Mining Incidents

Crystal PlantMetal/Nonmetal

Controlled by S C R-Sibelco Nv
Spruce Pine, Mitchell County, NC · Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 3102012
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
27
Years on record
2000–2021
Latest incident
Apr 2021
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

27 on file

2021 · 1 incident

Rubbed or abraded

Employee cut right forearm by broken glassware requiring 5 stitches.

2020 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in lifting objects

The employee and two co-workers were removing a 4' x 4' fan housing from a wall opening when the employee felt a sudden pain in left shoulder.

2019 · 1 incident

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was removing coil from electric valve when the valve busted causing scrubber water to run down behind employees safety glasses into EE's eyes. Took to have eyes checked to ensure no damage. Employee was prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection. No damage reported.

2018 · 2 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While cutting a piece of rubber tubing, employee, using a utility knife, sliced the rubber towards EE's body instead of away, the blank ran up EE's thumb opening up a one-inch cut. EE was taken immediately to the local hospital and was given aid. The attending physician sewed up the cut with 8 stitches and immediately released EE to full duty.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The mechanic was lifting glassware into place, the tubing slipped in EE's grip, glass edge tore through glove lacerating EE's upper forearm. The cut was approximately one inch wide, requiring four stitches. 0 days light duty, and full release after suture removal.

2017 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was placing a gearbox (5lbs) on a reactor and when EE tried to stand up EE felt a tightness in lower back.

2015 · 1 incident

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

As part of the company's medical surveillance program, the employee was diagnosed 12/29 /2015 by a NIOSH Certified B-Reader with pleural plaques. Suspected cause is exposure to mineral fiber while working at the Green Mountain, NC mining operation in the 1970's,1980's and 1990's which mined and processed Olivine. The employee has not missed any work due to his condition.

2012 · 2 incidents

Struck by falling object

The miner was emptying 100 lb. bags of material from a pallet elevated over a waste hopper. As he moved a bag of material to the front of the pallet, to empty the bag, the weight of the bags broke some of the pallet slats. This caused three bags of material to fall from the pallet and one of the bags struck the miner on his right leg and ankle, twisting his ankle.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While installing wire racks in the warehouse,the employee cut the back of his right hand on a sharp edge of the wire rack.

2011 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Two employees were carrying a section of drill casing to a drill rig by hand. One of the employees slipped in the muddy conditions and dropped his end of the pipe. This put strain on the other employee all of the sudden and he stated that he experienced pain in his lower right back area and his upper left shoulder area.

2010 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The miner was moving drums of material that were sitting on a wooden pallet, to seperate the drums. He felt pain in his left wrist, which at the time seemed very minor. The miner continued his duties, but due to worsening pain, which he reported today 7-15-10 he was sent to dr for evaluation. the injury became reportable as a result of the dr's report on 7/15/10

2009 · 2 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE was walking from his pickup truck to his road tractor when he slipped and fell on ice in the parking lot behind the Unimum Crystal Plant at the loading dock. He was taken to the emergency room at Blue Ridge Hospital. The ice was from the 12 plus inches of snow & ice received on 12/18/09 & 12/19/09.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

While positioning drums on a pallet, the miner slipped on the forks of a forklift which was parked behind him with the forks flat on the floor. The miner fell backwards twisting his knee as he fell to the floor.

2008 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

The miner was lifiting and moving 50 lb bags of filter media when he sprained his back.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

The employee was kneeling on top of a tank while removing the tank lid. The lid was tilted and some liquid spilled onto the tank and soaked into the employee's pants, at the knee, and then onto the employee's skin. The liquid contained HF acid, which caused a burn.

Struck by flying object

Employee was picking up a vacuum hose to start clean up on his floor, some loose sand was laying inside the hose and was flipped up into the employe's eyes.

2007 · 5 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was standing on a wooden pallet lifting a 60 lb. sample box and dumping it into a tote. One of the pallet slats broke, causing the employee to lose his balance. The sample box he was lifting struck his left leg just above the knee, causing his knee to bend backwards, resulting in a sprain to his left knee.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

The miner was helping replace the lid on top of an acid storage tank. When he put his right knee down on to the top of the tank, he came in contact with acid which burned his knee just below the knee cap.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The miner was cutting a plastic vacuum hose, using a pocket knife. The knife slipped when the blade hit a thin section of the hose, resulting in a cut to the miner's left hand.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was lifting and streching forward in order to move an electric motor into the bed of a company truck, when he felt pain in his lower back.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was lifting bags of filter media with his left arm and opening the bags with his right hand using a utility knife. He lifted approximately 450 bags from 11 AM until 2 PM. No problem was noticed until the following morning when swelling and some pain was present in this left elbow.

2006 · 2 incidents

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was inside a tank checking the tank lining using a hand held portable light. While his head was tilted forward a drop of liguid fell feom the top of the tank, striking the top edge of his safety glasses and splashed into his left eye causing a burning sensation.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cutting plastic banding from a loaded pallet using his pocket knife. He failed to cut completly through one piece of the banding, the knife slipped and cut him on the left forearm.

2005 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

The employee walked between a hopper and the wall. His shoulder brushed the fire extinguisher which fell on his left foot.

2004 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

An employee was removing a 4 ft. piece of sch. 80 4 in. pipe from the vent on a reactor. Injured employee saw that the pipe was falling and tried to catch it. The pipe hit his right hand and broke his ring finger.

2000 · 2 incidents

Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

GOT OUT OF BUCKET ON THE LIFT AND STOOD ON A TANK THEN STEPPED OVER ON A 1 1/2"" INSULATED PIPE THAT RAN DOWN THE WALL NEXT TO WHERE THE SIDING WAS BEING INSTALLED. THE BRACE THAT HELD THE PIPE PULLED LOOSE FROM THE WALL AND HE FELL APPROX 11'6"" TO A CONCRETE FLOOR. WE'RE NOT SURE IF HE HIT HIS HEAD ON A METAL TANK OR THE CONCRETE. HE WAS LYING ON THE FLOOR IN A SPOT APPROX 5'6""WID

Fall down stairs

EE WAS GOING UP FLIGHT OF STEPS TO WASTE PLANT TOO FAST, NOT PAYING ATTENTION OR USING HANDRAILS. HE TRIPPED IN-BETWEEN STEPS AND LANDED ON HIS FACE.