Mining Incidents

WWC #2521Metal/Nonmetal

W W C Inc · Surface
Controlled by Paul Wood
Elkins, Lincoln County, NM · Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 2900494
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
10
Years on record
2000–2002
Latest incident
Feb 2002
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

10 on file

2002 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

AFTER FAILED ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE MATERIAL WEDGE IN THE PRIMARY JAW CRUSHER, WORKERS CLEARED THE AREA AND STARTED THE MACHINE. SEVERAL ROCKS FLEW OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE CRUSHER AND STRUCK A MIN ER, WHO WAS STANDING APPROX. 10' AWAY FROM THE EQUIPMENT ON THE SOUTHEAST SIDE. APPARENTLY, ONE ROCK KNOCKED THE MINER'S HARD HAT OFF WHILE ANOTHER ROCK STRUCK THE EE'S FOREHEAD CAUSING A LAC

2001 · 8 incidents

Flash burns (electric)

TWO MINERS WERE WORKING INSIDE AN ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOX WHILE THE GENERATOR WAS RUNNING. ALTHOUGH THE MAIN POWER DISCONNECTS HAD BEEN SHUT OFF,THERE WAS STILL AN ELECTRICAL LOAD ON THE LINE DUE TO IMPROPER WIRING OF THE CIRCUIT. THE MINERWAS BURNED FROM AN ELECTRICAL FLASH AND ENSUING FIRE WHEN THE OTHER MINER ATTEMPTED TO CONNECT THE LIVE WIRE TO A BREAKER BOX.

Flash burns (electric)

TWO MINERS WERE WORKING INSIDE AN ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOX, WHILE THE GENERATOR WAS RUNNING. ALTHOUGH THE MAIN POWER DISCONNECTS HAD BEEN SHUT OFF, THERE WAS STILL AN ELECTRICAL LOAD ON THE LINE DUE TO IMPROPER WIRING OF THE CIRCUIT. THE MINERWAS INJURED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO CONNECT A LIVE WIRE TO A BREAKER BOX CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL FLASH FIRE.

Contact with hot objects or substances

THE MINER WAS INJURED WHILE ASSISTING TWO INJURED CO-WORKERS AND FIGHTING AN ENSUING ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE EMPLOYEE RECEIVED MINOR BURNS FROM SPARKS AND/OR SPLATTERING MATERIAL WHILE BATTLING THE BLAZE.

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

THE MINER SUFFERED MILD SMOKE INHALATION FROM BATTLING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE INSIDE A CONTROL TRAILER. THE EMPLOYEE WAS SENT TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATION AND RELEASED THE SAME DAY.

Fall from machine

BOLTING A PIECE OF ANGLE IRON ON THE DISCHARGE CHUTE OF A SCREENING PLANT. THE INJURED EMPLOYEEWAS KNEELING ON TOP A PIECE OF PLYWOOD WHILE ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WAS HAMMERING ON THE EQUIPMENT BE LOW. APPARENTLY, VIBRATIONS FROM THE POUNDING DISLODGED A ROCK, CAUSING IT TO FALL FROM THE SCREEN AND STRIKE THE EMPLOYEE ON THE CHEST. THE EMPLOYEE LOST BALANCE AND FELL OFF EQUIPMENT.

Contact with heat

EMPLOYEE WAS MANUALLY DIGGING/CLEANING PUG MILL HOPPER FEED WITH A SHOVEL. APPARENTLY, SUFFERED A HEAT STROKE WHEN HE STOPPED TO GET A DRINK OF WATER. ACCORDING TO THE SUPERVISOR, THE EMPLOYEE SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL OF BODILY FUNCTIONS AND MUSCLE CONTROL. THE EMPLOYEE ENDURED VIOLENT SIEZURES/MUSCLE CONTRACTIONS WHILE ON ROUTE TO THE HOSPITAL.HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS AS WELL.

Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS DISLODGING A ROCK FROM A TAIL PULLEY WITH A BAR WHILE THE EQUIPMENT WAS SHUT OFF. AAS THE EE PUSHED ON THE BAR, IT SLIPPED WHEN THE ROCK BROKE FREE. THE EE'S HAND STRUCK THE METAL SCREEN/GUARD, WHICH PUNCTURED HIS HAND. THE EE RECIEVED APPROX 5 STITCHES OR SUTURES.

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

THE V-BELTS UNDER THE IMPACT CONVEYOR WAS NOT MOVING BECAUSE IT WAS SLIPPING. THE EE THOUGHT THE DEVICE WAS SHUTOFF AND HE COULDN'T HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING. THE EE REACHED IN TO SHAKE THE BELT. THE BELT SUDDENLY CAUGHT AND TOOK OFF CRUSHING THE EMPLOYEE'S FINGERS IN THE DEVICE.

2000 · 1 incident

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS SHOVELING & THE SHOVEL JAMMED HIM UNDER THIS LEFT ARM