Mining Incidents

Whitestone Mine #4Metal/Nonmetal

Controlled by Imerys S A
Talking Rock, Pickens County, GA · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0900047
Fatalities
1
Total incidents
42
Years on record
2001–2026
Latest incident
Mar 2026

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Utility operator was found non-responsive with EE's clothing entangled in the drill steel of the roof bolter.

Reportable incidents

41 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2026 · 1 incident

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

A manual slide gate closed too quickly on a miners right hand. The impact caused a fracture and a laceration requiring 8 stitches.

2025 · 1 incident

Flash burns (electric)

Sunny, incident occurred indoors with full lighting. The injured party suffered burns to both hands (non-life threatening) while installing a ground inside an MCC. The ground wire recoiled due to line memory and rebounded once let go into the adjacent bus bar creating the arc.

2024 · 1 incident

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Miners working to clear out a clogged screw conveyor, miner didn't follow the company Lock out/tag out policy and caught their finger in the upstream screw causing an amputation of the left hand ring finger distal phalanges.

2023 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

The EE was cleaning out of the bottom door on the bucket elevator. The top door was held open with a bungee cord, the bungee cord let go and the door closed on their thumb.

2022 · 3 incidents

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

EE was using a sledge hammer to straighten door frame. hammer glanced off frame and thumb and handle struck the corner of the frame.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee strained left arm performing housekeeping.

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

Employee's left middle finger was caught between two fully stacked pallets on a roller belt, resulting in a contusion to the left middle finger.

2021 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee felt strain to left leg knee when descending staircase. Employee has had a prior injury to this knee in high school.

2020 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee strained lower back lifting a motor with a coworker. This was a two person lift.

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

Equipment operator was using a pry bar to clear jam at crusher when bar slipped and they smashed finger requiring 14 stitches.

2018 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was on top of a bulk tanker opening the hatch at the load station. When they twisted to pull the last latch, they indicated that they felt a muscle strain in the lower back from body position.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

A bulk loader was loading a bulk trailer. EE began opening the center hatch of the bulk semi. As EE was opening the hatch EE found all the hatch latches to be difficult to open but EE was able to open the first four. On the fifth latch EE pulled and felt a strain in right shoulder. After EE felt the strain in EE's shoulder EE used a hammer to pry the 5th and 6th latch open.

2017 · 5 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Reported while shoveling rock when EE twisted to EE's right EE felt a strain in EE's lower back. Lower back strain

Struck against stationary object

Employee was working on a dryer discharge chute in the pelletize building. The employee's right hand middle finger came across some sharp metal on the chute area causing a laceration that required medical treatment and four stitches with prescription. The employee returned to work immediately with no lost time or restrictions.

Fall onto or against objects

Employee was getting into the Fuel Truck to exit the mine and employee's foot slipped on the step causing employee to fall backwards landing on a rock with employee's lower back

Struck against a moving object

Employee was traveling from the 740 up the incline. EE stopped, and set the parking brake, to tell the Doosan Operator that the heading was ready for to scale, when the parking brake failed. The machine rolled back approx. 50 feet and hit the rib.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was moving a 50lb bag from a waste bin to a waste pallet and felt a pain in forearm.

2016 · 6 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Employee exited scaler to stretch legs and stepped onto a rock twisting ankle.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was shoveling material at the dryer discharge area performing clean up duties and felt a pain in lower back.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Bagger was restacking 50lb bags and strained a muscle in their back.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE was shoveling upstairs in Plant 4 & felt a burning sensation in right shoulder. Requested to have a medical evaluation. Employee was taken to the ER, received X-rays, a prescription for an anti-inflammatory, and was medically cleared to return to work on EE's next scheduled shift with no restrictions. *EE received 2 days restricted duty on follow up visit.

Struck against stationary object

Employee was exiting the porta-john at the crusher area and stepped on to a rock rolling ankle.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was using a shovel to clean up work area and felt a pain in elbow.

2015 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Miner was walking across an area of snow covered natural earth when he states he slipped and twisted his right knee. Miner was taken to County ER where a licensed physician performed physical assessment. No x-rays taken, diagnosis was knee sprain. Leg Splint to immobilize was applied, 800 mg of ibuprofen prescribed, Miner returned to work with restrictions.

2014 · 2 incidents

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

Employee swung man-lift to bolt location hitting drill boom. Right hand was mashed between the man-lift and boom. One broken finger and one mashed finger.

Fall from machine

The Drill Op. used step ladder to access oil reservoir at top of engine block. After completing task, operator descending diesel tank platform onto step ladder and fell to ground. Operator struck his left side/ribs on corner of fuel tank platform and also struck his head and fell to the ground causing bruising to ribs and head injury resulting in concussion.

2013 · 1 incident

Struck against a moving object

An operator was operating a loader to help clean up one of the site roadways due to excessive rain over the weekend. The operator ran over a rock that caused the loader cabin to rock. This rocking motion resulted in a lower back strain/backache. The operator was seen by the local ER and placed on restricted duty.

2011 · 4 incidents

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Noise-induced hearing loss. Standard Threshold Shift observed 2011 against baseline 2000.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Noise-induced hearing loss. Standard Threshold Shift observed 2011 against baseline 2000.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Noise-induced hearing loss. Standard Threshold Shift observed 2011 against baseline 2001.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Bucket elevator was being replaced and pulled by steel cable. Buckets dug into ground putting tension on eyelet of steel cable. Cable slipped open, wrapped around employee's shoe, knocked employee onto ground on right hip.

2009 · 2 incidents

Struck against a moving object

Employee was backing Scaler #1 from heading on 890 level with head turned to see behind. While backing up, scaler ran over small rock in roadway, scaler cab rocked, straining muscle in neck.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was scaling on 820 level, scaled down small piece of marble, scaling boom rocked forward approx 3 feet, causing operator cab to rock. Employee felt pain in neck from rocking action. Evaluated at local ER with slight neck strain.

2007 · 1 incident

Struck against a moving object

Miner driving R-40 Euclid Haul truck into south portal of Mine #4, bed was still partially up, bed struck roof of mine which is approximately 100 feet inside portal opening, casuing damage to front of truck bed. Minor back strain to employee.

2006 · 1 incident

Struck against a moving object

Employee was operating mechanical scaler on 820 ft level. Attempting to remove loose rock, placed tip into rock, tip slipped out of the crack, causing boom to move forward, rocking the scaler cab back and forth. Sudden movement caused strain in back and shoulder area.

2005 · 2 incidents

Struck by falling object

Driller was working underground near pillar M 25, stepped out of the machine to the mine floor, reportedly a small piece of marble fell striking him on the top of the hardhat. The area was checked and rescaled, no loose rock discovered in the roof.

Struck against stationary object

Employee was driving Getman Scaler #1 out of upper dolomite area of Mine #4, ran over rock or edge of roadway, causing cab to rock upwards quickly. Employee hit top of forehead on light attached to cab frame. Cut to forehead requiring 6 stitches. Employee was wearing hardhat and seat belt at the time of the accident.

2004 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was operating a Getman scaler. Developed back strain (spasms) during his shift. Requested medical treatment on 10/07 (next day).

2003 · 1 incident

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

MSHA INSPECTOR EXITED DRILL ON LEFT SIDE & ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE DOOR. DOOR DID NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. HE SHUT DOOR AGAIN JUST AS DRILL OPERATOR PLACED LEFT INDEX FINGER IN DOOR LATCH. DOOR CRUSHED FINGER TIP: 2 FRACTURES, 12 STITCHES.

2002 · 1 incident

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE WAS OPERATING THE DRILL, A HYDRAULIC LINE BROKE, SPRAYING HYDRALIC FLUID INTO LEFT EYE. EE REC'D 1ST AID ON SITE & WAS TAKEN FOR MEDICALEVALUATION, REC'D MEDICATED EYE DROPS.

2001 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS LOADING HEADING W/EXPLOSIVES. AS HE PLACED CHARGE/CAP INTO DRILL HOLE, HE DISLODGED ROCK FROM THE FACE OF HEADING. ROCK STRUCK RT. LEG BETWEEN KNEE/ANKLE RESULTING IN 12 SUTURE LA CERATION.