Mining Incidents

WILLSBORO MINE (FOX KNOLL)Metal/Nonmetal

Controlled by Imerys S A
Willsboro, Essex County, NY · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3000644
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
64
Years on record
2000–2026
Latest incident
Feb 2026
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

64 on file

2026 · 2 incidents

Fall onto or against objects

Employee was cleaning under Belt 111 in Crushing. EE was bent or crouched over to access the area under the belt. When EE stood up, EE lost EE's balance and fell into a section of angle iron support, striking EE's head on the angle iron, causing a laceration on EE's head.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Team member was clearing a bag jam on the palletizer in plant 1 packaging line. When lifting a 25KG bag off the conveyor the employee allegedly felt discomfort in the front part of EE's right shoulder.

2025 · 1 incident

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Pulling dump truck out of tailing shed. Got out to make sure the tailgate was latched. As EE walked to the rear of the truck EE's feet slipped out from under EE on the icy surface. When EE fell EE landed on EE's left shoulder.

2024 · 2 incidents

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

Maintenance employee directed the mixer operator to stand on a ladder and see if the valve was opening all the way prior to reassembling the pipe. Mixer operator put their middle finger into the pipe opening. The valve closed on the tip of the finger. The impact caused an avulsion of the workers left hand middle fingertip.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee had a reportable hearing loss in EE's right ear.

2023 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Employee was shoveling approximately .5 inches of snow off of sidewalk. As EE turned to throw a scoop of snow to the side, EE felt pain in EE's lower back and dropped to EE's knees. Doctor labeled lower back injury as either a pulled muscle or pinched nerve.

2022 · 1 incident

Fall onto or against objects

Employee tripped while walking up a staircase. While attempting to catch themselves, they jammed a thumb, which proceeded to swell, be painful the following day.

2017 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee did not report a new injury at this time. Employee requested information on a previous injury from 2012. Stated the condition from the previous injury had returned, Old insurance company reported that the employee stated they picked up a bag and felt something in the same location of the previous injury.

2016 · 4 incidents

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

EE states while trying to free a jammed bag left hand and wrist were pinched in the equipment. EE injuries were reported as a crush injury and superficial abrasion to the left hand.

Accident type, without injuries

While running a production mixer which blends saline with wollastonite a rubber transition seal between a product bin and the mixer over pressurized and blew apart. The overpressure is believed to be the result of a plugged exhaust line, chemical reaction or possible flammable vapor liberation within the mixer. No injuries were sustained.

Accident type, without injuries

While running a production mixer which blends silane materials with wollastonite a rubber transition seal between the product feed bin and mixer blew apart as a result of pressure build within the mixer. No personnel were injured. Over pressurization is believed to have resulted from a plugged VOC evacuation line and/or possible flammable material liberation in the mixer.

Accident type, without injuries

While running a production mixer which blends silane materials with wollastonite a rubber transition seal between the product feed bin and mixer blew apart as a result of pressure build within the mixer. No personnel were injured. Over pressurization is believed to have resulted from a plugged VOC evacuation line and/or possible flammable material liberation in the mixer

2015 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE states that he picked up 25 kilo bags and put them on a pallet. While lifting the bags something pulled in his groin area.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee states that ee felt twinge in back while pushing pipes around on floor with a cart and setting hoists up.

Accident type, without injuries

While packaging treated product into a poly bulk bag an employee report witnessing a blue flame develop in the top of the bag resulting in sufficient heat to melt the top of the bag. This event was recently recognized as being subject to immediate reporting due to the ignition of a gas. No injury or significant damage resulted from this event.

2014 · 5 incidents

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was changing belts on screw171. When he stood up he felt a shooting pain in the left lower side of his back.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was walking around plant feed belt in Beneficiation when she rolled her right ankle on an inch thick, uneven ridge on cement floor.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was cleaning under the mixer, While shoveling he strained his back.

Struck against stationary object

EE was stepping out of Truck #28 at stockpile area to get in the loader. As he stepped down from the truck his left foot came down on a rock and his ankle twisted causing an avulsion fracture. EE declined medical treatment at time of incident then on 3/17/14 decided to be seen.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was on the roof - he slipped on some black ice, fell and twisted his left knee.

2013 · 4 incidents

Struck by falling object

Employee was working on Door400, the 400 ton hopper Mega door. While working on the door, the fabric lifting strap that raises and lowers the door broke and the door fell 8-10' down and struck employee on the head knocking his hard hat off. The door then struck his left shoulder and forearm that was on the railing of the scissor lift.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee passed out at work. Upon questioning & evaluation by shift foreman, employee attributed passing out to his diabetes. Employee refused medical treatment and went home at the end of his shift. From home he went to the doctors/hospital where it was determined he had a heart attack.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was holding avocado in hand and cutting it - knife slipped and cut hand at base of index finger, left hand.

Struck against stationary object

Employee was working on classifier 230B trying to move a bound up part when his hand slipped off and collided with the classifier housing in an area that was worn to a sharp edge. Employees right hand grazed the sharp edge causing a laceration at the base of his right thumb that required sutures.

2012 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

On 5/7/12 employee reported that on 4/29/12 he aggravated prior work related back injury while working in Beneficiation changing pipes. Back pain worsened so he sought medical attention on 5/1/12.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was putting expanded metal away in rack - it kicked up and cut left hand which required stitches.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee arrived at work - prior to starting shift was walking from parking lot to Plant 2 when he slipped on ice and fell landing on his back.

2011 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE hooking bag strap to arms on Bagger 150. Walked across platform rolls to hook other bag strap-slipped-grabbed bag for support injured left wrist. Did not seek medical attention on 8/16/11. On 11/21/11 sought medical attention was given restrictions - NYCO able to accommodate. On 1/19/12 EE placed out of work - NYCO no longer able to accommodate restrictions.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE was pulling stones out mill, lot of twisting and turning.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE was pulling and pushing trying to get bag oof rolls.

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee went from the office out to line 2 mixer. He turned and his back went out. Employee states that he has bad disks in his back.

2010 · 5 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cutting a piece of flex hose with a Stanley knife. It slipped cutting his left index finger. (required 4 stitches)

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was going to fix a leaking transporter line. He was waiting for the line to depressurize when the line came apart blowing wollastonite all over him and into both eyes.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE was directed to weed whack around the NYCO grounds. He reportedly came into contact with poison ivy. By 7/9/10, EE experienced a severe allergic reaction to the poison ivy and sought medical treatment.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was trying to close the elevator door and strained his middle left side of back.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

On 2/4/10 EE was trying to get ton bag off the run. He squatted, put his back to bag and pushed and felt pain in right knee (he declined medical attention on that day). On 3/3/2010 EE reaggravated knee, while stepping off portable ladder to the ground his knee gave out. Sought medical attention on 3/3/2010.

2009 · 2 incidents

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE twisted his back while going up stairs aggravating previous back injury which occured on 5/10/2004.

Fall onto or against objects

Employee was running, tripped and fell. When falling, his left hand smashed through glass on old temperature chart plotter.

2008 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE alleges back strain occurring 10/11/08. Incident reported by spouse via telephone on 10/20/08.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was lowering airlock to the floor with a come a long. The weight of the airlock was alot and his hand came up and hit his glasses while holding the handle.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee states that while cutting a piece of duct tape with a utility knife, the knife slipped and cut his right ring finger.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

When rotating the classifier wheel pinched his finger between wheel and an obscure lip on the classifier body behind the wheel.

2007 · 1 incident

Struck against stationary object

While employee was working on mill, he pinched palm of his left hand causing a laceration which required sutures.

2006 · 4 incidents

Struck against stationary object

While employee was installing shims in the ACM Mill classifier wheel he cut his thumb on one of the shims.

Struck against stationary object

While employee was putting supplies away his hand brushed across the sharp edge of a bracket causing a gash to back side of left hand.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was using shovel to rake garnet away from screen. The shovel caught in the pulling motion which caused employee's back to twist in the opposite direction. (Lost time began 7/21/06)

Fall onto or against objects

EE states that he slipped on steel stairs and struck his right shin on edge of step causing laceration.

2005 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was changing bags in the dust collectors and the repetitive motion of using a screwdriver and ratchet may have caused the swelling. Note: Lost time began 8/26/05.

Struck against stationary object

Employee states that while he was working on the tail pulley bearing on elevator 015 he went to turn around and ran his knee into a piece of steel jutting out.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee states that while getting ice cubes out of the ice machine in Plt 2 lunchroom he noticed the ice bucket was overflowing so he dumped some ice out of the bucket. In doing so some ice fell out of the bucket onto the floor. EE then stepped on the ice and his feet went out from under him. he landed full weight on his shoulder.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee states when he was coming around corner from ACM mill to check on #6 F-1 mill he slipped on a patch of ice on floor.

2004 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE STATES THAT HE WAS CHANGING THE AIRLOCKS ON LINE 2 (PLT. 2). WHEN HE LIFTED AIRLOCK HE HURT HIS BACK.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE STATES THAT WHEN HE WENT TO DUMP A WHEELBARROW OF PRODUCT HE FELT SOMETHING PULL IN HIS BACK.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE STATES THAT HE WAS GETTING A GAS TANK FOR A FORK LIFT AND AS HE WAS CARRYING IT INTO THE PLANT HE SLIPPED ON SOME ICE AND PULLED SOMETHING ON THE BACK SIDE OF HIS LEFT KNEE.

2002 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE DRAGGING THE HI-VAC HOSE (WITH ANOTHER EMPLOYEE) OVER TO THE TRANSPORTER, EMPLOYEE TRIPPED ON THE HOSE AND TWISTED HIS LEFT KNEE.

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

EE WAS CHANGING SEAT AND FLOP GATE ON VAC., VALVE ACTIVATED AIR PISTON AND END OF FINGER ON RT. HAND GOT CAUGHT.

2001 · 2 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHEN EMPLOYEE LIFTED ROLLS UP FOR SCALE THE STRAP SLIPPED ON FORK AND CAME DOWN ON RIGHT FOOT BEHIND THE STEEL TOE.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE STATES THAT WHILE BRUSHING SCREENS HE FELT A SPASM IN HIS LOWER BACK. STATES THAT HE STOPPED UNTIL SPASM WENT AWAY. HE STARTED BRUSH-ING SCREENS AGAIN AND THE SPASM CAME BACK. THIS TIME IT DIDN'T STOP.

2000 · 6 incidents

Fall onto or against objects

WHILE EE WAS GETTING DOWN FROM THE HEATER PIPE WHICH HE WAS STANDING ON TO TRY AND UNPLUG THE DRYER INLET PIPE, WHEN GETTING DOWN HIS FOOT SLIPPED AND HIS LEFT KNEE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH THE ANGLE FROM FLANGE.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE EE WAS OPENING A PALLET OF BAGS WITH A UTILITY KNIFE, THE KNIFE SLIPPED AND CUT THE INSIDEOF HIS LEFT FOREARM.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE TWO OTHER EMPLOYEES WERE PULLING EE OUT OF #1 PEBBLE MILL (ONE ON EACH ARM), THE MAN ON HIS LEFT ARM PULLED TOO HARD.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE EMPLOYEE WAS DUMPING 99 LB. BAGS OUT BACK, HSI SHOULDER PULLED OUT.

Struck by falling object

WHILE EE WAS WORKING ON #2 PEBBLE MILL--NEW FEED SPOUT--DUST WAS FALLING AND GOT INTO HIS EYES.

Struck against stationary object

EE WAS NOT WATCHING WHERE HE WAS STEPPING AND WALKED INTO A PIECE OF PLYWOOD CAUSING A BRUISE TO HIS LEFT KNEE/SHIN AREA.