Buncombe PlantMetal/Nonmetal

Miner was holding a torque wrench in place while another miner applied force on the torque wrench pinching miner 1's finger between torque wrench and metal housing.

At approximately 0830 on Sunday, November 15; a ""passer-by"" called local emergency responders to report smoke coming from the mine. No work had been performed and no miners had been present since November 13. Upon arrival to the site, it was found that a telehandler and three haul trucks were on fire.

Employee assisting 2 other employees reinstall a guard after repairing oil line on screen. While attempting to position guard, employee got EE's right hand mashed between guard and bracket to which guard bolted. Sustained fracture to top of right hand.

Employee was dismounting the 980 front end loader at the end of the shift when ee missed the last step while climbing down. As ee stepped to the ground ee twisted and jarred body resulting in a back sprain. EE sought medical attention later in the day.

Employee was dismounting excavator from cab. Employee stepped down onto step near tracks and foot slipped off jerking his back. Employee felt pain in his back after the misstep. Employee has had pre-existing back pain. Company investigating whether current condition is pre-existing or work related.

Injured party is not an employee of the mine. Mine personnel were assisting a vendor unload metal culvert pipe that he was delivering to the mine. One pipe had been removed with a forklift and placed on the ground. He then walked around the trailer to the side opposite the forklift to secure a strap when a second pipe rolled off the struck him in the leg fracturing the leg.

The employee was turning around to move his harness and stepped on a rock rolling his right ankle.

The employee went to pick up a box of bolts and felt a sharp pain in his lower back.

Maintenance employee received a sore left neck muscle from hitting his head on a catwalk structure support during the lubing and cleaning of a screen.

The operator of a CAT 990 front end loader heard a noise so he opened the inspection door to the engine. After finding nothing he proceeded down the steps to dismount at the rear end of the loader. When stepping down the ladder he missed the first step causing him to fall on his left side.

Employee slipped on a dusty lime surface. He struck his chin on a piece of equipment. This resulted in 7 stitches to his chin.

Employee was driving haul truck dumping shot rock at the top of a ramp being constructed from the primary crusher level down to the bench below. While preparing to dump the ground apparently gave way resulting in the truck overturning and sliding down along side of the ramp being bulit. Driver was wearing seat belt assembly and remained in the truck.

Employee was assisting the maint. crew while changing blowbars in an HSI impact crusher. EE was using a prybar to move""scoot"" the blowbars into the bucket of a skidsteer. The prybar slipped allowing his right hand to slide down the bar and between two blowbars. The blowbars fell together pinching the tip of his right ring finger.

EE was preparing a shot on the bottom ledge when he heard a rock sliding. As he looked up he noticed a piece of stone sliding from a berm above him. While moving away from the face, the stone glanced off another berm below causing a rock to be projected out away from the face. The rock struck ee approximately three inches above the right knee.

EE was working from a manlift basket removing frozen material from a conveyor belt. While leaning over the manlift basket, ee right thumb was pinched between the manbasket and the conveyor frame resulting in a fracture right thumb.

EE has not been conclusively deemed as work related,however it is being reported within 10 days from date it was made known to operator. On 11-7-08,EE reported he had a groin injury; he was first examined by the doctor on 11-6-08. He alleges it occurred due to lifting a crusher liner on 9-27-08.He did not report the alleged injury until 11/7/08;on restricted duty.

Employee stepped off of catwalk from primary crushed control bldg. onto flat stepping stone, and in doing so he overstepped small stone step causing twisting of knee and he falling to ground.

Employee was lifting 30"" conveyor headpulley from conveyor while using chain from end to end of pulley. When he broke pulley bearings loose from conveyor, the difference of weight (because of gear reducer) caused the load to shift on crane hook pinching his left thumb.

Cold icy conditions 9 degrees F.

Driving the grease/fuel truck in pit area when he hit a rut in road causing him to hit his head on roof of truck. He was wearing hard hat & seatbelt. Heavy rains had washed rut in road. Employee is experiencing headaches & sore neck. No lost or restricted duty but had MRI in Nov. & may have physical therapy. Company didn't get results of MRI till Nov. 16.

There is no specific date for the alleged accident. EE reported that he has degenerative disc disease & a herniated disc in his neck as a result of operating heavy equipment on rough terrain over many years. This report is being filed within 10 days from the date medical info was made known to the employer to support a possible link of his condition to his employment.

Employee stooped over to lift with back instead of bending at knees as instructed.

Employee removed his hard hat to get inside engine compartment to change an oil filter. As employee stepped up onto machine he struck his forehead on the corner at the open engine compartment door causing a small laceration to his right upper forehead. Employee received three stitches.

Foreign matter blew into left eye while driving mechanics truck to shop from top ledge of pit.

Employee was using a 2 lb sledge and steel bar to position wedge on steadman crusher when he missed bar and struck his left hand with 2 lb sledge.

EMPLOYEE WAS USING A STEEL (3-4LB.) DOOR WEDGE TO CLEAN DOOR AREA. WHILE SCRAPING WALL SURFACE, HIS HAND SLIPPED, PINCHING HIS FINGER BETWEEN THE WEDGE & CRUSHER DOOR.

EE WAS OPENING DRIVER SIDE DOOR. DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF CAUSING EE TO FALL BACKWARDS HITTING HIS LOWER BACK AGAINST THE TRUCKS HANDRAIL.

CHANGING HAMMERS INSIDE PRIMARY CRUSHER EE WAS SITTING ON THE ROTER AND HAD HIS FEET POSITIONEDON ONE END OF THE HAMMER AND WAS TRYING TO PUSH IT OUT OF ITS SLOT.

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE ATTEMPTING TO PUSH A STEEL DISCHARGE CHUTE OFF THE TOP OF A ROCK PILE.

EE WAS HOLDING METAL IN POSITION FOR ANOTHER EMPLOYEE TO WELD. WIND BLEW A PIECE OF RUSTY METAL INTO RIGHT EYE.

WORKER ATTEMPTED TO LIFT CRUSHER HAMMER INTO P[LACE ALONE. RESULTING INJURY WAS A SPRAINED RIGHTWRIST

CLIMBED OVER HANDRAIL WITH HARNESS AND SLIPPED AND FELL ON GENITAL AREA.

HE WAS CARRYING BARBED WIRE TO LOAD ONTO TRUCK 10-51-412 WHEN THE WIRE SLIPPED AND CUT HIS LEFT FOREARM.

EE WAS DRIVING TRK 10-SI-497 TO PRIMARY CRUSHER TO CLEAN BELTS WITH WATER HOSE. AS HE STEPPED OUT OF THE TRUCK, HIS RIGHT FOOT SLIPPED ON A BIGGER ROCK CAUSING A FRACTURE.

E WAS TRYING TO RAISE BOOM ON DRILL AND A 20FT DRILL STEEL CAME LOOSE AND STRUCK HIM IN THE CHIN.

EE WAS MOVING ACETYLENE BOTTLE WHEN BOTTLE SHIFTED INTO NEXT BOTTLE CAUSING FINGER TO GET CAUGHT.