The employee was attempting to determine the cause of vibration alarms, and while feeling for vibration, their hand was able to enter the guarded area, which resulted in right pinky finger making contact with fan blades, resulting in the avulsion of the distal end of their finger. The employee did not lose the whole finger, but the flesh on the tip of their finger.
Imerys Sylacauga OperationsMetal/Nonmetal
- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 200
- Years on record
- 2004–2026
- Latest incident
- Jan 2026
Reportable incidents
200 on file2026 · 1 incident
2025 · 1 incident
Miner was switching railcars, drove a buggy between a car being pushed and another parked, and was struck, causing EE's leg to be entrapped between the dash and seat.
2024 · 1 incident
Employee was exiting truck when EE rolled EE's right ankle while putting foot on ground.
2022 · 1 incident
EE was fitting a piece of angle iron when their left thumb got crushed between the iron and coworkers foot.
2021 · 4 incidents
773 haul truck went over the edge of a 20' high stockpile. The truck driver suffered a minor laceration to the head and was taken to the hospital where EE was administered 6 staples to close the wound.
Employee sat the wagon down on the track, the motor revved up and took off uncontrollably and hit the car. Shuttle wagon maintenance repair, arrived on site and did an inspection/functions test and was unable to find anything wrong with the wagon.
One employee shot another employee. Investigation pending.
Employee was driving man lift across track 3 crossing; man lift bounced EE up causing EE to strike EE's leg on the man lift tray under the controls. Employee suffered a break to tibia, fibula and bone was jammed up under kneecap.
2020 · 12 incidents
employee was cutting hose to move truck, was attempting to cut hose with safety knife when it slipped and cut hand
Swapping bucket tips from bucket to another. Struck bucket retainer lock with hammer and chard of metal broke off striking employee in right knee.
Employee was in breakroom before EE's shift started and was opening a container with personal knife and accidentally lacerated EE's wrist.
Bulkloader was leaving scale house, stepped on rock and rolled ankle.
employee was sitting on top of the trailer tank and went to pull themselves up when they felt a burning in left hip.
Employee was crossing tracks in Shuttle wagon and brakes stop working. The shuttlewagon to hit tracks hard causing EE to bounce in seat, jamming EE's back.
Employee noticed a sump pump was not working. When they walked out to the pump they slipped, twisted ankle and landed hard on back. Employee went to ER for eval. and xrays. No broken bones. On 09/29/20 employee complained that ankle was still hurting. We took them to Ortho & They found a break in the femur above the ankle, put them in a boot.
The employee was walking on sloped concrete near plant 32 truck loading when employee slipped and fell. There was a thin layer of slurry type material that has washed there from the 1"" of rain we got overnight. As employee fell employee tried to catch self with right hand. Employee's right ring finger was bent during the fall and resulted in a fractured finger.
The employee was working on a hub assembly of a cage mill. While trying to turn the hub and shaft employee's hand slipped. The rough worn surface had a sharp edge that cut through employee's glove causing a laceration on the palm near right thumb. It required 4 stitches with no restrictions. The employee removed own stitches on 5-25-2020.
Miner dismounted dozer to go to the restroom, when mounting dozer miner's foot slipped off the step causing the miner to catch self with the left arm.
Employee pulled a groin muscle trying to adjust a bulk bag on a pallet as EE was beginning to fill. EE felt a sharp pain. EE was taken to the local ER where EE was diagnosed with a strained left groin. EE has been placed on light duty for one week.
Employee pulled up in a back hoe to address EE's union rep. When EE went to climb over a one foot wall EE's foot slipped and EE fell, straining EE's shoulder.
2019 · 3 incidents
Contractor was cleaning and picked up heater to move it. While moving the heater, two elements burned out and heater started sparkling. Contractor threw heater down, ran away and twisted EE's wrist.
An operator was walking to the break room. EE stepped in a hole (grass was grown over the hole) and EE rolled ankle. It was diagnosed as a fracture.
An operator lacerated and fractured finger while closing a Victaulic valve using a hammer. The operator missed the valve handle with the hammer striking the tank with the hammer. After the hammer head struck the tank the travel of the handle continued pinning the operator pinky finger between tank and the hammer handle. Operator removed glove to find the finger lacerated.
2018 · 9 incidents
EE twisted knee when EE slipped and tried to catch self.
Employee was driving tractor trailer on company property when trailer collapsed in the middle.
Employee was bringing screens down from 2nd floor, said EE tweaked shoulder.
Employee was working on drill and struck head causing neck to bend. The next day employee's neck was stiff.
Employee was air spraying paint underneath saw horses. Employee was on one knee looking up when ee felt something in eye. EE eye was red and sore the next morning.
EE was leaving the Operations Office (not during EE's work shift). EE left the facility and turned left to follow the sidewalk. EE then saw a barricade on the sidewalk but then slipped and landed on EE's left hip. EE went to the Main Street Family Urgent Care where EE was examined and X rayed. EE also was tested for drugs and alcohol (negative test results).
Employee was placing wodden pallet onto loading station at bulk bag station and felt a pain in right side.
Employee was operating a lift truck in shipping area when EE struck a set of fixed rollers. Employee reported lower back pain and was escorted to local emergency room for observation.
Employee was running to turn off vacuum truck when ee felt a pop in left foot.
2017 · 6 incidents
Employee was re-setting breaker in MCC room when arc blast occurred in electrical panel above area of switch EE was resetting.
Employee was shoveling spillage when employee experienced pain in employees left shoulder.
Employee was walking in area under silos through spillage when EE stepped off curb and felt lower back pain
Employee was operating a bagging machine when EE opened a machine guard without locking out the equipment and the employee was struck by automated arm that places bags on equipment to be filled with materials.
EMPLOYEE STEPPED DOWN FROM PLATFORM & TWISTED ANKLE.
Employee was attempting to remove ceiling tiles from a 8' ceiling in mining office. Employee did not have proper ladder for project and was working out of an office chair when the accident occurred. Employee twisted a knee and is awaiting an MRI on 02/13/2017. The x-ray's showed possible torn ligaments/tendons to be determined after MRI.
2016 · 6 incidents
Tripped climbing onto bulk truck. Fell striking EE's right knee on ladder of truck resulting in laceration & stitches
Turned in chair to get up, upon standing felt burning in back of heel. Damage to achilles tendon.
IE CHANGING FILTER CLOTH-PULLING ON EMBEDDED ROPES OF FILTER CLOTH. SPRAIN TO SHOULDER.
EMPLOYEE FELT MUSCLE PULL IN LEFT ARM AS EE CLOSED SPOUT ON MEDIA BAG.
2 of our Drivers got into an argument. It escalated to pushing & shoving. The one cut the other in EE's hand with a pocket knife.
Using self-retracting cutting knife to cut tape off sealtite. Knife slipped cutting EE's palm.
2015 · 11 incidents
Employee hit with slurry when basket seal blew, IE fell landing on left shoulder
While exiting the cab of an excavator, employee's foot slipped off the bottom step, causing the employee to fall to the ground.
ALIGNING RAILS BY THROWING SWITCH. HANDLE ON SWITCH POPPED UP WITH FORCE STRIKING HAND. LACERATION WITH STITCHES
Twisted ankle while stepping off muddy, slippery railcar step.
While working on loadout chute, assembly of cones fell; one landed on employees hand resulting in fracture & laceration requiring stitches.
In process of switching rail cars. Employee attempted to kick knuckles of rail car to line up for connection. Foot slipped pinning foot between the two knuckles as cars were pushed together. Broken bones / lacerations.
Employee using iron bar to unstop Tube Mill.
Employee stepped onto tank pulling hmself up with right arm.
Maintenance activity. Removing motor from motor base. Motor shifted pinning finger between motor and base plate.
EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING DOWNHILL TO WORK ON PUMP. FELL DUE TO SLOPE OF HILL & WET CONDITIONS.
2014 · 5 incidents
Slipped in oil on floor. Taken to ER. Dr. appt 8/28/14. Epidural block 9/18/2014. Continued regular duty. Surgery 3/11/2015.
Employee was moving chocks from under vacuum truck when experienced pain in back.
Bent down to retrieve hose and then stood up and was preparing to lift the hose to mechanic on top of drill. Blacked out and struck head on rock upon falling to the ground.
While changing screens, employee had to duck down due to pitch of roof. When he raised up his shoulder hit a pipe. Requested medical attention 6/13/14. 1st medical appointment 6/16/2014.
Employee was descending ladder when he felt sharp pain in back of left shoulder
2013 · 2 incidents
Employee was swinging a 10 lb. hammer breaking rock.
Employee was backing up and did not see pipe on ground. Tripped over pipe
2012 · 9 incidents
EE walking across a four foot ditch, lost his balance and fell resulting in a fractured wrist.
Employee was sitting on floor hooking up an oil return on pulverizer. When he stood up his back popped and he experienced severe pain.
Employee picked up an ice machine for repair. Cut hand on sharp metal underneath the machine.
Employee attempted to dislodge material in cyclone. Placed left hand in clean-out port. Index & middle finger struck by turning vanes.
Walking toward truck cab, slipped and fell on back.
Foot slipped while getting off bobcat. Twisted back.
Employee lifted a 60# vacuum truck hose resulting in strain to sacrum/coccyx.
EMPLOYEE WAS PULLING ON A HOSE WITH A ROPE TO PULL UP TO ATTACH TO HARD PIPE.
Employee slipped off step, twisted ankle resulting in fracture of right foot. Loss time effective 1/10/2012.
2011 · 7 incidents
Employee was picking up rocks under cone crusher feed belt.
EMPLOYEE WAS STACKING BAGS WHEN HE FELT PAIN IN RIGHT ELBOW.
AS EMPLOYEE DESCENDED LADDER, HIS FOOT SLIPPED IN BUILD-UP OF MATERIAL AS HE REACHED THE BOTTOM OF THE LADDER.
Employee was stacking 50# bags of Calcium Carbonate onto pallet. As he twisted to place bag on pallet felt catch in lower back and pain down right leg.
IE using 15"" crescent wrench on pump. Felt something pull in shoulder.
Slipped on slurry on floor under drum filter. Twisted knee. PLACED ON RESTRICTED DUTY 03/10/2011.
2010 · 9 incidents
Employee was standing on rock while shooting elv. Rock rolled out from under him causing employee to fall on to left leg.
Employee checking reject feeder. When he opened cap, dust came out. Employee leaned back to avoid dust. In doing so, he lost his balance and fell. Attempted to catch himself by twisting as he was falling. Fell onto right hip. Fall occurred on same level.
Struck by vehicle driven by co-worker. Injured worker was washing/cleaning up his work area at time of accident. Restricted Duty began 7/28/2010
Employee was under railcar cleaning end caps. Felt ""pull"" in his lower back as he crawled out from under railcar.
Employee was removing bolts from head pulley on a belt conveyor when the head pulley fell knocking employee down.
Emplloyee was removing cage from dust collector and cage fell on employee's left hand
Bulk Loader descending ladder on railcar. Foot slipped and he fell. Lanyard caught employee and slammed him into side of railcar.
Employee was turning a wrench to repair a pump when the socket broke.
Ground was icy. Employee slipped on ice and fell on left arm.
2009 · 19 incidents
Injury while helping repair a drill rig, received burns to face and back. While he and mechanic were using a torch to break loose a sub, oil inside the sub caught on fire without their knowledge. The fire blew out causing burns to his face and body.
Employee was operating vaccum truck. Working with flex pipe when pipe broke and struck employee in mouth. Required 8 stitches.
Employee lifted a basket on Track 6 to put it away when he felt sharp pain in lower back and back ""locked up"".
Employee was walking down stairs when he stepped on rock, twisting ankle.
Employee was attempting to remove a piece of metal from a conveyor belt at the jaw crusher. Belt was on incline. Employee cut his arm on metal.
Employee was assisting in replacement of Raymond Mill Dust Collector Fan Motor. Felt a pull in his stomach area.
Employee was stacking bags and reached for a bag coming down line. Misjudged distance and struck rail with right hand.
Slipped on water tank, grabbed hand rail, Pulled arm muscle.
Employee was washing under southeast side of feed tower, when a rock fell from above, striking his head and shoulder.
Employee was using air hose to clean material from sides of silo. Material broke free and engulfed employee in dust.
While stacking bags of material, bending & twisting aggravated pre-existing problem with right knee. Cortisone shot administered to knee. No restrictions.
Checking water in engines radiator. Steam and hot water boiled out and burned hand.
Pinched left ring finger while replacing guard cover on bucket elevator discharge screw.
Employee reached for a bag coming down slide on conveyor. Bumped hand on bag bending thumb backward.
Employee was pulling on a pipe wrench. Felt burning sensation in back.
Employee picked up 50 lb. bag sample, placed on his shoulder and later lowered to chest area and proceeded to truck. Later experienced pain in lower left chest area.
Employee cutting conveyor belt with box cutter blade. Blade slipped cutting left index finger. Stitches required.
Employee lifted and held pipe to align with pump. Placed on restrictions 1/19/09.
Employee tripped on c-channel at #6 silo. Fell on channel striking right knee.
2008 · 14 incidents
Employee attempted to move Aljet fan using a pry bar. Felt something pull in his stomach. Amendment: Surgery 12/29/08. First lost day 1/5/09.
Employee had cut bearing off shaft on #34 Tube Mill feeder then attempted to pick up shaft with bare hand.
While using sledge hammer, employee felt something ""Pull"" in right side. Dr released to full duty at time of accident. Beginning December 2008 began seeking med treatment from personal dr. Taken out of work 1/21/09 by personal physician. Deemed work related by comp dr on 3/25/09.
Lost grip on wooden pallet, pallet fell pinning hand between pallet and wall.
Employee was lifting dust collector cage when the cage became hung on something. As employee freed cage, the impact snatched his lumbar area.
Employee using shovel to dig debris from around feed screw.
Strained muscle while stacking bags of coated material. 50+ lbs per bag.
Stepping to railcar when Self Retracting Line jerked him back. Employee fell and injured wrist.
EE was decending ladder of railcar when his foot lost traction on ladder and became entangled in rungs. Hands lost grip and EE fell onto concrete landing on upper back and shoulders.
Employee was stepping over berm to get slurry sample from tank farm and felt ""twinge"" in lower back.
Employee picked up a loaded tool bucket and strained back.
As employee was swinging a 4-lb hammer to remove a plug from the #1 flash dryer product line blower, he felt pain in right shoulder.
Employee was working on sifter blower. Shaft of the motor was turning due to draw from dust collector. Employee attempted to slow motor to a stop by creating friction against shaft with pair of pliers. Pliers slid down shaft and hung on keyway. Inertia of shaft jerked pliers resulting in injury.
2007 · 28 incidents
Employee injured while removing guard, guard slipped out of co-worker's hand transferring weight to injured employee.
While employee was removing a 120# bearing off the raymond mill drive, the sprocket began to fall. He attempted to hold it up to keep it from falling.
EE was using pry bar to line up poly pipes for connection. Bar slipped.
Employee was helping with cleanup around the #2 Flasy Dryer when he picked up a scrap screw and felt a pull in his lower back.
While checking the #36 Raymond Mill Feed Belt Tail pulley, employee slipped and pulled his left knee. Restricted duty began 11/27/07.
He was opening a lid and turned it the wrong way and pulled lower back.
Employee tripped over a box sticking out from under a table in the maintenance shop. Placed on restricted duty 11/20/07.
Employee picked up butterfly valve and turned and dropped it to the floor. Placed on restricted duty 11/27/07.
EE was training a belt at shipping, when he cut his left index finger on a sharp edge of a guard near the belt adjustment.
Employee bent over to pick up empty bag. As he bent over he twisted and pulled a muscle in his back.
He was climbing under and around machinery and pulled something in the groin area.
Employee was backing away from forklift in operation when he backed into the safety chain across the dock doors. The latch gave and employee fell approx. 6 ft to the ground.
Employee completed loading truck and stepped from back of truck to ground. Had pulley in left hand and lanyard in right hand to prevent feet from entanglement. When he landed on ground the pulley retracted and jerked left arm backward.
Employee was using personal pocket knife to dislodge pencil stuck in his hard hat. Knife slipped cutting hand. Required stitches, was not work related.
6/30/07 employee stepped on a pipe and rolled ankle. The following night (7/1/07) he stepped on a water hose and turned ankle again.
Employee tripped on a piece of metal attached to floor at Plt 3 504 Bagger. Injured fell against the spout on the 504 Bagger cutting his upper lip. Required stitches.
Employee was using pry bar to put cribbing under pipe. Strained back.
Employee tripped on raised forks of forklift.
Employee was descending the steps on Plant 2 #3 tube mill collector when he twisted his right ankle.
Employee was stepping off stairs onto track #3. Twisted right ankle.
IE was coming down ladder. Lost balance. Grabbed piece of tin cutting hand. Required sutures.
Employee was working on a feeder and had to remove a 2 HP motor and then re-install it.
Employee was exiting company vehicle. Door of vehicle slammed on finger.
Employee was pulling and lifting boxes of bags out of a manlift. He injured both shoulders.
Employee had descended stairs and stepped onto floor grate. Caught toe in floor grate and twisted ankle.
EE was running under a catwalk and raised up too quickly. Struck his head on catwalk and fell backward onto ankle.
Employee got into company vehicle, pushed himself back, and knee popped.
2006 · 16 incidents
Employee was washing floor using a water hose. As he was backing up he stepped off a low retaining wall, straining his back. Refused medical treatment at time of accident. Sought medical treatment 12/11/2006.
Employee was pushing against pry bar. Bar slipped and employee fell forward striking left jaw on angle iron. Required 4 stitches.
IE was assisting in changing a spout blower on a bagger. He helped lift and carry blower to designated area.
Employee was cleaning out the cone crusher at the East washer. He placed rock into a 2-gallon bucket while a co-worker pulled bucket full of rock out of crusher. A rock fell out of the bucket and struck IE's hand.
While operating the rock breaker, employee noticed a rock hung up in between the tracks and the cab. He attempted to remove the rock. When it came loose it mashed his right thumb into the cab of the rock breaker.
EE had performed repairs on screw drive end assembly. When equipment started up, it locked down causing bolts to break that secured the drive assembly. The assembly rolled striking EE and knocking him to the floor.
Employee was carrying a keystone valve while he was walking on a chain conveyor. He fell off chain conveyor and mashed his finger.
EE was reaching for air supply cutoff valve.
EE was lowering lid of bulk truck when he noticed the seal was about to fall into the truck. He released the lid to grab the seal and the lid continued to fall, crushing his finger.
Employee stepped off railcar into hole or rut. Twisted ankle.
Employee was changing product hose at plant 2 ultra fine plant. Hose slipped and struck employee's left leg.
Employee was changing the motor on a Syntron feeder. He pushed the feeder with his right foot.
EE was replacing fork on the spray dryer when the fork slipped out of his hand and mashed his finger.
Employee was operating 992 shovel in hard packed ground. Shovel was vibrating and shaking badly.
EE slipped and fell on 2nd or 3rd step from the bottom, landed on floor. Back hit corner of step.
2005 · 33 incidents
Employee slipped and fell on wet surface. Had rained previously.
Employee was standing next to floor heater with hands behind back. He moved and right hand contacted the heater.
EE MASHED LEFT INDEX FINGER WHEN HE MOVED CHAIR TOO CLOSE TO BAGGER. FINGER CAUGHT BETWEEN CHAIR AND BAGGER.
EE WAS USING PIPE WRENCH TO REMOVE CHECK VALVE FOR AIR LINE.
WHILE CALIBRATING SCALE, EMPLOYEE WENT UNDER DRY FINE BELT TO REMOVE THE 50 LB WEIGHT. FOOT GOT CAUGHT ON SOMETHING CAUSING HIM TO LOSE HIS BALANCE AND HE FELL ONTO HIS RIGHT KNEE.
IE was working demolition on top of plant, cutting and throwing down pieces of a screw conveyor.
Employee was pulling water hose and slipped falling onto knee. Originally no restrictions-place on restrictions.
EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING ON MAINTENANCE AT THE FILTER #23 SPRAY DRYER. PULLING ON ROPES AND REMOVING CLOTH.
Employee was working in construction area. Piece of metal fell off catwalk, bounced off ground and struck employee. Employee didn't feel he needed to go to doctor at this point. First medical visit 1/30/06.
EMPLOYEE PUT RIGHT HAND IN POCKET AND CUT RIGHT THUMB ON OPEN POCKET KNIFE.
Employee was assisting maintenance in changing SFPE Screen and pulling the water hose.
Co-worker was using sledge hammer when head of hammer came off striking ie's left thumb. stitches required.
EE HAD OPENED THE DOOR OF OPEN TOP HOPPER. DOOR CLOSED & MASHED FINGER BETWEEN LATCH & LID. REQUIRED STITCHES.
Employee stepped off forklift and felt something ""pull"" in his back. Complained of soreness and spasms.
Employee had his hands on a pump, when he started to stand up his hands slipped off the pump housing. His feet slipped out from under him and he fell, striking his knee on the floor. Restricted duty applied.
AFTER EMPLOYEE FILLED FUEL TANK OF TRUCK, HE PULLED THE DISCONNECT AND FUEL SPRAYED OUT OF THE TANK INTO HIS FACE AND ON HIS BODY.
Employee was assisting with installing drive belts on mill. Employee's finger was caught between the belt & sheave.
EE stepped off back of bulk truck onto unlevel ground and twisted ankle.
While picking rock off the belt, rock fell onto belt striking finger.
EE was operating forklift to load a pallet of material onto truck bed. When he moved forward he ran into the metal guard of the stretch wrap machine. Laceration required stitches, broken ribs.
EMPLOYEE WAS HOLDING A LARGE THUMPER IN PLACE TO BE SPOT WELDED. WHEN HE LET THE PRESSURE OFF, THE THUMPER FELL & PINCHED HIS LEFT RING FINGER. RESTRICTED DUTY APPLIED.
EE lifted door to recycle bin, dug out paddle mixer and carried 50 lb bags of material to paddle. Restriction began 6/23/05. Placed on restrictions again on 8-30-05.
DRAWSTRING OF A RE-TIED BAG HUNG ON A BELT MOTOR CAUSING THE BAG TO BECOME UNBALANCED. WHEN THE BAGGING CYCLE ENDED THE BAG RELEASED AND FELL TOWARD EMPLOYEE. HE STEPPED BACK AS THE BAG FELL ON HIS FEET.(APPROX 2000#)AS HE MOVED HE FELT PAIN IN LOWER BACK. RESTRICTED DUTY REQUIRED.
EMPLOYEE WAS INSTALLING A METAL GUARD AT #26 RAYMOND MILL. RING FINGER & LITTLE FINGER OF LT. HAND WERE CUT BY METAL. STITCHES REQUIRED.
Employee's foot became stuck in deep mud. When he pulled his foot, he felt pain in his lower back and upper right hip.
WHILE OPERATING QUARRY HAUL TRUCK, EMPLOYEE WAS CUTTING OPEN A CAN OF SNUFF WITH A POCKET KNIFE. KNIFE SLIPPED, CUTTING EE'S RIGHT INDEX FINGER. REQUIRED SEVEN STITCHES.
Employee was stacking bags when he felt his left elbow pop. Restricted duty began 3/4/05.
EE WAS INSPECTING RELIEF VALVE ON #6 ATOMITE SILO. SILO HAD BUILT UP PRESSURE CASUING THE CAP TO BLOW OFF HITTING EE IN THE MOUTH
EE was trimming plastic on conduit, knife slipped and cut right index finger. required 5 stitches.
Employee was cleaning under robot rollers, stepped off rollers and struck inner knee on a steel box. Restrictions were placed on employee effective 3/9/05.
EE hands began to break out in a rash after he handled material coated with stearic acid. He was placed on restricted duty on 1/25/05 after first dr visit. EE did not notify management until second hand began to break out.
EE and coworker were welding to repair handrail. As they finished welding, there was a flash which burned ee's face and both forearms.
EE WAS LIFTING 5 GALLON BUCKETS OF MEDIA TO LOAD #3 TUBE MILL, PULLED AREA IN BACK, RESULTED IN RESTRICTED DUTY.
2004 · 3 incidents
EMPLOYEE SUFFERS FROM ARTHRITIS IN HIS KNEES. UPON ENTERING AND EXITING THE VACUUM TRUCK HE TWISTED HIS KNEE, RESULTING IN INFLAMATION. RESTRICTED DUTY BEGAN 1/24/05.
Employee was assisting in removal of old feed pump at the #24 and 25 bird. pump shifted, employee attempted to balance himself but his foot became stuck in the mud and slurry resulting in twisted right knee. did not seek immediate attention. requested dr appt on 12/27/04. restricted duty began 12/27/04.
Rolling belts on dryer fan, his thumb became caught between belt and sheave and was fractured.