Loader Operator backed down the feed ramp for the mill with a loader as a contractor dump truck was backing into the bay perpendicular to that ramp. The dump truck struck the side of the loader tire and counterweight shifting it to the right and in the process strained the muscles in operator's lower back.
Active Minerals Kaolin DivisionMetal/Nonmetal
- Fatalities
- 0
- Total incidents
- 61
- Years on record
- 2001–2025
- Latest incident
- Jun 2025
Reportable incidents
61 on file2025 · 4 incidents
Dump truck was being loaded with dry clay. The clay was leaking out of areas of the tailgate. Employee attempted to shove the tailgate closed. When the employee attempted to close the tailgate EE's right middle finger was caught between the truck bed and tailgate.
Employee was placing paper bags on 50 lb. bagger spout when the bag on the spout to EE's right ruptured. The bag ruptured in such a way that the clay was directed towards the right side of the employee's head. This dislodged EE's safety glasses and got clay in EE's eye.
Employee's shoe became untied and employee tripped as a result. Upon hitting the ground during the call, the employee's glasses broke and cut employee's right eyebrow.
2024 · 3 incidents
Rain caused the kaolin clay to become slick causing the forklift to slide into a handrail on a ramp.
Employee was pulling a hose out of a cam-lock coupler. When they were pulling up on the hose they felt a pop in their back. The employee was taken to the emergency room where they were placed on restrictive duty.
Employee was attempting to open a butterfly valve on a product line. The employee forced the valve to open and when it broke free EE felt a pop in EE's shoulder and some discomfort in EE's right shoulder blade and index finger. Employee was treated by an occupational clinic and place under restricted duty.
2023 · 4 incidents
Employee was cleaning out a clay feeder/shredder where a process upset had damaged the feeder/shredder. While cleaning out the clay from behind a bent door assembly, the employee lacerated their forearm on a jagged piece of metal. First aid was administered and employee was taken to a medical facility for treatment.
EE was using a hammer to hit the outside of the hopper to get clay to feed. EE got finger caught between the hammer handle and the hopper causing a non-displaced fracture of the right index finger phalanx.
Employee was lancing bridged material from mill feed hopper. They stepped back from the hopper and felt a pop in left knee and felt a sharp pain. Employee was standing on deck grating and did not step on any spillage.
Employee was stepping off of the scale platform on a bulk bagger when the heel of EE's left boot caught the edge causing EE to roll EE's ankle.
2022 · 2 incidents
Employee was stacking 50 lb. bags when they felt a pop in their shoulder and felt pain. Employee strained a muscle and tendon in left bicep.
Employee was found unresponsive in employee's vehicle in the company parking lot the morning of February 16th, 2022 approx 8:30 am. 911 was called as was MSHA's immediately reportable hotline. Victim was pronounced deceased by the Coroner 9:00 am. The employee passed away of natural causes in the vehicle. An MSHA inspector from the MSHA Macon office performed the investigation.
2021 · 1 incident
Temp bagger stepped backwards off of bulk bagging platform and twisted ankle.
2020 · 3 incidents
Employee slipped on clay while cleaning up at the end of the shift.
During a dust collector bag change the miner bent over to pick up a tool. EE's hard hat fell off and EE was struck on top of the head by a falling bag cage. Miner received a laceration requiring three staples.
While performing regular maintenance on the roller mill, a particle of dust entered the employee's eye, causing irritation.
2019 · 1 incident
The employee was horse playing and fell backward injuring EE's knee.
2018 · 3 incidents
The employee slipped on top of a bulk truck and lacerated a knee on the latch.
The employee was hanging a bag from a step platform and lost footing. In an attempt to catch self ee hit knee on the bagger scale.
2017 · 2 incidents
Driver turning landing gear handle on trailer, handle sprung back and struck driver on eye brow and eye lid causing laceration.
Pulled muscle in lower back.
2016 · 4 incidents
Elliott employee was disassembling a machine for repairs. A piece that was believed to be secured unexpectedly moved. Employees right hand was pinched between part and stationary object resulting in a laceration to palm of hand at base of index finger. Cut required nine stitches to close.
While removing a gearbox it fell on employee's hand causing an abrasion and swelling
Missed a stair coming down the steps and sprained ankle
Dump trailer tailgate
2015 · 1 incident
The employee was closing the bottom gate of the hopper when he fell. When falling the bar used to open the gate landed on his finger smashing it.
2014 · 4 incidents
The employee was exiting the loader when his right foot slipped off the top step. When his right foot slipped off the step his right knee struck the top step.
The employee was walking when he slipped causing him to fall. The employee caught himself with his right elbow causing a fracture.
The employee slipped and fell causing a contusion to his leg and his right elbow.
2013 · 4 incidents
The employee stated that his wrist was hurting. The results ware his wrist was sprung.
While working on a pulley taking bolts out employee allegedly got bitten by some type of insect. The insect was never seen. Employee went to the doctor and it was determined the area of the bite needed medical treatment.
Employee slip and fall coming down the ramp by #4 Mill.
Employee reported that he bumped his left knee on a railcar ladder.
2011 · 5 incidents
The employee was cutting a bag scrap,when the knife cut though the scrap and cut his left thumb.
Employee was walking across the railroad tracks lost his balance, and fell breaking his fibula on his right leg.
The employee was weighing 50lb bags. When he stepped backwards, he stepped on an uneven area and lost his balance and fell on the surface he was standing on.
Employee was sweeping up around the bagging machine at a lower level, when he stood up he felt something snap in his lower back. After the investigation, it was determined the employee strained his lower back.
Employee was trying to remove the cover off number eight silo air slide. During this time is when the employee felt a sharp pain in his lower back. Diagnosis, were lumber strain.
2010 · 4 incidents
Emplyee was operating bulk bag machine when he turned to walk away from the bagging system. He struck his right hand on the I-Beam that supports the bagger and his right knuckle was cut.
Employee was inspecting the seal on a butterfly valve on the reject transporter. Employee failed to cut off air supply valve resulting in butterfly valve closing on his right hand.
Miner was cleaning clay out of a cage mill when he struck his right arm above his wrist on a worn cage mill blade cutting his arm.
Employee removed a cap from 6-inch product line and stuck his hands in a rotor air lock pinching the tip of his fingers on his left hand. His index and middle finger.
2008 · 4 incidents
Employee placed a ladder on the side of a burner to relace cover on J-box. The ladder slipped and fell while employee was getting on top of the burner. Employee fell with ladder. When he fell, he had 1 foot on top of the burner and one foot on the ladder when he slipped. Employee injured his left heel.
The rain storm knock the power out, causing the lights to go out employee was walking across to pull a roll up door down and slipped and fall at the door brusing his left arm.
Employee was standing, looking at pressure gauge, when fork lift driver was backing up . Employee turned into fork lift, hitting his right knee on counter wt.
Employee bent over to pull release handle on dumper ,and pulled a muscle in his lower back.
2007 · 1 incident
Railcar Loading Operator was releasing the brakes without using the brake release lever. The Operator was loosening the brakes by turning the brake wheel counter clockwise. The Operator pulled a groin muscle while trying to loosen the brakes on the railcar.
2006 · 1 incident
Employee was assigned to stack paper bags filled with 50 pounds on pallets 12 rows high. While stacking the top row, the employee lifted a 50-pound bag from a waist-high position, moved to his right and lifted to a head-high position to toss the bag across the stack and to the far corner of the stack. At that time, he felt something `pop? in his right shoulder.
2005 · 4 incidents
Employee was assisting in installing bearings on a lab pulverizer. Another employee was tapping the bearing down the shaft by placing a ball peen hammer on the bearing and striking the ball side of the hammer with a claw hammer. A piece from the claw hammer fractured off and hit employee in the chest.
Employee was driving a forklift on a sloped bank with a 2400 pound bulk bag at an elevated position. The employee was injured with no damage to the forklift. Employee was confined in the operator compartment.
Employee was climbing a stationary ladder to a wash down platform, slipped and fell 12' to the ground landing on his feet and falling onto the ground. Employee was diagnosed with a fractured left heel.
Drilling Rig Operator was raising Core Barrel through Turntable. As the Drilling Rig Assistant, grabbed the Core Barrel with his left hand and placed his right hand under the core barrel, the Core Barrel suddenly dropped, pinching the Assistant's right hand between the Kelley Turntable and the bottom of the Core Barrel.
2004 · 3 incidents
EE PROCEEDED TO INSPECT THE CLAY SHREDDER. HE TURNED THE SHREDDER OFF BUT DID NOT LOCK IT OUT. THE EE DECIDED TO CLIMB INTO THE SHREDDER TO INSPECT FURTHER. ANOTHER OPERATOR ON THE SHIFT WALKED BY & NOTICED THE SHREDDER WAS OFF & PRESSED THE START BUTTON. THE EE FAILED TO LOCK OUT THE SHREDDER BEFORE PERFORMING WORK ON IT.
Employee was cutting fabric straps that hold bundles of empty bulk bags together. He was cutting by pulling the knife towards his body. When the knife went through the fabric, the knife continued toward him and cut his left arm. He had a 1"" long cut and he received 6 staples and a bandaid.
Employee was climbing down the ladder from the top of a railcar when a rung of the railcar ladder popped loose and the employee fell 8' to the ground landing on his feet. he was diagnosed with deep bruises in each foot.
2003 · 1 incident
EE WAS LOWERING THE KELLY ON DRILL RIG AND ROD PINCHED HIS RIGHT INDEX FINGER.
2001 · 2 incidents
EE WAS HOLDING UP LIFT LOOPS ON A BULK BAG WHILE THE FORKLIFT DROVE TO THE BAG. THE EE WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE LIFT TRUCK INSTEAD OF TO THE SIDE AND THE FRONT WHEEL OF THE LIFT TRUCK RAM UP ON THE BACK OF THE EES HEEL ON RIGHT FOOT. THERE WAS NO BRUISING OR SWELLING.
EMPLOYEE WAS CLIMBING DOWN A LADDER, STEPPED ON THE GROUND AND TWISTED HIS KNEE. DR DIAGNOSED AS A SPRAINED KNEE.