Mining Incidents

Eufaula PlantMetal/Nonmetal

Controlled by Wilks Brothers LLC
Eufala, Barbour County, AL · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0102687
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
52
Years on record
2000–2025
Latest incident
Nov 2025
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

52 on file

2025 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee and coworker were working on screeners when the employee started to climb up to a work platform. They placed left foot on the first step, then slipped, twisted, and strained upper leg.

Fall onto or against objects

Employee assisting another employee in turning a wheel valve with a pipe wrench. Employee slipped off of platform and struck mouth on pipe wrench handle.

2023 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was manually changing slurry filter and turned to set it on the floor when EE strained lower back.

Rubbed or abraded

Employee had operated a 60 lb. jackhammer for a couple of weeks to remove dried clay under tanks and noticed some numbness in fingers that did not go away.

2022 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

Employee was cleaning floor drains in plant when an 8 in. PVC broke and fell from above due to recent hard-freezing conditions. Employee was struck on head and torso resulting in bruising and soreness. Attending physician prescribed anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxer, and pain medication.

2019 · 1 incident

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was knocking down slide gate on D502 Tank with a 8 lb. hammer. Head of hammer slid off top of gate. Caught pinky finger between hammer and gate, pinching the tip of the finger, causing a laceration.

2017 · 1 incident

Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was pulling a plugged lance at Niro 2. The bleed-off valve was plugged, causing hot slurry to spray onto arm. Received 2nd degree burn on left forearm.

2016 · 2 incidents

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was helping with a screen change. Screen was stuck inside screener frame. When EE grabbed the screen, finger got caught between the screen and the frame, causing a laceration on the middle finger of the left hand. Sutures were required. No lost time. Worked 3 days with lifting restriction.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Maintenance worker was using a grinder to cut the wear ring off Kiln Dryer (K-2). The cutting wheel got in a bind and kicked back, cut through employee's glove and lacerated EE's left hand. Injury required sutures. Employee returned to work with some restrictions on using their left hand for 6 days.

2015 · 4 incidents

Struck by falling object

Employee was fitting a 10"" 90 degree elbow in preparation to be welded in place. Clamps holding the 10"" fitting in place released and the fitting fell and struck employee on the chin. Employee suffered a laceration to his chin requiring stitches.

Struck by falling object

Employee was replacing broken PVC pipe. He had left a can of PVC cleaner on top of ladder when he climbed down to cut piece of pipe. As he was climbing back up, the can fell and struck his upper lip, causing a laceration that required 2 sutures.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Worker bent over to pickup power tool. He then stood into upright position too quickly and blacked out temporarily. He fell and struck his head on floor in his work area.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using pliers and his co-worker was using a hammer to connect green hose to D-502 tank. While closing the locking ears (cam locks), hammer slipped and hit the hand holding the pliers.

2014 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee strained left shoulder while changing out a motor in the K2 dryer area. He lifted the motor above head and in an awkward position, and felt pain in his shoulder.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Foreign body was imbedded in employee's right eye when material from overhead blew into his eye. He was wearing safety eyeglasses. FB removed by doctor. EE returned to work with no lost or restricted workdays.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was installing section of tube conveyor. One end was bolted, other end was supported by crane and bolts in slotted holes. During alignment process, conveyor end slipped off of bolts and pinned employee's left thumb between conveyor flange and support.

Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was cleaning up tools, etc. after changing out a trunnion on K4 kiln. Took step back and bent over to grab some tools. When he came back up, his back bumped the kiln shell and his upper back was burned.

2013 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee twisted his left knee when he was helping to change a screen. Experienced pain and swelling in knee. Dx: left knee strain.

Struck against stationary object

Employee slipped in a slurry spill as he was cleaning it up, and he twisted his right knee. He did not seek medical attention at that time. On 1/13/14 he requested to see the doctor because the knee was still hurting. On 1/14/14, employee saw doctor, x-ray was negative and he got corticosteroid injection for inflammation. MRI is being scheduled.

Struck by rolling or sliding object

Employee was removing heat exchanger from shelf. It was stuck to another plate. He put his hand between them to get them unstuck, and as it came free it slid down his arm and cut the top of his left wrist. Required sutures. Returned to work with no lost time.

Fall onto or against objects

Slipped and fell while walking to get broom to clean up spill from clay batching. Employee fell onto concrete support for I-beam, fracturing his 11th right rib.

2012 · 2 incidents

Struck by flying object

Employee was unloading a delivery of pallets from a van. Wind blew trash into employees left eye, causing redness and irritation.

Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was cleaning final filters on Niro II, all his PPE on. After closing off 3-way ball valves, he cracked open the filter & the pressure knocked if off and sprayed into the filter housing. Slurry bounced back & hit left shoulder & side of face shield, causing hot slurry to run down under his apron.

2010 · 5 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Employee was adjusting trunnion, pulled up on guard, and hit head on a cut-off piece of angle iron overhead. Puncture wound required staples.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was leaving control room and tripped on his boot as he was walking. He fell on grating and cut his chin and mouth, requiring sutures.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was struck by metal access door on the right side of his lower back, resulting in a puncture wound requiring sutures.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was cleaning out hopper from under the reclaimer using a shovel. The shovel handle was snatched by the paddle. Employee's left hand was caught between the shovel and the reclaimer body, resulting in laceration requiring sutures.

Struck against stationary object

Employee had replaced screen, and was turning on the air valve to the top air bladders. The handle was stuck and he bore down. The end of the handle knob broke off and cut the palm of his right hand.

2008 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was lifting the lid on a railcar that he was loading. He felt a pull in his back, but didn't feel it necessary to see a doctor at that time. EE continued to feel soreness in lower back and saw the company doctor on 9/3/08. Dr. gave employee a lifting restriction of 15 lbs. until next appointment.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was walking through the QC end of the plant. He slipped on spilled proppants and fell onto the cement floor. His right leg (tibia) was broken.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using a box knife to cut the bands on supersacs. Box cutter slipped and blade cut right index finger, requiring sutures.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was tightening pipe wrench while replacing air pulse head on pulse rod. Wrench slipped, causing his hand to strike against a pulser. This resulted in a laceration to his left little finger and required sutures.

2007 · 3 incidents

Struck by flying object

Employee was getting bolts from the parts bin underneath the kiln backspill area when a foreign body got in his right eye.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Foreign matter became imbedded in employee's right eye while changing out a trunnion. This happened when graphite dust from his face and forehead got in his eye due to sweating.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was helping to change screens on S-103 Screener and strained his lower back.

2006 · 5 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Employee states he was moving a loaded railcar down the track. As he was coming down from the railcar he stepped on a piece of wood, causing his ankle to twist.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was demolishing old equipment. He was cutting strapping that supported some piping at about head level. The utility knife slipped and cut his left arm, requiring sutures.

Fall from ladders

Employee was replacing a hose at infeed of screener. He had wet material (slurry) on his boots. While descending the ladder, his lost his footing and fell to the ground, causing contusion and effusion to the left knee.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE was walking through the plant toward the bagger to work on it. He slipped and fell on spilled proppants by the K-2 backspill. He bruised his lower buttocks and right elbow. At the time of the accident, he felt no medical attention was necessary.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE had been working in the parts warehouse. He felt a tightening sensation & pain in his chest as he sat down to drink a Gatorade. The supervisor was notified. He was taken to the local ER, where he was treated as a heart attack victim. Following tests, 3 stints were inserted into the coronary arteries. He is much improved & will be returning to work soon.

2005 · 2 incidents

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was reconnecting the infeed pipe on S-112 screener.Pulling pipe to clamp it off.Pipe got hung on screener lid. Pipe came loose suddenly.Employee's hand was mashed between the top and bottom parts of the slide gate flange. Mashed left middle finger.Required sutures.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Employee was using a shovel to clean out the chute under the J.C. Steele metering bin. The shovel got caught and smashed the employee's finger between the shovel handle and the trough.

2004 · 1 incident

No Value Found

EE WAS CLEANING QC SCREENER. WHILE REMOVING THE TOP DECK, THE EE STRUCK HIS HAND AGAINST A BURR ON THE INFEED PIPE. THIS CAUSED A CUT ON HIS HAND WHICH REQUIRED STITCHES.

2002 · 4 incidents

Fall from machine

EE WAS ""ROLLING"" A RAILCAR TOGET IT IN THE CORRECT LOADING POSITION. THE BRAKES ON THE CAR FAILED. IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING THE NEXT RAILCAR, THE EE JUMPED OFF INTO SOFT SAND, TWISTING HIS LE FT KNEE.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

ON 6-29-02 AND ON 7-1-02 EE STRAINED HIS SHOULDERS WHILE OPENING AND CLOSING DOOR #3 ON NIROI. THE DOOR WAS DIFFICULT TO OPEN. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION NEEDE AT THE TIME. ON 10-7-02, EE WAS PULLIN G A VACUUM HOSE AND RE-INJURED THE LEFT SHOULDERSTRAINED IT. REQUESTED MEDICAL EVALUATION.

Fall from ladders

EE WAS PULLING WIRE FOR C-404 BAGHOUSE SUPPLY FAN. WHEN STEPPING OFF THE LADDER, HIS FOOT SLIPPED AND HIS BODY WEIGHT CAME DOWN ON HIS TOES, JAMMING THEM. EE WORKED REMAINDER OF THE DAY AND THE FOLLOWING DAY. HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO WORK 2-17-02 DUE TO PAIN AND SEVERE SWELLING.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

EE WAS ADJUSTING (TRACKING) CONVEYOR BELT ON K-110 CONVEYOR IN THE BLUNGING AREA. THE ALL THREAD ADJUSTMENT WAS STRIPPED. THE BELT WAS RUNNING & THE GUARD WAS OFF. HANDS CAUGHT BETWEEN PRY BAR AND FRAME. HIS LEFT THUMB WAS MASHED AND HIS RIGHT INDEX FINGER WAS CUT.

2001 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE WAS ASSISTING MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, PUTTING A NEW BELT ON CONVEYOR K-107. BENDING OVER FOR ALONG TIME AS WELL AS PULLING TO GET BELT INTO PLACE RESULTED IN BACK PAIN. EE SAW DOCTOR 12/10.

2000 · 4 incidents

Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS CLEANING THE SHREDDER TEETH. HIS RIGHT ELBOW STRUCK THE RIM OF THE SHREDDER, RESULTING IN BRUISED AND SWOLLEN ELBOW.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS REPAIRING GEARBOX AT K-1 DRYER. EE WAS HOLDING A PIECE OF PIPE WHICH WAS BEING USED AS ASPACER FOR TRYING TO DRIVE A DISC ON A SHAFT. ANOTHER EE WAS HITTING THE END OF THE PIPE WITH A S LEDGE HAMMER. A PIECE OF METAL FLEW OFF, HITTING EE IN THE CHIN.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE STRAINED RIGHT SHOULDER WHILE REPLACING MOTOR IN THE SCREENER ROOM. WHILE TIGHTENING BOLT, THE RATCHET BROKE.

Struck against stationary object

EE WAS AT THE PROPANE SYSTEM STARTING IT UP, WALKING BARK AND FORTH FROM ONE LOCATION TO ANOTHER WHILE WORKING. EE WALKED INTO A PIPE TWICE, STRIKING IT WITH HIS HARD HAT, WHICH JARRED HIS NEC K. EE HAS EXPERIENCED CONTINUED PAIN IN HIS NECK, SHOULDR, AND SPINE. SAW COMPANY PHYSICIAN ON 2/7/2000.