Mining Incidents

Tonasket QuarryMetal/Nonmetal

Tonasket, Okanogan County, WA · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 4500191
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
45
Years on record
2001–2025
Latest incident
Jun 2025
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

45 on file

2025 · 2 incidents

Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE stepped out of the manlift basket onto the roof connected to a Miller retractable lanyard. The roof collapsed under EE and the lanyard did not engage to stop EE's fall. EE sustained broken ribs, punctured lung and scrapes and bruises.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Miner was lifting motor and base plate for replacement, as EE lifted and twisted to put the motor in place, EE felt a strain in right side rib cage. EE reported the incident, but thought EE was fine. Miner did not sleep well. The next day at work, EE reached to pick up a tool and felt a tearing sensation in the area EE felt the strain the day before.

2024 · 1 incident

Struck against stationary object

Miner was working on a chain sprocket. While bent over, EE felt a pain from low back to the groin. EE stood up and stepped back onto a rock, slipped and caught self. EE felt instant severe pain.

2023 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Miner was traveling down the slope to a newly installed staircase. Miner slipped on rutted, uneven ground, caused by recent rains, and hurt left knee. Miner reported the incident but did not feel needed medical attention at that time, despite being asked to do so.

Struck by falling object

Miner was pulling a metal plate (27"" diameter,1/2"" thick) towards themselves to flip over in order to cut a hole in the center. The metal plate slipped off the edge of the table and landed on the miner's left foot.

Struck by falling object

Miner was attempting to pull one pallet onto another and stepped between two slats in the bottom pallet and fell down. When EE fell, EE lost grip on the pallet EE was positioning on top and it fell onto EE's right ankle.

2022 · 3 incidents

Contact with hot objects or substances

Miner was lying on side cutting a hole in an auger when hot slag fell into miner's right ear traveling down the ear canal to the ear drum.

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

The miner was checking the tension of the belts on the Cimco horizontal crusher. When the miner rolled the belts, EE's right middle finger was pulled into the pulley, severing it at the first knuckle below the fingernail.

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Miner was driving an forklift and when they stepped off, they felt pain in right hip.

2021 · 4 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

Miners called investigator and 911 after discovering the fire in our shop. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Approximately 40 feet of the southeast corner of the roof and south wall sustained burn damage. No personnel had been in the shop since 3pm.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE was helping our millwright roll over a metal beam to the other side so it could be welded. When they began to roll the beam, EE's right shoulder popped.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was changing a cutting blade on the grinder when the grinder powered on, cutting EE's left ring finger.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was climbing down a ladder. When EE stepped off the ladder, EE placed foot wrong and rolled their right ankle.

2020 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Miner was working on Pril Plant elevator bucket that had broken off. The bucket was jammed in the chain and in trying to free it, miner reached over metal bar to grab the chain and felt a pop in rib area.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

While constructing a room for a new compressor, the miner, employee, was lifting and holding sheets of OSB for walls and ceilings, causing soreness in right shoulder. After a doctor visit on 11/06/20, the doctor indicated to the miner a possible strain.

2019 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

Employee was cutting a piece of siding material with a grinder when a shard of metal hit their cheek and ricocheted inside of safety glasses and struck their right eye.

2018 · 2 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Employee fell and hit head in January nothing said about knee. On 7/20/18 employee said ee bumped knee on a pallet but was ok. Employee went to Dr. 10/4/18 Dr. said ee has a torn meniscus and Dr. back dated to 1/23/18 for knee injury.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Per L&I form completed, employee was walking to work area, slipped on ice patch and hit back of head.

2016 · 2 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Grinding piece of steel, slipped and cut right forearm.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Replacing 14 inch conveyor belt, while pulling on belt, felt pain in left elbow.

2015 · 1 incident

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee & mechanic were working on excavator. He stepped back to get away from oil leak and tripped falling on left arm.

2014 · 2 incidents

Fall down stairs

Employee was walking down steps, tripped & fell landing on right shoulder.

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Swinging sledge hammer & hit little finger between handle & metal frame work.

2013 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Pulling on hood to open for inspection. Felt burning pain in left forearm. D.O.T. Highway Truck. Driver went in for xrays. Has to have surgery on 10-18-13

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Chute to dryer plugged up with materiel operator took bar and was trying to unplug chute, bar slipped jarring shoulder and upper arm.

2012 · 1 incident

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was plowing snow and sanding. He finished parked the front end loader was walking back to plant area slipped and fell on left front arm. Hurt his left shoulder.

2011 · 1 incident

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE unbolted cover guard. White blender was running to check for build up, left coat sleeve came in contact with blending bar which tore his coat sleeve and caused laceration on left forearm.

2009 · 2 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was fixing the slide to the screens. He was cutting a new piece of belting when the exacto knife slipped and cut his hand.

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

EE was filling blending hopper & thought the belt that was feeding the hopper was plugging up. He pulled the lid back off of the belt & reached in to grab a chunk of material when bolt caught finger & pulled it into hold down roller.

2008 · 6 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was working on a guard and he lifted the guard and turned and felt pain in lower back.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Tighting bolt wrench slipped, hurting his shoulder.

Struck by falling object

Stood truss on edge to weld and it fell over on its side hitting EE on head and neck.

Struck by flying object

Employee reported injury to us on 06/16/08. EE was grinding on a piece of steel, EE was wearing his safety glasses at the time of injury. No time lost.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was getting out of the semi truck, stepping on unlevel ground and turned his ankle.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was replacing an electric motor. He turned to move to the other side to tighten motor mount bolts when his foot stuck in the snow and he twisted his right knee.

2007 · 2 incidents

Fall onto or against objects

EE was tightening an 1 1/4"" pipe union with a pipe wrench and the union broke, the pipe wrench slipped and he fell over backwards, hitting his tailbone on another pipe.

Struck against stationary object

While holding an empty box, employee attempted to open shop door. The door did not open and the employee slammed his shoulder into the door causing pain in his lower back. Mild back strain.

2006 · 3 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

We believe power surges from a wind storm shorted a dry transformer that started fire. There were no injuries.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was stepping out of the loader and mis-stepped, injuring his right knee. There was no time loss.

Contact with hot objects or substances

FAULTY PROPANE CYLINDER. EMPLOYEE WAS UNABLE TO USE FRESHLY FILLED TANK. TANK WAS LEFT UNATTENDED FOR ? MINUTES WHILE HE CHECKED OTHER TASK. ON HIS RETURN, THIN STREAM OF PROPANE FROM VENT HAD IGNITED, BURNING HOSE OFF. OVERHEAD WIRING THEN CAUGHT FIRE. EMPLOYEE, UNAWARE OF PROPANE FIRE, WAS BRINGING EXTINQUISHER FOR ELECTRICAL FIRE AND WAS BURNED AS HE ENTERED THE BUILDING.

2003 · 1 incident

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

ADJUSTING BAG SADDLE TO FIT A DIFFERENT SIZE BAG AND THE STAND PINCHED R HAND THUMB, BRUISING THE THUMB.

2002 · 3 incidents

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

EE WAS REMOVING A FILLED BAG FROM THE BAGGING CONVEYOR IN THE PRIL WHSE A BELT FASTNER CAME LOOSE HOOKING HER COAT SLEEVE.

Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS REMOVING A HEAVY GUARD BY HIMSELF ONE END OF GUARD FELL, HITTING PALM OF HAND.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

STRUCK THE THUMB TIP WHILE DOING CLEAN UP.

2001 · 1 incident

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS HOLDING A PIECE OF DIAMOND PLATE IN PLACE TO WELD, IT SLIPPED AND THE EDGE CAUGHT HIS FINGER.