Mining Incidents

Pueblo Plant & QuarryMetal/Nonmetal

GCC Rio Grande Inc · Facility
Controlled by GCC SAB de CV
Pueblo, Pueblo County, CO · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0504822
Fatalities
1
Total incidents
117
Years on record
2005–2026
Latest incident
Feb 2026

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
Struck against a moving object

A delivery driver employed by a water supply vendor was in route to the facility when the tanker truck overturned and slid off the road. Investigation ongoing

Reportable incidents

116 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2026 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

Was Changing support rollers on 57101 Clinker Pan conveyor. Was using standard steel 3lb sledgehammer to drive the rollers into the bracket on the pan. The hammer glanced off the end of the roller and struck the heat-treated flange of the roller causing a shard of steel to break off and lodge in leg. The employee was taken to clinic and released back to work with no restrictions.

2025 · 4 incidents

Struck by flying object

Miner was cleaning the tower using a bar and a sledgehammer. Miner hit the bar with a hammer; a piece of metal broke off and flew into the miner's eye.

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Miner was shoveling rock into buckets at the tail end of the limestone tunnel and hauling the buckets outside the tunnel to dump. Miner hurt their lower back in the process.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was pushing forks together on a telehandler when EE felt a pain in EE's left bicep.

Struck by falling object

Employee was torqueing studs at Finish Mill. Employee dropped nut on foot.

2024 · 6 incidents

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing ladder in the reclaimer when they felt a pinch in lower left back.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was at TT1 Transfer belt when EE's head came into contact with a cross member beam. The employee tripped and fell to the ground where EE suffered an injury to their ankle.

Unclassified, insufficient data

A Contract Truck Driver arrived on the Pueblo Plant South Truck Bay Shipping Loadout. Two GCC employees noticed this driver was laying on the platform with their head and neck area on the midrail of the gangway. After assisting the drive to their feet, driver was able to climb up the stairs under their own power.

Struck by powered moving object

Miner was an employee of a sub-contractor under direction of Lonestar Sierra. Miner was walking to contractor parking lot after shift ended. Plant EE was driving on plant road when EE struck miner while miner was crossing the road. Miner was transported to a nearby er for evaluation. Initial reports indicated no broken bones or serious injuries. Miner advised miner was sore.

Struck by falling object

Employee was operating a Brokk machine in the kiln when a capped brick came loose from overhead and struck EE in the right shoulder. Employee had a right shoulder strain from the impact.

Struck by falling object

Combination wrench fell from upper level striking employee in right shoulder

2023 · 3 incidents

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

EE was trying to clear out a port on the tower with a bar. EE hit the material twice and on the third time the material fell from the wall of the riser, the momentum of them pushing caused their finger to get pinched between the tab on the bar and the port on the riser.

Fall from ladders

Electrician using a ladder 15 feet in the air asked spotter who was holding ladder to retrieve a different tool. When spotter let go of the ladder it slipped out from underneath EE. Electrician was using fall protection, the force of EE stopping caused strains in EE's back and hip.

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

Miner was using a bar to clean buildup inside of preheat tower. A large chunk of material broke free hitting the edge of the bar causing the end that the miner was holding to lurch up pinching EE's index finger against the metal frame of the tower.

2022 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Worker was sliding scraper liners on a pallet and felt a strain on left side of stomach.

Accident type, without injuries

Built up shredded wood chips and tire chips that were left from previous work on rotary feeder (floor 5) caught fire. Damage consisted of electrical conduit and air regulators for the air line.

2021 · 5 incidents

Fall from ladders

Climbing extension ladder to get platform on front of crusher to check main belt take-up adjustment. Slipped and/or lost footing and fell about 8' on back.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Disposing excess raw material in appropriate pile. Tripped over unseen rock and fell on left side, elbow, arm and shoulder.

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Swinging sledge hammer to open slide gate.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Currently under investigation with MSHA

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Cleaning off a table in the raw mill, employee stepped over wheel, leg got stuck and twisted ankle.

2020 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Stepped over a snow pile and slipped on ice.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Slipped on ice and pulled something in groin area.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Walking from parking lot to building, stepped on ice, slipped and twisted both knees.

2019 · 5 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was measuring coal piles in the long shed and lost footing due to loose material. Employee split legs and felt pain in pelvic area upon recovery of fall.

Accident type, without injuries

RRT Fire. The slide gate on the TDF system was closed (Showing open in control room). This caused material to back up. Maintenance cleared the plug and opened the gate. The leftover RRT was left on the rotary feeder level. The material ignited from the heat and caused electrical damage.

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

The driller was tramming the drill off of the lowboy trailer, the driller had the door of the drill locked open in order to see the edge of the trailer. When the driller reached the point where it tipped forward onto the ramp, the driller reached out and grabbed the door frame, the jolt released the door lock lever, slamming the door onto the driller's hand.

Struck by falling object

Pulled plate from hopper to dump, slipped from hand and fell on foot.

Flash burns (electric)

Troubleshooting multi-voltage drive, trying to diagnose 480volt side. I personally locked out 4160 volt several times. A co-worker with a 600 volt meter attempted to check continuity on 4160 and the meter blew up.

2018 · 9 incidents

Fall from machine

Climbing across railcar ladder, foot slipped or missed step and employee fell approximately 5ft. Trying to catch self, injuring right wrist.

Struck against stationary object

Climbing out of tool cat, employee stepped on large rock, straining ankle.

Struck against stationary object

Employee stepped on a rock and felt a shooting pain up EE's left foot.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using a box knife for non-task related reasons. As employee was trying to cut away a zipper out of jacket with the box knife, it slipped and cut finger.

Struck against stationary object

EE was leaving the plant after shift on Lime Rd. A deer ran in front of riding motorcycle, ee tried to miss the deer, lost control of the bike and wrecked.

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

Smashed fingertip during adjustment of bucket conveyor

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While walking up the stairs with a bucket of tools, ee threw out back.

Struck against a moving object

While making a turn in the Quarry, the water truck tipped over.

Struck against a moving object

EE was riding in the passenger side of a water truck in the Quarry, when the water truck tipped over. EE is a temp employee from Express Temp Agency.

2017 · 7 incidents

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employee was cleaning around the 13304 belt with an air lance, when employee stood up, hit employee's hard hat and was jerked forward, causing the air lance to get entangled in the belt. The air lance wrapped in the head pulley, wedging the employees hand between a roll and the lance, lacerating 4 fingers.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Clinker dust blew into face and under safety glasses causing eye irritation.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee had a hole in their pants. Finished products of GCC (cement)got into employee's pants and burned their leg.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Operator stepped off of the loader ladder and the floor was not even and they twisted their ankle.

Accident type, without injuries

While moving manlift from edge of concrete to dirt road, employee was launched into air about 3.5 ft and came down hard in basket hurting left knee. Employee was checked at doctor, no injuries and was prescribed over-the-counter pain medication.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was unloading Baker Test Equipment from back of Ford pick-up truck. Employee set the unit on the ground. Employee lifted unit with right hand and started toward finish mill hydraulic room. As employee placed employee's right foot on concrete downward step, employee felt employee's right knee give way.

Struck by falling object

Associate performing demo work with a jackhammer upward, a large piece of cement broke off and came down and smashed finger, the pressure created a gash.

2016 · 2 incidents

Fall down stairs

Tripped on step in ER Room while exiting, fell on step and hit back and rib cage. Employee stated EE was fine and did not need a doctor's care.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

While cleaning/shoveling a cement spill on top of silo 4, a strong wind gust blew cement under the employee's safety glasses and into eyes. Employee visited eye clinic the next day and has no work restrictions.

2015 · 7 incidents

Fall onto or against objects

Employee was talking to another employee while setting up a guzzler hose to clean underneath the scale. Employee stepped into the open manhole with one leg and stopped himself from going all the way in. He hit his torso, but felt fine until the next day when he felt soreness in his ribs. He was taken to the doctor on 10/1/2015 for evaluation. He had fractured 2 ribs.

Fall from ladders

At 7:10pm employee entered the Ctrl Room with blood on his neck/shirt & hands. He said he was climbing an extension ladder. He was 2/3 up & the ladder slipped out from under him. He hit the back of his head on the concrete floor resulting in a 2"" cut. He was taken to the hospital at 7:43pm. He said he received 5 staples to close the wound & was home. He will be at work 9/25/15.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was working on silo load spout. He climbed on top of case used to position spout and was trying to align spout from bottom. He caught his fingers in between spout and plunger smashing both sets of fingers.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stepped out of teleforker and twisted right knee. Employee heard a ""pop"" and felt pain.

Struck against stationary object

Employee pulled a retractable line on a fall prevention yoyo and injured his left middle finger. He reported it at about 11:00 am. He was wearing all PPE including gloves. Employee declined medical treatment. Then at about 3:25 pm he said he wanted to go to the doctor as a precaution.

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

After walking up to belt 31124, employee kneeled down. When he did, his knee popped and has been hurting since.

Fall from ladders

A bolt on a step ladder on a rock track drill broke. Driller fell catching his leg in the ladder. On 04/13/2015 driller requested medical attention. The doctor found minor damage to knee and prescribed physical therapy. Driller returned to full time duty. After several weeks of PT surgery was scheduled. Surgery was performed on 06/23/2015. Driller returned to full duty 06/29/2015.

2014 · 8 incidents

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Contracted employee was cleaning the tower and was looking up into the tower for buildup when the tower puffed out. Dust was blown underneath his face mask. Employee entered the control room and stated he got burned. He had already flushed the area with water and applied wet rags. Employee was transported to the emergency room.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A piece of material got into employee's eye. The material got past his PPE that he was wearing (safety glasses with side shields and a face mask that is connected to the hard hat he was wearing).

Fall from machine

Employee was doing routine oil checks on loaders and water trucks. It was muddy and slick due to rain. He unlatched the hood of the water truck, put his left foot on the standing area and used both hands to open the hood. It didn't open so he leaned forward and pulled harder. As it started to come up his left foot slipped and he fell to the ground.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Truck parked by bottle cage behind warehouse in gravel. Planted left leg/knee, swung right leg into pickup truck. Left leg gave out as employee was getting into truck. He started to fall but caught himself on truck floorboard. Felt a pop in his knee and a twist.

Struck by falling object

Employee was cleaning the tower. The dust on his hard had fell inside his shield. When he looked up it fell inside his safety glasses. Eyes became irritated.

Struck against a moving object

Operating back hoe on uneven ground. (This is under investigation due to previous underlying degenerative discs)

Struck by falling object

Cutting holes to clear material from baghouse screws. Dust on cutting shield got into left eye when shield was lifted up.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Fell over cable tray installed on the ground hitting left knee

2013 · 2 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was helping to stand a mobile loader spout up and it came together and smashed his finger

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

In the RM reject canal, I was moving new scrapers to be installed. I was alone. I was trying not to let the scraper get away from me and fall into the reject gate. When moving across and over to the install location. I was trying to move it and locate it when it fell over, smashing my finger.

2012 · 14 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Stepped on big rock twisted left knee.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Moving crane pad felt pain in his bicep and forearm.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Using a shovel to move Gypsum and reaggravated same finger that had been previously fractured in the same spot

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Carrying a 5 gallon bucket of cement (45 lbs) and a C417 bucket to lab sprained my pointing finger on right hand

Struck by flying object

Walking around the cliner dome and the wind blow something into eye

Contact with hot objects or substances

Employees were investigating a possible material plug. One employee opened a port when material shot out and hit him. The other employee was standing a couple feet behind and was hit with dusty material.

Struck by flying object

Employees were investigating a possible material plug. One employee opened a port when material shot out and hit him The other employee was standing a couple feet behind and was hit with dusty material.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Moving a piece of 1/4 inch plate to access with toolcar and while trying to slide plate, braced arm, elbow against knee and while pushing, heard a pop in elbow.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was painting handrails. Shortly after painting pain began and has worsened in the last two weeks.

Fall from ladders

EE was climbing up a ladder to remove a copper line to clean a fire eye. As he got to the top of the ladder it started to slide off its resting place sending him to the ground. He fell on his hip and dislocated his left shoulder. He did not get a chance to tie off because he did not get to the top of the ladder. Ladder was a 22 ft extension ladder.

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was kneeling on a grate and pulled his right knee as he was rising up

Flash burns (welding)

RED IRRITATED RIGHT EYE

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE STRAINED BACK.

Struck by falling object

Employee was disassembling a motor coupling when the coupling ring fell smashing fingers between ring and shaft. Employee had contusion to finger.

2011 · 1 incident

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

EE was clearing material on a belt. He called Control Room (C.R.) to restart the belt. Belt started, but soon shut down. C.R. called the employee but got no response. A 2nd employee found the 1st employee semi-conscious. Employee was airlifted to a local hospital. Employee suffered a right arm amputation at the elbow and numerous fractures and broken bones in his torso.

2010 · 3 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Ee was cutting a rubber hose with a utility knife when the blade slipped, cutting his hand. Injury required sutures.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was replacing a bearing, when it fell out of a face and struck him in the nose.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was standing by the train tracks when he heard a metalic sound coming from the railcar wheels. He realized the sound was coming from the wheel chock and bent down to move it. At the time, the train was being moved, and the ladder of the railcar struck him in the head, causing a scrape to his right ear.

2009 · 2 incidents

Fall onto or against objects

Employee was walking up stairs on Transfer Tower 1 when he tripped. As he was falling, he reached out his hand to grab the handrail and jammed his finger against the handrail. Employee sought medical treatment on his own on 12/13/09, via Urgent Care, and it was verified that he had fractured his finger. Employee did not report the injury to the employer until 12/15/09.

Contact with hot objects or substances

Ee was standing on the burner floor, air lancing a clinker pile build up, when hot material landed on his neck. The ee immediately reported the incident to his supervisor, but did not require medical attention at that time. The wound became infected, so medical treatment began on 7/20/2009. The injury became reportable on 9/30/2009 when received surgery.

2008 · 9 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was pulling up on the rooster tail of the jib on the crane, when his elbow popped.

Struck against stationary object

Employee was walking on mine floor on his way to start the belts and crusher for the beginning of shift, when he stumbled on a rock lying on the ground. Employee tried to catch himself from falling but ended up in a squat position, with right knee over exerted, causing pain. The accident became a reportable injury when the employee had knee surgery on September 2, 2008.

Contact with hot objects or substances

Effected employee was working in the clinker cooler to assess damage/required repairs, when hot material fell from above on his head, neck, arms and back. EE was assisted out by a fellow workers and taken to the shower to rinse off. Ambulance transport to hospital ER per company policy. All LOTO procedures on equipment had been followed.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Two employees were moving an airslide when one of the employee's hands slipped, causing his finger to be caught between the lower section of the airslide and the grating. Employee was wearing gloves when the injury occurred.

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

Ee was holding heavy equipment when it shifted, catching his left hand against an electrical box.

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

The employee was checking the directional rotation of a motor by pulling on the belt. When the employee grabbed the belt again, it was still spinning. The pinky and ring fingers got caught between the belt and the pulley.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

While walking from the jobsite office to a company vehicle, the employee slipped on the snow and ice, twisted the right ankle and fell.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was walking on plant property when he slipped on ice and fell, causing him to strain his shoulder. Employee has been treated since the injury, but the injury did not become reportable until he received a steroid (Cortisol) shot at his last Doctor's visit.

Struck against stationary object

Employee struck elbow on the concrete.

2007 · 16 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee picked up a metal portable panalytical table top x-ray machine to move it, when a piece of metal on the underside of the machine sliced his finger, resulting in 4 sutures.

Struck by flying object

The employee was setting rods and plates on the bottom floor of the Clinker Cooler. The wind blew material in the eye.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was installing terminations on motors and instruments on the sixth floor of the preheater. At the end of the shift, the employee's right eye was irritated and reddish color. The employee stated that he did not feel anything enter the eye.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was opening pin gates in sequence and caught finger between handle of gates.

Struck against stationary object

The employee was connecting iron and struck the knee on a steel beam and then again on a spud wrench.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was pulling a portable welder to another location when a wheel caught on a rock. As the employee pulled on the handle to free the wheel, the shoulder began to hurt.**Initial treatment was first aid. Subsequent treatment now makes this reportable**

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee climbed a ladder to the top of the baghouse, when his foot was caught in the last rung of the ladder, causing him to fall onto the top of the baghouse, which was at the same level as the top rung of the ladder. The employee encountered abrasions to his ear, head, and neck, and suffered broken bones in his right foot.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A beam glider struck the employee in the back.

Struck by flying object

The employee was blowing concrete debris out of a hole with pressured air, when something went into the eye.

Struck against stationary object

EE was getting out of the forklift and stepped on a 2 X 8 and twisted/sprained right ankle.

Struck against stationary object

The employee was walking toward a buffet table in a temporary lunch area when he stepped on something and twisted the right ankle.

Struck by flying object

Employee was grinding on a flange when something flew into her eye.

Struck by flying object

Employee was walking through the mill area where co-workers were grinding on fiberglass gaskets. The wind picked up and blew a strand on fiberglass into the employee's eye.

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employee was guiding a cable and his hand was pulled into the pulley by the cable.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee slipped on ice and struck his left knee on the ground.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee had been unloading concrete buckets from a backhoe when a foot became stuck in the mud. The EE twisted the back as a result.

2006 · 6 incidents

Contact with cold

Employee reported on 1/6/2007 that he thought he had frostbite on his feet from walking in cold water over the course of a week.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stepped off a concrete foundation onto the snowy area and slipped, straining the back.

Struck against stationary object

Employee stepped on channel iron and twisted the left knee.

Fall from machine

Employee was stepping down from a crane, lost his grip on the ladder and fell 2 feet to the ground on the hip.

Rubbed or abraded

Employee had been welding on his knees & later complained of right knee pain.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Grinding metal when something got into the eye.

2005 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

EE WAS USING A T POST DRIVER WHEN IT CAME APART. THE DRIVER INSERT SHOT OUT OF THE END, STRIKING THE EE IN THE FACE.