Mining Incidents

Celatom PlantMetal/Nonmetal

Controlled by USS Holdings Inc
Vale, Malheur County, OR · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3503236
Fatalities
1
Total incidents
78
Years on record
2000–2025
Latest incident
Jul 2025

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
Contact with electrical current

Temporary contracted employee contacted the 12500 volt overhead power line with an irrigation pipe

Reportable incidents

77 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2025 · 1 incident

Struck against stationary object

Employee struck the back of EE's left hand on metal supporting structure while ascending stairway. Resulting in a fracture to the third metacarpal of the left hand.

2023 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

Transloading hose plugged. Disconnected hose, pressure blew powder into face. Safety glasses blown off, powder entered left eye. Eyes flushed. Irritation, blurry vison persisted. Visit to medical clinic. Abrasion of left cornea. Treated with prescription medication. Employee returned to work following morning.

2020 · 1 incident

Fall from machine

As employee exited a rubber tire yard forklift, foot missed or was partially on the step and they lost balance and fell backwards. Hard hat fell off and they struck the back of head on a vertical structural beam resulting in a 3"" long laceration. Employee was treated at the hospital with 3 staples to close the wound and a tetanus shot.

2019 · 3 incidents

Fall down stairs

Employee tripped on the gravel path step between the truck shop and the office. Video shows that EE didn't lift foot high enough for the 3rd step. The tip of EE's boot hit the step causing EE to trip and fall forward hurting left shoulder. The same shoulder that EE was currently going through physical therapy for, for a non-work related injury.

Struck by flying object

Our mill 2 railcar vent line plugged which pressurized the car. The employee responded to the audible signal which indicates the compartment is full. EE heard hissing sound, walked to the vent line, kicked off the dog ears and the vent line lid shot up and struck employee in the face causing multiple complex facial bone fractures.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee opened the valve of our air lance. Force of air hyperextended left arm back resulting in left shoulder strain.

2018 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

03/28/2018 employee stands after sweeping in squatted position and feels pain in back, reports it following day, continues to work and complains it isn't improving on 4/30/2018 so I take them to doctor. At home exercises and muscle relaxants given by doctor, 7 day follow up with little improvement results in work restrictions given on 5/07/2018.

2017 · 3 incidents

Struck by powered moving object

Employee bumped by a forklift load of 50lb bags of product while taping cardboard inside a trailer. Employee fell backwards and the following day was diagnosed with sprain of ligaments of thoracic and lumbar spine. Employee received lifting restrictions.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee repetitively refed 50 pound bags for 5 days. After ee weekend off, ee reported severe back pain and saw a doctor who gave ee medication and restricted duty

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Record heavy snow and employee slipped on ice. Ice melt had been applied.

2016 · 1 incident

Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee slipped in mud in a ditch embankment and fell, landing on EE's back. Doctor gave a 15 pound lift, pull, push restriction.

2015 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was closing the hood of his 1999 Kenworth W900 series truck in dry, warm weather and pulled his groin muscle causing a hernia or muscle strain. This occurred while performing post trip vehicle inspection. Improper lifting techniques may have contributed.

2014 · 4 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee standing in the packaging area got a piece of dirt in his eye. He was wearing safety glasses. It became reportable when the nurse put a drop of erythromycin in his eye. He returned to work with no further issues.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

worker pulled empty bag from full pallet, bag ripped free unexpectedly and we stumbled backwards and felt a pinch in his lower abdomen.

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

employee walked behind 1-80A exhaust port, got curious about air coming out of exhaust port and stuck left hand in port far enough to contact powered fan wheel. employee suffered amputation of middle finger above 2nd knuckle, shattered bones in 1st finger requiring finger to be fused at a later date and lacerations on 3rd and 4th fingers.

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

employee was replacing a PD blower and when reaching for his tool he felt a pain in his upper arm

2013 · 4 incidents

Fall onto or against objects

when the employee was exiting the top of a bulk hopper car the retractable gangway fell. the employee fell and struck her arm on the gangway. the employee was wearing fall protection and was able to self rescue.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

employee was walking under structure when his ran his hard hat into some conduit that was blocked from his view by his hard hat. This caused him to jamb his neck and fall to the ground. when he fell to the ground he landed on his rear and hurt the lower tailbone hip area.

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was standing up after doing repairs on a piece of equipment. He felt and heard a pop in his left knee and there was sharp pain

Fall down stairs

Employee's shoes were wet when descending stairs to cement. This caused him to slip and fall. He tried to catch himself with his right hand and strained the elbow and wrist

2012 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stepped from the seat of his forklift and stepped wrong on his leg and strained his lower back.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

the employee was walking away from workstation when something landed in her right eye. the eye was flushed but the employee still felt like there was something in her eye so medical attention was sought.

2011 · 3 incidents

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

employee was not following our lock out tag out test out policy while working on a piece of equipment. he caught his gloved hand in a pinch point and broke his right thumb in two places with a laceration across the top. this pinch point moved because a chunk of DE caught a gate and drove it up causing an adjustment wheel to turn unexpectedly.

Struck against stationary object

Employee was performing normal job activities when an unknown object caused a puncture wound on employees left hand. Investigation showed that there was a hose clamp that could have caused puncture/laceration wound to the employees left hand.

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

Employee was walking on gravity rollers (taking a short cut) when his right foot and leg rolled through and became stuck.

2010 · 2 incidents

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee experienced issues with his heart while performing normal duties on top of 1-7 and 1-7a ore bins. The employee had pre-existing personal issues with his heart.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While employee was coming down the stairs holding both handrails his right heel caught the stair and caused him to lurch forward. This caused him to hyper extend his right knee.

2009 · 2 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Employee had stepped over a 2"" pipe and bent over to vacuum product in a bag house when he felt a pop in his lower back and a sharp pain down his left leg.

Struck against stationary object

The employee's shift started at 4pm on 7-6-09. He was performing normal job duties. After Locking, tagging, and testing out equipment emplyee proceeded to adjust misformed bags on the unit 2 paletizer slip plates. After completing this task he was getting out of position and caught the top of his left had on a sharp object that was out of eye sight causing a laceration.

2008 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

employee was removing a stripped bolt from a former on the palletizer when he felt his back pop.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

The employee was outside moving small pieces of pipe from the ground to a pallet and used improper lifting techniques; twisting at the waist and not moving his feet in the direction of the movement caused a lower lumbar strain.

Struck by flying object

Employee was getting ready to clean tops of bulk bags off (had not started) when the wind picked up and blew a foreign object into his right eye.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was restacking a pallet with another employee when he twisted his knee.

2007 · 2 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Stepped on a pipe and twisted ankle.

Fall from machine

Employee was stepping down from packers. She caught lug of safety boot in the grading and fell to the grating. Employee sprained left foot. She received restricted duty.

2006 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

Worker was gringing a piece of metal to make room for another piece to fit when a piece of metal or gringing material entered under the face shield. (Bounced off chest).

2005 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE loced out a belt feeder, opened the guard to remove large chunks of ore that had collected there. The guard is hunged and lsipped from his grasp and struck him in the head. was wearing hard hat. this injured his back.

Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS SWEEPING FLOORS AND BUMPED KNEE INTO A SHELF

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was moving an empty wood pallet to stack boxes on. She jerked the pallet with one arm injuring her shoulder.

Fall onto or against objects

EE DESCENDING STAIRS IN THE STRUCTURE DURING A POWER OUTAGE. MISJUDGED THE STEP AND FELL INTO THE HAND RAIL BREAKING LEFT ARM.

2004 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee experienced pain in left foot which he feels is caused by running from wet end of mill to the control room several times. Did not report until 12-20-04.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS CLIMBING OUT OF THE BOBCAT. TWISTED HIS KNEE WHILE CLIMBING OUT.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

ee was driving a forklift, felt dizzy, s topped and passed out. ee did not report this and went home. later called and reported that testing showed that he suffered a slight heart attack.

2003 · 6 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE WAS ADJUSTING SIDE FORMERS ON PACKAGING EQUIPMENT. EE STEPPED OVER ROW PUSHER AND STEPPED ON THE GUARD THAT HE HAD REMOVED. EE SUFFERED SLIP AND FALL BREAKING HIS LEFT ANKLE. RESTRICTED DUT Y

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS BENDING CONDUIT WITH A HYDRAULIC CONDUIT BENDER. EE LIFTED AND CARRIED BENDER TO RETURN IT TO ITS STORAGE AREA. DURING THIS PROCESS HE HURT HIS BACK.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PLACE THE VENTILATION HOSE FROM THE HANGER TO THE HATCH ON THE BULK HOPPER CAR. AS HE TURNED HE LOST HIS BALANCE AND FELL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, STRAINING HIS KN EE. RESTRICTED DUTY.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS RESTACKING A PALLET OF 50 LBS BAGS, HE BENT OVER TO LIFT A BAG AND HURT HIS BACK. PRESCRIPTION ISSUED.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE AND A CO-WORKER WERE BRINGING A NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT INTO THE LAB. THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO SET IT ON THE COUNTER WHEN EE PULLED A BACK MUSCLE. PRESCRIPTION ISSUED - WORKER DID NOT REPORT ACCIDENT UNTIL 1-23-03.

Struck by falling object

EE WAS STACKING PALLETS USING A FORKLIFT. HE RAISED THE PALLET AND PUT HIS HEAD OUTSIDE THE OPERATOR'S COMPARTMENT TO CHECK PLACEMENT WHEN A 50 LBS BAG FELL AND STRUCK EE ON THE HEAD. PRESCRIP TION ISSUED. DID NOT REPORT INJURY UNTIL 1-20-03.

2002 · 7 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

OUR EMPLOYEE HAD LOCKED & TAGGED THE MILLING FAN TO INDICATE HE WAS WORKING ON IT. HE WAS TO HARD SURFACE THE INSIDE OF THE FAN. HE WAS OUT OF SIGHT OF TWO EAGLE MINE EMPLOYEES ON OTHER SIDE OF THE FAN. THEY TURNED A SHEAVE TO REMOVE DRIVE SHAFT BELTS WHICH TURNED A FAN BLADE & SMASHED HIS HAND, BREAKING A BONE & BRUISING THE HAND BADLY.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE CLIMBING A FLIGHT OF STAIRS, WORKER REACHED FOR A HANDRAIL AND TWISTED BACK.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

WHILE PICKING UP A SECTION OF PIPE IN THE BONEYARD, WORKER TRIPPED OVER ANOTHER SECTION OF PIPE AND FELL BACKWARDS LANDING ON HIS BUTTOCKS WHILE STILL HOLDING HIS PIPE.

Struck against stationary object

WHILE WALKING TOWARDS A TRASH CAN IN THE SHIPPING AREA, WORKER STEPPED ON A NAIL.

Contact with hot objects or substances

MOWING LAWN. ADJUSTING HEIGHT OF LAWN MOWER. PLACED HAND ON MUFFLER & SUSTAINED BURNS. FIRST AID TREATMENT, BUT REQUIRED ONE FOLLOW-UP TREATMENT (WHIRLPOOL) & EVALUATION.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE CLIMBING OUT OF THE PACKING CHAIR WORKER STRAINED BACK. WORKER DID NOT NOTIFY EMPLOYER UNTIL MAY 21, 2002.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

WHILE WALKING ACROSS THE PLANT GROUNDS, WORKER SLIPPED ON PATCH OF ICE.

2001 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

WHILE RESTACKING 50# BAGS, WORKER STRAINED HER BACK WHILE LIFTING AND TWISTING. WORKER DID NOT REPORT ACCIDENT UNTIL 11-30-01.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE REMOVING A CAP FROM A PRESSURIZED PRODUCT CONVEYANCE LINE, THE CAP BLEW OFF AND STRUCK WORKER ON RIGHT HAND/ARM.

Struck by powered moving object

WHILE CLEANING OUT THE ORE HOUSE DUMP WITH THE BOBCAT, WORKER WAS RAMMED INTO BY AN ERRANT CONTRACT TRUCK DRIVER.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

WHILE DUMPING BAGS INTO THE WASTE BIN REFEEDER, WORKER FELT A PAIN IN HIS LOWER LEFT BACK.

2000 · 17 incidents

Struck against stationary object

WHILE WALKING UNDER #1 PACKERS, WORKER WALKED INTO A LOW OVERHANGING LADDER AND HIT HER HEAD ON THE LADDER, RAMMING HER HEAD DOWN INTO HER NECK.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE WALKING DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS, WORKER FELT PAIN IN HIS RIGHT KNEE.

Fall onto or against objects

WORKER WALKED AWAY FROM HER WORK STATION IN THE DARK DURING A POWER OUTAGE AND TRIPPED OVER A PALLET LYING ON THE FLOOR.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE STEPPING OVER A BAG CONVEYOR WORKER CAUGHTLEFT LEG ON A PIECE OF ANGLE IRON & RECD A PUNCTURE WOUND

Struck against stationary object

WORKER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PAIN IN BOTH FEET WHICH HE FEELS IS CAUSED BY GOING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS DURING THE COURSE OF HIS JOB.

Struck against a moving object

WHILE PACKING BAGHOUSE PRODUCT ON THE PACKAGING MACHINE, WORKER BUMPED HIS RIGHT ELBOW ON THE MACHINE.

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

WHILE COLLECTING A SAMPLE OF BAGHOUSE FROM A BULK BAG, WORKER INHALED DUST. WORKER HAS ASTHMA AND WAS NOT WEARING HER RESPIRATOR AT THE TIME.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WORKER DID NOT KNOW SPECIFICALLY WHEN OR HOW HE HURT HIS BACK. CALLED IN TO WORK ON 7/22/00 WITHBACK PAIN CLAIMING HE HAD HURT IT ON THE JOB. WEQUESTION THE VALIDITY OF THIS CLAIM.

Struck by flying object

WHILE LOOSENING A VALVE ON A FIRE HYDRANT PRIOR TO WASHING DOWN THE ASPHALT, WORKER RECEIVED A BLOW TO THE LEFT EYE FROM THE VALVE AS IT BLEW OFF THE HYDRANT. TETANUS SHOT AND 4 STITCHES.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BREAK A BOLT LOOSE WORKER STRAINED RIGHT SHOULDER.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE CARRYING AN ARC WELDER UP A FLIGHT OF STAIRS, WORKER STRAINED HIS KNEE. WORKED HIS NEXT FULL SHIFT THEN WENT TO DR.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOUNT A FORKLIFT, WORKER SLIPPED AND STRAINED HIS HIP. NO LOST TIME. PRESCRIPTION ONLY.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE TRAVELING UP AND DOWN THE STAIRS, WORKER STRESSED OR BRUISED THE HEEL AND ARCH OF HER RIGHT FOOT.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

WHILE MANUALLY RESTACKING PALLETS HE HAD DUMPED ON THE WAREHOUSE FLOOR, WORKER STRAINED HIS BACK.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

WHILE STACKING 50 LB BAGS ONTO A PALLET ONE OF THE BAGS OF FILTERAID ONTO THE PALLET ONE OF THE BAGS FELL OFF. WORKER TRIED TO CATCH THE BAG ANDSTRAINED HIS BACK.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

WHILE LIFTING A ROLL OF TYGARD TO SECURE A TRAILER, WORKER FELT A PAIN IN HIS LOWER BACK.