Mining Incidents

K-2 Mine SiteMetal/Nonmetal

Controlled by Kinross Gold Corp
Curlew, Ferry County, WA · NonProducing
MSHA Mine ID: 4503336
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
36
Years on record
2001–2022
Latest incident
Aug 2022
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

36 on file

2022 · 3 incidents

Fall from ladders

Miner entered a concrete enclosure to adjust valving to change flow locations. While entering enclosure miner placed left foot on manifold piping. When miner removed right foot from access ladder, left foot slipped off piping landing approximately 18 to 24 inches to floor level hyperextending left knee resulting in a strain to the left knee.

Accident type, without injuries

Hazard report, no injury or loss of equipment. Mine development crew mucked out the round from dayshift and started bolting the K5 North heading. Team member noticed a small displacement of rock, which was not beyond anchorage. Team member observed a progressive increase of water in-flow from the area.

Fall onto or against objects

Driller assistant was assigned to change the chuck and foot-clamp jaws on the drill rig. EE stepped onto the deck to evaluate and when EE was dismounting the deck, the GFCI for the lights tripped out and is when a slip and fall occurred. This when the individual slipped and fell onto the deck. Contact was made with the deck and individuals lower back.

2018 · 1 incident

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

While applying poly foam to the 1715 area, a fitting failed on the application hose and an employee got sprayed in the face with poly foam. The employee was wearing safety glasses with side protection but the foam got up under the glasses and into the eyes of the employee.

2012 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

The miner was lifting bolts up onto the deck of a mechanical bolter and felt a pop in his lower left abdomen.

Fall from ladders

EE placed aluminum stairs next to trailer to position overhead light. Then placed 6' step ladder on top platform of stairs. When EE climbed up ladder, stairs and ladder tipped over. EE fractured both wrists, nose and finger in fall.

2011 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

Employee was installing 8 inch utility pipe working on a scissordeck. The pipe dislodged from the railing and fell. The pipe struck the injured on his left instep. The injured was wearing metatarsal protection boots but the outside small toe metatarsal received two hairline fractures from the impact.

2005 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee experianced tingling in hands. After follow-up with a doctor, it was determined that the employee has carpel tunnel syndrome. The employee was a welder for her previous employer. Working as a sample prep technician has aggravated the condition to the point of needing surgery.

Struck by flying object

EE was bolting in the 1230 drift. Having trouble with the bolt driver & was attempting to turn the driver collar over. When he hit collar with miner's wrench, small piece of metal broke off the tool & hit him in the side. The object left a very small hole in shirt & a very small puncture wound in his right side. 8/05: Not reportable; first aid & Rx for preventative measures only.

Struck against stationary object

Individual was replacing pipe-wrap Insulation in winter conditions. Stood up to reposition himself and lost footing in the snow. Reached out to balance himself, caught hold of the aluminum pipe wrap and caused a small laceration to the palm of his hand, fleshy part under thumb.

2004 · 8 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

Ground fall that occured during a blast in an open stope. Ground fall fell out above anchorage point of bolts.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS STRIKING CORE WITH A HAMMER TO FIT IT INTO A BOX. HE WAS HOLDING THE CORE WITH HIS FINGER. HE SMASHED THE MIDDLE FINTER OF THE LEFT HAND, BETWEEN THE HAMMER & THE COARE

Struck against stationary object

The employee was removing a bolt on a piece of pipe and his wrench slipped off the bolt. His little finger struck the pipe, bending it sideways and breaking the small bone behind the knuckle in his hand. His hand was splinted and he was released to work with restricted activities.

Struck by falling object

The employee was working in an escape raise preparing it for the installation of a liner. He dropped his drill steel and climbed to the bottom of the raise to get it. At that time a piece of rock fell out of the raise from an unknown location and hit him on his hardhat causing his hardhat to cut his head. He received 8 sutures and returned to work that shift, full duty.

Accident type, without injuries

A FALL OF GROUND OCCURRED AT THE INTERSECTION OF 1055 SUMP AND 1055 ACCESS WHEN A NOSE CORNER (RIB) FELL OUT, ALONG WITH SOME ROCK IN THE BACK. THE FALL DID NOT OCCUR ABOVE BELT ANCHORAGE, BUT NUMEROUS 7' SPLIT SET BOLTS DID PULL OUT OF A VERY SOFT GUAGE LAYER THAT THEY WERE ANCHORED IN AND WHICH WAS NOT VISIBLE UNTIL AFTER THE FALL. APPROXIMATELY 100 TONS OF ROCK FELL.

Struck by falling object

THE EE WAS BARRING DOWN SOME LOOSE ROCK ON A RIB UNDERGROUND. HE WAS WORKING ON A ROCK 4 FT. HIGH WHEN ANOTHER ROCK FELL ONTO HIS BAR, KNOCKING THE BAR OUT OF HIS HANDS AND ONTO HIS RIGHT FOO T. HIS FOOT WAS BRUISED ONLY, BUT WAS TOO PAINFUL TO WALK ON FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.

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

THE EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A Z6T HAUL TRUCK WHILE CLIMBING A 12% GRADE AND NEGOTIATING A LEFT-HAND RADIUS CURVE. THE EMPLOYEE STATED THAT HE LOOKED BEHIND BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE SAW A LIGHT. HE ALSO HAD HIS LEFT ARM OUTSIDE OF THE OPERATOR'S COMPARTMENT. THE TRUCK CRUSHED HIS LOWER ARM AGAINST THE RIB. HIS ARM WAS AMPUTATED AT THE HOSPITAL, BELOW HIS ELBOW.

No Value Found

TWO MECHANICS WERE CHANGING A BROKEN AXLE ON A LHD, REQUIRING ONE MECHANIC TO LAY UNDERNEATH THE LHD WITH AN IMPACT WRENCH WHILE THE OTHER MECHANIC USED A WRENCH ABOUT 2-3' ABOVE HIM. THE TOP WRENCH FELL AND HIT THE EE IN THE FOREHEAD,RESULTING IN 2 STITCHES TO CLOSE THE WOUND.

2003 · 7 incidents

Fall onto or against objects

THE EE WAS BARRING DOWN ON A MUCKPILE. A ROCK BEGAN TO SLIDE DOWN HIS SCALING BAR, SO HE DROPPED HIS BAR AND STEPPED BACK. AS HE DID SO HE TRIPPED ON A ROCK AND FELL BACKWARDS, STRIKING HIS FO REARM ON ANOTHER ROCK AS HE LANDED. RESULTING IN A CUT ON HIS FOREARM REQUIRING TWO SUTURES.

No Value Found

THE EMPLOYEE GOT OUT OF HIS WATER TRUCK TO LOAD WATER AT THE MINE FOR TRANSPORT TO THE TAILINGS POND. HE SLIPPED ON ICE COVERED BY FRESH SNOW. AS HE FELL, HIS RIGHT ARM GOT CAUGHT ON THE FUEL TANK POSSIBLY TEARING SOME ARM MUSCLES AND ROTOR CUFF IN HIS SHOULDER. AN MRI IS SCHEDULED FOR FINAL DIAGNOSIS. HE HAS NOT YET RETURNED TO WORK.

Accident type, without injuries

A FALL OF GROUND OCCURRED NEAR AN INTERSECTION ON THE 810 L. IT WAS ABOVE BOLT ANCHORAGE OF THE 7' SPLIT SETS AND MEASURED APPROXIMATELY 8' H X 15' W X 20' L. IT OCCURRED IN AN AREA THAT HAD A ""BELLY"" SHAPED BACK AND WHICH HAD BEEN MAKING WATER OFF AND ON. THERE WAS A MINER WORKING BEYOND THE CAVE-IN AND HE ESCAPED BY CRAWLING OVER THE MUCK PILE.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

THE EE WAS CHANGING A 13 HP PUMP IN A SUMP. HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL THE PUMP INTO A MANBASKET ON A FORKLIFT WHEN HE STRAINED A MUSCLE IN HIS LOWER BACK. HE VISITED A CHIROPRACTOR AND WAS PLA CED ON 3 DAYS OF RESTRICTED DUTY.

Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

EE WAS BUILDING A DEC TO STACK RODS ON. HE STEPPED UP ON THE DECK TO MAKE SURE IT WAS STURDY. THE BLOCK SLIPPED OUT AND EE FELL ON HIS KNEE CAUSING A BRUISE. NO OTHER DAMAGE.

Accident type, without injuries

AT ABOUT 8:45 AM A LHD OPERATOR NOTICED THE RIB WORKING IN 925 RAMP. HE RETREATED & GUARDED THE AREA & CALLED THE SHIFT FOREMAN. AT ABOUT 9:30AM A SECTION OF THE RIB 40'LONG X 15'HIGH X 8'WIDE CAVED BEYOND BOLT ANCHORAGE INTO THE DRIFT. THERE WAS A SLIP (FAULT CONTACT) RUNNING AT 45DEG. AWAY FROM THE SILL THAT HAD BEEN PENETRATED BY A DIAMOND DRILL STRING & SUBJECTED TO WATER.

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

THE EE IS AN ELECTRICIAN WHO WAS WORKING UNDERGROUND BETWEEN SHIFTS TO INSTALL A TRANSFORMER. IN DOING SO, THEY HAD TO SHUT DOWN MINE POWER, INCLUDING THE VENTILATION FANS. AFTERWARDS, THE EE EXPERIENCED LUNG IRRITATION & CONGESTION & WENT TO DOCTOR ON 6/17. ALTHOUGH EE DID NOT SMELL, TASTE OR SEE NO2 GAS OR BLASTING FUMES, DR DIAGNOSED NO2 EXPOSURE, PLACED HIM ON STEROIDS & RESTRI

2002 · 3 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

A FAULT INTERSECTION IN THE 2100 L CAVED ABOVE BOLT ANCHORAGE IN THE BACK. THE STRUCTURE WAS WEDGE-SHAPED AND CONSISTED OF ABOUT 50-75 TONS OF ROCK. 7 FT LONG SPLIT-SETS WERE USED, IN CONJUNCT ION WITH CHAIN LINK WIRE. ONE OR MORE SPLIT-SETS HAD RUSTED BADLY. THIS DRIFT WAS DEVELOPED IN EARLY 1995.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EE SLICKER PANTS WERE TORN AT THE BOTTOM. THE EE DECIDED TO CUT OFF A LOOSE PIECE SO WOULD NOT TRIP ON IT. USING A BOX CUTTER TYPE KNIFE, HE PROCEEDED TO DO SO AND SLICED THE HAND HOLDING THE PANT LEG. HE RECEIVED 3 SUTURES INT HE CUT, AND WAS RELEASED TO FULL DUTY THAT DAY.

Accident type, without injuries

SOMETIME BETWEEN 3/8 AND 3/11 A FALL OF GROUND ABOVE BOLT ANCHORAGE OCCURRED IN THE INTERSECTION AT THE ENTRANCE TO 2575 STOPE. IT MEASURES ~20' L X 10' W X 8' H. THE SUPPORT CONSISTED OF 7' S PLIT SETS & MATS IN COMBINATION WITH 17' L GROUTED REBAR BOLTS. THE REBAR BOLTS BROKE UNDER THE DEAD WEIGHT OF A WEDGE-SHAPED STRUCTURE THAT WAS NOT VISIBLE. THERE HAD BEEN NO MINING ACTIVITY

2001 · 8 incidents

Fall from machine

THE EE WAS ENTERING THE CAB OF AN UG HAUL TRUCK AT THE START OF SHIFT. HIS HAND SLIPPED OFF AN ICY HANDHOLD ON THE TRUCK WHEN HE HAD ONE FOOT IN THE CAB AND ONE FOOT IN MID-AIR. HE FELL BACK WARD ON THE GROUND AND BRUISED HIS RIBCAGE RESULTING IN 2 DAYS OF RESTRICTED DUTY.

Fall from machine

EE WAS INSTALLING PIPE FROM THE WORKDECK OF A SCISSORLIFT WHEN A STABILIZER JACK SANK INTO SOFT MUCK CAUSING SCISSORLIFT TO TIP OVER AGAINST THERIB AND THROW HIM ONTO THE GROUND FROM A HEIGHT OF 8'. HE DID NOT REPORT THE INCIDENT UNTIL HE WAS ASKED AND DID NOT VISIT THE DOCTOR UNTIL 2/1/02. HE RECEIVED A CORTISONE INJECTION INTO AN INJURED SHOULDER. WAS NOT A FAILURE OF EQUIPMENT.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

THE EMPLOYEE WAS CLEANING COMPONENTS OF THE UNDERGROUND BATCH PLANT (USED FOR MAKING CEMENTED ROCK) HE SAT ON SOME DRIED CEMENT FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND LATER DROVE A HAUL TRUCK, WHICH PROBABL Y RUBBED THE CEMENT INTO HIS BUTTOCKS. HE USED STERILE WATER TO WASH HIS BUTT UNDERGROUND, BUT DID NOT CHANGE HIS CLOTHES UNTIL THE END OF THE SHIFT. ON RESTRICTED WORK.

Accident type, without injuries

WHILE BACKFILLING 2535 SAD STOPE, A MINER HEARING ROCK FALL, THE SUPERVISOR RESPONDED AND SAW AND HEARD A FALL OF GROUND, THE EXTENT TO WHICH HE DID NOT INVESTIGATE. HE BARRICADED THE ENTRAN CE AND ON 10-22-01 WE INVESTIGATED AND OBSERVED A FALL OF GROUND AT OR ABOVE THE ANCHORAGE OF 7 FT SPLIT SETS IN THE BACK. ESTIMATED ABOUT 500 TONS, ABOUT 50 TONS FELL IN AN AREA BY PERSONNEL.

Struck against stationary object

THE MINER WAS HANGING VENT BAG WHILE WORKING ON THE DECK OF THE SCISSOR LIFT. HE STEPPED ON A PIECE OF #9 WIRE THAT WAS ON THE DECK. THE WIRE PIERCED THE SOLE OF HIS BOOT AND PUNCTURED HIS FOO T.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

THE EE LIFTED A 76 LB. WEIGHT BEING USED TO CALIBERATE SCALES AT AN UNDERGROUND BATCH PLANT WHEN HE FELT A PAIN IN HIS BACK. HE VISITED A CHIROPRACTOR AND RECEIVED CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT. HE W AS RELEASED TO FULL DUTY. HE DIDN'T SEE THE CHIROPRACTOR UNTIL JUNE 8, 2001.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EE WAS USING BOLT CUTTERS TO CUT A PIECE OF CHAIN FROM AN AWKWARD POSITION. HE BRACED ONE HANDLE OF THE BOLT CUTTERS AGAINST HIS CHEST AND PULLED THE OTHER HANDLE TOWARDS HIM. HE FELT A ""P OP"" IN HIS CHEST AREA. THE DR. DIAGNOSED A SOFT TISSUE INJURY IN HIS CHEST AREA AND PLACED HIM ON RESTRICTED DUTY WITH A FOLLOWUP APPT. ON 6-1-01.

Struck against a moving object

THE MINER WAS RIDING AS A PASSENGER IN A TRAMMER. AS THE TRAMMER MADE A TURN, A STEERING HOSE BLEW, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING AND THE TRAMMER STRUCK THE RIB. THE MINER HIT HIS HEAD ON THE COR NER POST OF THE CANOPY SUPPORT OF THE TRAMMER. HE REQUIRED 4 SUTURES TO CLOSE THE WOUND.