Mining Incidents

BELLE FOURCHE MILLMetal/Nonmetal

Belle Fourche, Butte County, SD · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3900049
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
43
Years on record
2000–2015
Latest incident
Aug 2015
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

43 on file

2015 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Loading pickup and pulled on cargo strap with right hand and dislocated thumb

Struck against stationary object

Employee hit elbow on a handrail and a pre-existing bone spur on his elbow ruptured his Bursa Sac in his elbow and it started to swell. Took employee to a Dr. and he was released to full duty no restrictions. Employee went back for a follow up visit two weeks later and the Dr. then placed him on restrictions.

2014 · 2 incidents

Struck by powered moving object

EE was walking through the warehouse when he was struck by the tire of the forklift. The EE had lost work days due to the sprained ankle, thus constituting MSHA reportability.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Recordable shift in hearing

2012 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE was stacking 50 pound bags of finished product on pallets. Felt some discomfort in right wrist. Was placed on restrictions of no lifting over 10 pounds due to muscle strain, thus constituting MSHA Reportability.

2011 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Operator was picking up a piece of plywood off the ground. He bent down to pick it up and when he started lifting felt a strain in his back. Operator was put on lifting restrictions for 1 week thus constituting MSHA reportability as a restricted injury.

2010 · 3 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE was walking out to his pickup to get something. He stepped off the side walk towards his pickup when his feet slipped out from under him causing him to land on his buttocks and jarring his back.

Struck by falling object

EE was cutting a coupler in half with a band saw, he turned the saw on and the blade caught and kicked up. When it kicked up, it came down and cut the EE's finger.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE tripped and dropped a bucket of treat, the treat went under his safety glasses and got in his right eye.

2009 · 1 incident

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

none

2008 · 1 incident

Fall from machine

EE was going ladder on trackmobile, foot slipped, lost footing and fell. Shoulder popped, it was stiff and sore, but no medical treatment. In 1/2009 EE went to DR and Negative MRI showed inflamation and physical therapy was ordered. Date I was advised was 1/7/09.

2007 · 3 incidents

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was walking, turned to walk other way, and felt his back 'pop'. Sustained acute back strain. EE began missing work 3/5/07.

Fall from machine

EE was barring a chunk of frozen mtrl at tailsection of feed conveyor. Material came loose and he lost balance, and fell approx. 2 ft to ground, spraining right ankle. He missed work next day 2/1, thus constituting MSHA reportability. Not scheduled to work on 2/2. Return to work w/0 any restriction 2/5/07.

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

Operators trying to unplug overs pipe that leads to turbo mill. When screen moved, it caught EE's right pinky finger between screen outlet and discharge pipe. Finger tip fracture and stitches required.

2006 · 1 incident

Struck against stationary object

EE was trying to get clay to flow thru #2 mill direct grind rotary feeder and airslide. He removed cap from pipe between rotary feeder and airslide trying to get the clay to flow. While doing this process the rotary feeder cut off the top of his right index finger just above the join, right at bottom of fingernail. Some bone removed.

2005 · 3 incidents

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was walking and turned and heard a pop. Diagnosis was a pulled muscle. He was instructed not to work for a week, thus constituting lost time, MSHA reportability for muscle strain.

Struck by flying object

EE WAS FILLING A BULKBAG & GOT A CLAY SPEC IN HIS EYE. HE WENT TO EYE DR. ON 4/12/05 & THEY REMOVED THE FOREIGN BODY/DUSTRUST RING.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS PUSHING WHEELBARROW LOADED WITH CLAY UP A RAMP TO DUMP BACK INTO BIN. EXPERIENCED SHARP PAIN IN HIS LOWER LEFT LEG. TAKEN TO E.R./SURGERY NEXT A.M. MEDICAL/STITCHES/LOST TIME.

2004 · 6 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE MISSED WORK 9/20/04 TO SEE DOCTOR - COMPLAINT OF ACHILLES TENDON AGGRAVATION. EE STATES AGGRAVATION HAPPENED AT WORK DURING THE WEEK OF 9/13/04 WHILE WALKING IN MUDDY CONDITIONS. PREVIOUS CONDITION? WORK RELATED? IT IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME AS TO WHETHER THIS IS A WORKERS' COMP. CLAIM OR NOT, BUT EE DID MISS A DAY OF WORK TO SEE DOCTOR, SO REPORTING AS LOST-TIME.

Struck against stationary object

EE openingair valve on the end of railcar hose- swung around and struck shin bone, causing puncture/ cut. Required 3 stitches.

Fall down stairs

EE CARRYING BUCKET OF POY FOR BATCH, TRIPPED UP STAIRS, SPRAINING LEFT WRIST. IMMOBILIZED WITH SPLINT, THUS CONSTITUING MSHA REPORTABLILITY.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS CHECKING EQUIPMENT, BENT OVER UNDER PIPE, THEN TRIPED OVR BOLT ON TANK TOP. STRAIN TO LOWER BACK. EE MISSED 5/4/04 (1 DAY) THUS CONSTITUTING MSHA REPORTABILITY.

Struck by falling object

EE WAS REMOVING GUARD FROM DRIVE WITH ANOTHER EE. LOST HIS GRIP AND DROPPED IT ON HIS LEG, IRRITATING SCIATICA NERVE. EE WAS PRESCRIBED PAIN KILLERS AND MUSCLE RELAXANTS AND MISSED 2 DAYS OF WORK, THUS CONSTITUTING MSHA REPORTABILITY. EXAMINATIONS BY PHYSICIANS REVEALED NO SERIOUS INJURY.

Fall onto or against objects

EMPLOYEE, GETTING ON FORKLIFT, TRIPPED ON SHOELACES THAT WERE UNTIED. FELL ON RECENTLY INJURED/OPERATED-ON SHOULDER THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY DISLOCATED DUE TO SOFTBALL INJURY AND REINJURED. LOST TI ME AT HOME WITH ARM IN SLING FOR APPROX. 1 WEEK. POSSIBLE LIGHT DUTY TO FOLLOW.

2003 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS LIFTING PIECE OF EQUIPMENT, BACK STRAIN. MISSED NEXT SHIFT OF WORK THUS CONSTITUTING MSHA REPORTABILITY.

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS BENDING OVER TO WALK UNDER AUGER AND INJURED HIS BACK CAUSING BACK STRAIN. EE SOUGHT CHIROPRACTIC CARE THUS CONSTITUTING MSHA REPORTABILITY.

Struck against stationary object

EE WAS RUNNING UP STAIRCASE, RAN INTO SAFETY RAIL ACROSS STAIRWAY, STRUCK ACROSS BRIDGE OF NOSE, FRACTURING NOSE.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE STRAINED MUSCLES IN LOWER BACK WHILE BOARING OUT A HOPPER WITH A BAR. EE TOOK FOLLOWING WEEK OFF WORK VACATION LOST TIME REPORTABILITY.

2002 · 8 incidents

Struck by flying object

EE WAS CLIMBING 6 FT LADDER. HE BLACK OUT, FELL OFF TO SIDE AND CAUGHT HIS RIGHT FOOT BETWEEN TWO POLES. IN THE FALL HE BUMPED HIS HEAD AND LEFT EYE IRRITATION IN THE DUST. HE WASNT SURE IF TH E FALL CAUSED THE BLACKOUT OR THE BLACKOUT CAUSETHE FALL. THERE WAS DEBRISIN EYE THAT WAS SURGICALLY REMOVED, NOT JUST WASHED OUT EMBEDDED AT THE EYE INSTITUTE.

Fall onto or against objects

EMPLOYEE SLIPPED AND FELL ON WET WAREHOUSE FLOOR WHILE GOING TO SHUT GARAGE DOOR (OFF OF FORKLIFT). SNOWY WET CONDITIONS, EE FELL AND HIT HIS WRIST ON FORKLIFT TOOTH, FRACTURING LEFT WRIST.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE SUFFERED A MILD HEART ATTACK/ANGINA. HE WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL IN SPEARFISH AND LATER TO RC REGIONAL WHERE TESTS WERE RUN, BLOCKAGE DISCOVERED AND ANGIOPLASTY DONE.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE WAS LIFTING A 100 LB BAG AND FELT A POP IN HIS LOWER BACK. PAIN OCCURRED AFTER THE POP. EE SOUGHT CHIROPRATIC CARE ON 10/11/02 THUS CONSTITUTING MSHA REPORTABILITY.

Struck against stationary object

EE CAUGHT RIGHT KNEE ON SHARP EDGE OF PACKET SPOUT WHILE STEPPING FROM PACKER CHAIR TO THE FLOOR. HE CUT KNEE. REQUIRED STITCHES AND TETANUS SHOT, THUS CONSTITUTING MSHA REPORTABILITY.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS CUTTING A BELT WITH RAZOR UTILITY KNIFE. THE KNIFE SLIPPED PIERCING LEFT INDEX FINGER. EE REQUIRED STITCHES, CONSTITUTING MSHA REPORTABILITY.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE BENT OVER TO PICK UP A BUCKET OF POLYBUTENE AND WHEN HE LIFTED IT, FELT A POP IN HIS UPPER BACK/NECK. EMPLOYEE SOUGHT CHIROPRACTIC CARE, THUS CONSTITUTING MSHA REPORTABILITY.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE HERNIA DIAGNOSED.

2001 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

EE WAS THROWING 50LBS AND 100LBS OF BENTONITE FROM CONVEYOR BELT TO PALLET. BENDING, TWISTING, TURNING REPETATIVE MOTION. LOWER BACK STRAIN.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EMPLOYEE WORKING WITH PACKING CREW THROWING BAGS, STACKING ONTO A PALLET, LOWER BACK STRAIN, CHIROPRACTOR VISITS AND LOST TIME CONSTITUTE MSHA REPORTABILITY.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE REACHED FOR A FALLING BAG OFF CONVEYOR BELT. REACHING, GRABBING, TWISTING, HE STRAINED HIS LOWER BACK. LOST TIME (1 DAY) AND CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT CONSTITUTE MSHA REPORTABILITY.

2000 · 4 incidents

Struck against stationary object

EE WAS TIGHTENING BANDING STRIPS ON A PALLET. HECUT HIS LEFT THUMB REQUIRING 7 STICHES.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS THROWING BAGS AT THE GRANULAR PACKER OFF THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM WHEN IS LEFT HAND (WEARING GLOVES) GOT PULLED IN BETWEEN THE CONVEYOR AND ROLLER, CAUSING SKIN AND MUSCLE LACERATIONS, FRACT URED FOREARM & ELBOW.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS BLOWING DOWN HIS WORK AREA AND THE AIRHOSE CAME OFF THE BLOWPIPE, LOST CONTROL OF IT, SNAKING AROUND. IT DIRECTED A SHORT BLAST OF COMPRESSED AIR INTO HIS EAR.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS PAINTING THE FLOOR UNDER A TANK, HE WAS WORKING IN AN AREA WHERE HE HAD TO BEND OVER TO DO THE JOB. (LOWER BACK STRAIN)