Mining Incidents

Oconee Rock QuarryMetal/Nonmetal

Oconee County · Surface
Controlled by Oconee County-SC
Walhalla, Oconee County, SC · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3800230
Fatalities
1
Total incidents
23
Years on record
2000–2023
Latest incident
Feb 2023

Fatalities at this mine

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

INJ CONTRACTOR WAS ON THE GROUND, OUTSIDE HIS VEHICLE JUST AFTER HIS TRUCK WAS LOADED. JUST BESIDE THE VICTIM'S TRK ANOTHER CONTRACTOR BEGANBACKING UP TO BE LOADED. THE MOVING VEHICLE WASN OT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPERABLE BACK-UP ALARM. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HE HAD SEEN VICTIM OUTSIDE HIS TRK ON THE BACK LOOKING AT THE ROAD, BUT DID NOT SEE HIM ON THE GROUND. HE SAID HE FELT A BUMP

Reportable incidents

22 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2023 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

The employee was tightening a screen on the crushing plant. When they pulled on a bar that tightens the screen, they felt a pull in their back and tingles in their toes.

2021 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

Two Mobile Equipment Mechanics were removing the old cutting blades from a yard loader with a torch. They did not have it blocked from underneath as they have been instructed. When the steel fell, it bounced/ricocheted onto mechanic's foot. Both employees were disciplined for unsafe work practices.

2020 · 5 incidents

Struck against stationary object

The employee was assisting another employee with changing out some screens on the crushing plant. One of the screens had a sharp edge where it was worn down from the rock and had broken off. The sharp edge of the screen punctured the employee's right hand.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was installing an evaporator core, and while turning a nut into a tight place, the pressure of the line sprang back and bent employee's pointer finger over top of the other three fingers.

Struck against a moving object

Employee was using an excavator to dig a boulder out of the pit floor, and the bucket slipped off the boulder, jarring the excavator and causing a whiplash effect.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Was not reported until 4/27/2020. Employee stated that EE's knee hurt when getting off the loader on 4/22/2020. It was observed that EE was short of breath and sweating. EE was sent to clinic and transferred to hospital. EE has blood clots in right leg and saddle between lungs. Treatment is on-going.

Struck against a moving object

The employee was driving the 1991 forklift up the hill from the plant/pit area to the scale house/shop area. Halfway up the hill, the forklift stopped running & as the employee was calling someone for mechanical assistance, the forklift began rolling backward down the hill. It stopped when it struck the tunnel at the old plant. The employee has no broken bones or internal injuries.

2017 · 1 incident

Contact with hot objects or substances

While cutting lifting eyes with a cutting torch, the metal fell off the table. The employee reacted and grazed left shin with the torch causing 1st and 2nd degree burns to an area approximately 3"" x 5"".

2016 · 1 incident

Struck against stationary object

Employee hit their knee on a ladder step leading to a storage bin. The employee reported the injury to the Quarry Foreman on 2/16/17, stating that they needed to see a doctor.

2015 · 1 incident

Struck against stationary object

As the employee was exiting Liebherr shovel, he struck his right elbow on the machine. He did not report the injury for approx. 2.5 weeks. Upon visit with a doctor, he was diagnosed with medial epicondyle fx. Was put into a cast, no medication, no lost time, restricted duty for as long as the cast is on the arm.

2013 · 1 incident

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was removing a welder from the hitch of a pickup truck, when he sat welder down the jack stand wheel folded up and the welder struck the top of the employees left foot resulting in a hair line fracture.

2011 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Inmate laborer did not mention any problem until later in the evening after being returned to the law enforcement center. He was taken to emergency room at 6:38 pm workday ended at 3:00pm

2008 · 1 incident

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Customer was clearing tailgate of rock from a previous load when the tailgate slipped from his hand cutting the index finger on his right hand requiring 18 stitches. Customer was seen at the quarry hauling rock again later the same day.

2007 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Miner was climbing into a backdump truck, heard his knee pop and felt pain. After sitting in the truck for 15 minutes he contacted the Quarry Foreman for assistance in getting out of the truck. Upon evaluation, a physician diagnosed the injury as a sprain to the left knee.

2005 · 2 incidents

Flash burns (welding)

Employee sustained welder's keratitis to the outside corner of his left eye. While welding beside another employee who was also welding, he lifted the hood on his protective helmet to chip slag from the work area. The employee beside him struck his welding rod to the work area on the left side of the injured employee. He reported it the next morning.

Fall onto or against objects

EE WAS ASSISTING 2 COWORKERS. THEY WERE LIFING A SCREEN OFF OF THE FORKS OF THE FORKLIFT. EE LOST HIS GRIP, FALLING BACK ONTO THE SCREEN DECK AND LANDING ON HIS BUTTOCKS.

2004 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE PREPARING TO CHANGE THE OIL IN THE CONE CRUSHER, THE EMPLOYEE REACHED ACROSS A 55 GALLON OIL DRUM TO RELOCATE IT AND FELT A SHARP PAIN IN THE LOWER RIGHT SIDE OF HIS BACK. HE SAW A DOCTOR ON THAT DAY, BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY LOST TIME FROM WORK UNTIL DECEMBER 10, 2004 WHEN THEY DECIDED TO DO SURGERY.

2003 · 1 incident

Fall from machine

AT THE END OF THE WORK DAY, EE WAS GETTING OUT OF A 40-TON BACK DUMP TRUCK. HE WAS WALKING DOWN THE STEPS, HIS FEET SLIPPED OUT FROM UNDER HIM, HE GRABBED THE HANDRAIL PULLING THE MUSCLE IN HI S RIGHT SHOULDER AND BRUISING HIS HIP, BACK AND SHOULDER.

2002 · 2 incidents

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EMPLOYEE WAS IN A COUNTY CAR WHEN A HONEY BEE STUNG HIM ON HIS RIGHT ARM. HE HAD A ALLERGIC REACTION REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION OVERNIGHT.

Struck by falling object

EE WAS LOOKING UP TO UNTIE A ROPE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO A CUTTING TORCH WHEN A ROCK FELL FROM A SCREEN ABOVE HIM & HIT HIM IN THE EYE.

2001 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

EE WAS CUTTING A WORN WEAR PLATE FROM A KAWASAKI LOADER BUCKET WITH A CARBON ARCH WELDER. HE CUT ONE SIDE FREE AND STARTED TO CUT THE OTHER SIDE WHEN THE PLATE GAVE WAY AND FELL ON TOP OF HIS RIGHT FOOT JUST BEHIND THE STEEL TOE AREA OF HISBOOT. THERE WAS A SMALL PUNCTURE WOUND AND A FRACTURE OF TWO BONES IN THE FOOT THAT REQUIRED SURGICAL REPAIR.

2000 · 1 incident

Fall from machine

WHILE DRIVING A HAUL TRUCK TO THE CRUSHER TO DUMP A LOAD OF ROCK, THE EMPLOYEE SMELLED SMOKE. HECONTINUED UP THE ROAD; THE TRUCK STALLED AND HE JUMPED OUT OF THE TRUCK INJURING HIS LEFT KNEE.