic.

Kiln 5 was shedding ash ring, the cooler pit could not cool the lime/ash down enough and the hot material caused the conveyor belt to ignite. Fire Department was called and extinguished the fire rapidly. The conveyor belt and some conveyor rollers were damaged.

Employee raking ash ring from kiln grates when a large chunk of ring fell on to the rake, impact jarred their lower back. Employee was seen at Urgent Care that same day, lower lumbar strain. Treatment plan recommended not returning to their last night shift that evening. On 8/6/18, employee seen by Occupational Medicine and return to work without restrictions.

Attempting to remove a pin that was holding a gate up under the crossover screw. While trying to lift gate arm up employee strained the lower groin area. Occupational Medicine review indicated a hernia. Surgery to repair occurred on October 9, 2018. Employee worked their position until then without restrictions.

Shoveling a lime pile onto a conveyor, felt pain in lower back. Placed on weight and activity restrictions after Occupational Medicine visit.

Employee was loading rail cars with lime product. Employee had to release rail car brake by climbing rail car ladder to platform. After releasing the brake the employee started moving back towards ladder. During that process, employee fell to ground causing employees ankle to break.

Employee slipped on ice while moving rail cars with shuttle wagon. Employee is experiencing pain in right ribs near the kidney.

Employee was cleaning Kiln 4 cooler pit when lime dust from the cross-over belt level fell into the individual's left eye causing a chemical burn.

Employee ruptured distal bicep tendon while removing heater from a hanger bracket in a scissor lift. Employee needs a MRI with surgery to follow. Employee is under restricted work until surgery is scheduled.

Employee was cleaning at transfer point of the west belt in the stone tunnel. While using the hand tool for this work, it hung up on something under the belt. EE pulled harder, sudden release and smashed finger into the conduit connection on the wall behind EE. The connection cut left small finger. EE was wearing a leather glove.

Transferring lime fines material from hopper to loader bucket, lime material contacted right eye causing chemical burn.

Unplugging 1/8" lime from product chute using hammer caused product to surge onto belt and become airborne and into employee's eyes. Employee flushed eyes at plant and was taken to the emergency room for additional flushing and examination. Employee was given a precautionary prescription and returned to work. Eyes were not damaged.

Dislocated left shoulder when repositioning body, while kneeling, employee was cleaning ESP #2. Employee stated that shoulder has been dislocated previously from participation in athletics.

Miner struck left thumb with a brick hammer, fracturing the bone under left thumb nail. EE is on restricted light duty.

Employee was climbing down a ship ladder to the dock. He placed his left foot on the ground then began to lift his right foot off the ladder and heard a pop and felt pain in his left ankle. He went to the ER and was diagnosed with a sprained left ankle and was given two days of lost scheduled work days. He is now working at this site on restricted duty.

Miner was using a pedestal grinder to sharpen the edge on a steel wedge. The miner raised the wedge too high and the grinding wheel grabbed it and forced it into the tool rest gap of the machine. The minor's thumb got crushed between the steel wedge and the grinding wheel which resulted in an amputated left thumb tip requiring emergency room surgery.

On 01/28/15 the employee got something in his eye when he pulled his hoodie sweatshirt over his head. He subsequently went to the emergency room seeking medical treatment. The emergency room doctor removed a piece of foreign material from his left eye and prescribed pain and antibiotic medication for his eye.

Employee got lime dust in his right eye while removing his dust mask and safety glasses in the control room. He flushed his eye for 15 minutes at the plant and was then taken to a nearby medical clinic where they performed additional flushing and gave him prescription eye drops.

Employee got hydrated lime in his right eye while unplugging elevator in the hydrate plant. Flushed eye at the plant but did not provide relief. Visited doctor the following day, who prescribed a preventative antibiotic. Did not miss any work shifts.

Employee received lime burns to his right and left forearms after unplugging a chute in the lime storage area. Lime had filled the cuffs of his gloves and chemical reaction occurred when the lime combined with his sweat, which caused burns to his right and left forearms.

Employee was closing the bridge crane cab door and the door closed on his right hand, cutting his ring finger to the bone, around the nail. Employee was driven by a fellow employee to the local ER. He received stitches and an x-ray revealed that he had 4 bone fragments in his finger. Employee was able to return to work without restrictions.

Employee was carrying two buckets to the lab. He tripped on a slightly-elevated section of asphalt. It was not slippery or rocky. He was unable to break his fall and fell hard on his right knee. He felt a sharp pain and was unable to support his weight on it. He was driven to Urgent Care where they identified internal fluid buildup and a potential bone fracture.

Millwright was pushing the #4 scale feed belt, which was jammed with a rock. His hands slipped and his chest struck the motor. The injury wasn't immediately felt but started to hurt after an hour, especially when walking and breathing deeply. He notified management and went to the hospital where X-rays revealed a fractured rib.

Note: This incident was originally reported on 12/6/11 as a near-miss. It later became a reportable event when the employee visited his chiropractor for treatment on 12/19/11. Incident Description: When opening a railcar top door, the door jammed because it had a broken bolt. The sudden stop caused the employee to strain his lower back.

Working in stone tunnel shoveling. Felt pain in lower back. Able to continue working. Became reportable later after he visited a chiropractor for treatment.

Employee broke small toe on right foot when removing plate access door.

Lime dust in right eye due to wind gust. Employee went to emergency ward and was given antibiotic drops. Employee returned to work.

Lime dust entered the left eye while cleaning back end of lime kiln.

Was loading Rail Cars and the loading doors were frozen to the top of the car. Wrenched his lower back trying to open these doors.

When taking two 4" hose connectors ( cam locks ) apart, one end flung up and struck the worker on the upper lip and chipped his upper front left tooth. Also a small laceration on his upper lip.

Employee had just swept up the machine shop floor and poured the sweepings into a bin. Some dust flew up into the air and he got a foreign particle in his right eye. Went home that night feeling ok, next morning he could feel the matter in his eye. Went to the doctor on 5/16/08 and had his eye flushed out and given prescription drops.

While adjusting the fuel valve on the rotary kiln burner the operator experienced a pressure change in the burner hood that caused coal dust to blow back into his eyes. The employee was wearing safety glasses and safety face shield.

While working to unplug the #5 dust collector hopper, material broke loose from the upper section of the hopper and leaked out the access door, causing material to get into the employees eyes and mouth. Material irritated the lining of the employees mouth and eyes.

Employee was standing on dock directing inbound vessel for off loading stone when the vessel's mooring line broke and swung down the dock striking the employee. Employee was knocked off his feet and sustained soft tissue contusions.

Employee went to measure bin level. When opening bin the lid blew back and struck him. He fell backwards and hit his back against the handrail and bruised his rib cage.

Employee was cleaning ring out of #3 kiln when a piece fell off the side wall striking him in the right calf and ankle. Employee went to Dr. on 8/15/07 and received restrictions for tendonitis to the left knee. Employer is investigating causation to left knee from right leg contusion.

Employee stepped off ladder rung to #3 coal mill and twisted right knee at 7:30am. Later the same day stepped off blacktop and twisted knee again. Reported at end of his shift 7pm. Did not seek medical or obtain restrictions until 8/10/07.

Employee was working on his knees cleaning under conveyor system. He awoke the next day and his left knee was stiff and swollen. Employee went to Dr. and was given prescription and released back to work. No lost time.

Employee was working on mobile bridge inspection cart and advancing the cart by hand with the aid of three other employees. Low hanging obstruction was approached and employee was struck in the upper torso causing a contusion.

Employee was climbing ladder when dust fell behind safety glasses and got in his left eye. Employee left plant thinking his eye normal and awoke the next morning with redness and irratation. He called in said he was going to stop at eye clinic and have it checked. He returned to work without restrictions on 9/23/06.

Employee was moving forklift away from foundation of building when he backed away his heel of his left foot got caught on wall of building and sprained his foot.

Employee was welding plates together. Experienced welders flash that he attributes to light deflecting behind his welding shield.

Employee was bolting bucket onto belt when belt shifted forward pinching hand between belt and tail pulley. Employee was leaning into elevator and put pressure on belt advancing it forward. Employee compressed hand causing severe inflamation of fingers.

Employee got lime dust in left eye while climbing ladder. Employee was wearing safety glasses and hard hat with front brim.

EE reported that he was having surgery to his right index finger that he had pinched 5/3/06. Surgery is remoe a cyst that had developed, had outpatient surgery & ret'd to work w/o limitations. The biopsy on the cyst determined it was cancerous. Don't know if this is work related/reportable at this time.

Employee was checking feed pipe to see if it was plugged. When he opened the hatch to clean it dust dropped out and dusted his face. The employee got dust in both eyes. He had his eyes flushed out and returned to work his next scheduled work day.

Employee was assisting production staff with changing belts on air compressor when his hand slipped off belt and contacted edge of pulley causing laceration of right middle finger.

Employee reports on 2/1/2006 that he injured his elbow 12/30/05 when dumping a wheelbarrow. CLM is still investigating validity of claim. MSHA official recommended today (4/21/06) that we report now and amend later if determined to be invalid.

Cleaning around coal bin and other areas employee felt something in his right eye just before his shift ended.

Employee was transfering Kiln bricks to second position when coworker dropped a brick into place when employees hand was still present pinching small finger on left hand between two bricks causing fracture.

EE was putting salt on portable unloading ramp for ice control when ramp moved and ee slipped and strained his lower back. Attempted to file on line but system failed at step 5.

While inspecting dust collector operation air pulse blew dust and material went under employees safety glasses. Employee experienced particulate in both eyes that needed medical attention for cleaning out and treatment to prevent potential infection.

Employee was dumping wheelbarrow of coal when he felt a strain in his right groin region.

Employee was cleaning in kiln and reported that his back was sore.

WHILE PICKING UP CONCRETE CHUNKS EE STEPPED ON A PIECE AND TWISTED RIGHT ANKLE. EE SOUGHT MEDICAL TREATMENT AND WENT ON VACATION FOR TWO WEEKS - RESTRICTIONS/TREATMENT UNKNOWN.

TRANSFERRING CAR VIBRATOR AND HOSE FROM #7 TANK TO #9 TANK AND WHILE PLACING VIBRATOR IN HOLDER FELT SHARP PAIN IN LOWER BACK THAT SHOT DOWN LEFT LEG.

EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING DOWN WALKWAY WHEN HE HEARD A POP FROM HIS LEFT KNEE AND FELT A SLIGHT TWIST WHICH CREATED SOME DISCOMFORT. THE DISCOMFORT DID NOT GO AWAY SO HE HAD IT EXAMINED AT THE LOCA L CLINIC.

AFTER SEVERAL EXHAUSTING DAYS ON THE JOB, THE EE WAS REMOVING A GEAR AND STRINED HIS LOWER BACK MUSCLES.

EMPLOYEE CLAINED HE INJURED HIS SHOULDER ON 11/13/02 - TWENTY DAYS PRIOR TO THE DATE HE INFORMED THE COMPANY OF THE INJURY. EMPLOYEE INFORMED COMPANY OF PENDING MEDICAL TREATMENT (SURGERY) ON 1/30/03.

PULLING GRATES ON #3 KILN, HAND STRUCK DUMPSTER DIRECTLY BEHIND EE CAUSING LACERATION THAT BLED.FOUR STITCHES IN HIS RIGHT HAND.

MOVING COAL CONVEYER SLIPPED ON COAL, TWISTED LOWER BACK AND RIGHT HIP. (NOTIFIED OF MEDICAL TREATMENT 10-28-02).

SHOVELING SPILLED LIME IN #2 COOLER PIT WHEN HE STRAINED HIS BACK.

WHEN TAKING OIL DRAIN PLUG FROM FORKLIFT EE'S HAND SLIPPED BACK CATCHING RIGHT THUMB ON FRAME TEARING THUMB NAIL OFF.

EE WAS STACKING BAGS OF PRODUCT ON PALLET WHEN HE STRAINED HIS LOWER BACK.

STRAINED MUSCLE IN MIDDLE OF BACK LIFTING TRAY OFF PAN FEEDER.

WHILE WORKING IN KILN #3 EXPOSURE TO WELDING FLASH INJURED EMPLOYEE'S EYES.

WHILE INSPECTING #3 KILN, WIND BLEW DUST INTO RIGHT EYE.

CLIMBING OUT OF FRONT END LOADER, EE MISSED 2ND STAIR & FELL CATCHING HIMSELF WITH RIGHT HAND PULLING RIGHT SHOULDER.

WHILE STACKING BAGS OF HYDRATED LIME ON PALLET, THE NEXT BAG TO BE PLACED ON PALLET DAME DOWN CONVEYOR AND PUSHED EE IN THE BACK CAUSING HIM TO TWIST AWKWARDLY.

SLIPPED ON STAIRS COMING OUT OF #3 COOLER PIT. LANDED ON LEFT KNEE.

EE REPORTED ON 8-27-01 THAT HE HAD STRAINED HIS LOWER BACK ON 7-20-01, WHILE LIFTING AND STACKING PIPES AND STEEL ALONGSIDE OF THE WAREHOUSE. THE EE STATED HE DID NOT REALIZE HE HAD STRAINED H IMSELF UNTIL THAT EVENING AND NEXT MORNING. HE DID NOT THINK TI WAS SERIOUS SO HE DID NOT REPORT IT UNTIL HE WENT TO HIS DR. ON 8-27-01.

WHILE DOING ELECTRICAL WORK, LIME DUST FROM OVERHEAD WAS KNOCKED LOOSE AND FELL INTO EE S LEFT EYE. NOTE: EE DID NOT REPORT ACCIDENT UNTIL 6-29-01 AND SAFETY DIRECTOR WAS NOT MADE AWARE UNTIL 7-9-01 DUE TO HIS ABSENSE FROM WORK.

EE WAS SHOVELING MUD WHEN SHOVEL HIT A BEAM CAUSING HIM TO JAR HIS RIGHT ELBOW. EE DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTRENTION UNTIL 6-26-01). SAFETY DIRECTOR WAS NOT AWARE OF MEDICAL TREATMENT UNTIL 7-9- 01 DUE TO ABSENCE FROM WORK.

SLIPPED AND FELL ON ICE BY BRIDGE RAIL. LANDED ON LEFT KNEE AND HAND. DID NOT HURT IMMEDIATELY BUT WHEN PREPARING TO LEAVE FOR HOME, NOTICED SOME SWELLING

ATTEMPTED TO OPEN TOP OF RAILCAR FOR LOADING WHEN 2 DOORS STUCK TOGETHER, ONE WAS LOCKED DOWN PARTIALLY. EMPLOYEE STRAINED BACK AND LEG.

COMING DOWN STAIRS EMPLOYEE TRIPPED ON AIR HOSE THAT HE HAD PLACED IN LANDING. FELL FORWARDS ANDJAMMED FINGER ON LEFT HAND.