Mining Incidents

Willis Mt Plant & Mullite PlantMetal/Nonmetal

Dillwyn, Buckingham County, VA · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4400170
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
43
Years on record
2000–2022
Latest incident
Jun 2022
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

43 on file

2022 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

Employee was using jack hammer to knock kiln brick loose. While taking rows of brick out of the kiln, a brick fell on the employee's finger.

2021 · 2 incidents

Flash burns (welding)

Employee was welding at at the Mullite plant all day. Employee went home, and around 9 p.m., EE's left eye was burning and swelling. Employee said it felt like sand in the eye. It was the result of an arc flash.

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee removed a metal door from kiln & felt a slight twist in knee. Pain did not persist. Later in the morning, employee bent down under the cooler & felt a sharp intense pain in right knee, which has caused some swelling.

2018 · 2 incidents

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employee attempted to diagnose a feed flow problem. EE removed the rotary feeder cover and stuck hand in to remove any blockage. EE did not de-energize, or lock/tag as ee was trained. The rotating machinery cut off the tip of middle finger.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was bitten by a spider in a company truck while on break. It later swelled so EE reported it as a WC injury 6/11/18. EE's drug test was non-negative, was sent to lab, came back negative after employee missed 7 work days. Waiting drug test results was only reason employee missed work, thus making injury reportable.

2017 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was standing on a flat bed truck loading 50 lb bags of lime into a hopper and strained right groin.

Struck by flying object

Employee was installing hand rails between the #1 and #2 elevators at the Mullite Plant. The wind was gusting very hard and stirring up debris and dust, which blew into the employee's left eye.

2016 · 3 incidents

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

Employee was removing a choked pipe from the hopper with co-worker, as the co-worker removed the last bolt, the pipe twisted and caught left pinky finger between pipe and silo, partially severing the tip, which required surgical removal.

Struck against stationary object

Employee struck right elbow, causing numbness and tingling, on roll cage of forklift while walking around to lift the lever to raise the forks. Employee did not seek treatment until 6/22 when elbow became sore and swollen after bagging 50lb bags on 6/20 & 6/21. Diagnosis: Tendinitis, with treatment of anti-inflammatory medication and 2 days of rest.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Standard Threshold Shift in hearing, noted through hearing loss prevention program. Test performed 2/25/16. 4/01/16, employee examined by Otolaryngologist, treated for ear infection, released for re-test 4/08/16. Retest performed 4/14/16, hearing loss slightly improved, still STS. 4/29/16, medical records confirmed hearing loss not due to underlying health condition.

2014 · 1 incident

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was carrying a Metabo grinder under his left arm, he was unaware that it was in the locked-on position. When he plugged it in, it automatically started and cut him in his left chest area--he sustained a 1 3/4 - 2 inch laceration, requiring 5 stitches.

2013 · 3 incidents

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

Employee was taking the starter off the 515 Dump truck when it slipped and caught his right thumb between the starter and a cinder block, resulting in a contusion that required drainage of blood.

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Employee was bagging M35 100lb bags, he threw a bag on the pallet and felt a pull in left forearm, resulting in muscle strain.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was replacing wire on the welding machine. He picked up the spool of wire and felt pain in his left shoulder, which was subsequently diagnosed as a sprained shoulder.

2012 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was bagging M35 100lb bags, he felt a pull in his left forearm when throwing a bag on the pallet, resulting in muscle strain.

Struck against stationary object

Employee was bagging M-200 mullite product, as he took the bag off the mullite spout to place on the pallet, his arm struck the mullite bagging spout, causing a 1 and 1/2 inch long laceration on his left forearm near the elbow that resulted in 14 stitches.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was moving firewood as part of site clean-up when he felt a sharp pain in his back and down his leg.

2011 · 1 incident

Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was moving mullite from under #1 cooler with Bobcat Skid Steer, when he dumped the bucket of mullite onto surplus pile, steam was created causing second degree thermal burns of less than 2 inches in diameter to right arm and right leg and first degree burns to right side of face.

2010 · 1 incident

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Removed sunglasses to see phone to call for supplies, tripped over something and right hand was cut on tin that was on the ground.

2008 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

While working in a water tank, the employee was standing on one ladder. He lifted a second ladder and twisted to place it into a second water tank. He pulled a muscle in his lower back.

Struck against stationary object

While reaching for handrail to climb stairs in the kiln area, employee's finger caught on metal edge of safety sign resulting in a minor laceration to his right index finger.

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Using 70lb sledge hammer inside 5' diameter mill, felt pull in lower abdomen. Did not seek treatment until 3/07/2008; Diagnosis: inguinal hernia. Did not recieve treatment until 3/18/2008.

2007 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

While putting cutting egdes and teeth onto 988 loader using sledge hammer and drive pins to remove old teeth an airborne particulate went under safety glasses and into left eye.

2006 · 2 incidents

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

While helping another employee dump a hopper with material in it onto a belt, caught middle finger on right hand between hopper and a piece of steel.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While training at the #2 kiln feed hopper, stepped across the feed screw, foot was planted awkwardly and turned over right ankle. He did not feel it was necessary to be seen by a doctor until 04-05-2006.

2005 · 2 incidents

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While making repairs on the #2 elevator at the Mullite plant. Splicing #2 elevator belt, locked out drive motor-sheave elevator belt against motion. Had to move elevator belt in position, accidentally moved left hand towards sheave and caught left ring finger between sheave and v-belt.

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE went up on the wet bins to start the belt and screw. As EE was coming down the stairs a puff of smoke from the dryer (scrubber emission exhaust) came up the staircase. With the below freezing temperature and the exertion from climbing the steps, this caused EE's breathing to become difficult.

2004 · 3 incidents

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

While priming pollution pump the pipe pulled loose from the threads spraying water containing sodium hydroxide (12pH) in face and eyes.

Fall onto or against objects

While climbing onto the cherry picker, using the steps, when he got to the top step and stepped over onto the tire his foot slipped and he fell backwards.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

ROPE BROKE WHILE PULLING ELECTRICAL CABLE THROUGH CONDUIT. EE FELL TO THE GROUND & BROKE HIS SHOULDER.

2003 · 2 incidents

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

WHILE COVERING WINDOWS IN REAGENT BLDG. WHEN A BOARD FELL DOWN CATCHING HIS FINGER BETWEENT HE BOARD AND THE EDGE OF A SHEET OF TIN.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

HELPING ANOTHER EE RAISE A 55 GALLON DRUM FROM A HORIZONTAL POSITION TO A STANDING POSITION. FELT PAIN IN LOWER LEFT GROIN AREA.

2002 · 4 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

FLAKE OF METAL GOT BEHIND EYE PROTECTION WHILE GRINDING AN I-BEAM.

Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE TURNED AND STARTED TO WALK UP THE STEPS WHEN HE STEPPED IN A SHALLOW HOLE.

Struck by flying object

EE GOT OUT OF HIS TRUCK AT THE WASTE SAND DUMP & THE WIND BLEW SOMETHING IN HIS RIGHT EYE.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE ALLEGES WHILE PLACING A BAG OF SAND ON A PALLET HIS BACK GAVE OUT, PAIN COMING FROM BOTH OF HIS SHOULDERS INTO HIS LOWER BACK AND INTO HIS LT. LEG.

2001 · 3 incidents

Contact with hot objects or substances

WHILE WORKING BY UPPER TANK IN SCRUBBER AREA, HOSE BROKE SPRAYING HOT WATER ON LEG.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

REMOVING SHOVAINGS FROM AROUND HUB ON LATHE.

Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS UNCLOGGING PYRITE CELLS AND CUT HIS LEFT HAND ON A PIECE OF METAL.

2000 · 4 incidents

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

HAD TO BEND/ SQUAT TO PULL PIN ON LOWBOY LEG INTO UPPER POSITION, FELT PAIN IN LOWER BACK WHEN HE STOOD UP.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE STARTED HAVING PAIN IN HIS UPPER LEFT SHOULDER AND RADIATING TO HIS LOWER BACK LIFTING 100LB BAGS OF SAND.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE INJURED HIS LEG WHILE SEEDING A HILLSIDE ADJACENT TO THE WILLIS MT. QUARRY AREA. HIS LEG WAS TWISTED AND /OR A MUSLCE WAS STRAINED WHILE WALKING ALONG THE HILLSIDE. AS DESCRIBED BY EE.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

DURING MAINTENANCE PIPE ROLLED AGAINST LEG CAUSING LACERATION.