Mining Incidents

Buckhorn MineMetal/Nonmetal

Controlled by Kinross Gold Corp
Chesaw, Okanogan County, WA · Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 4503615
Fatalities
1
Total incidents
31
Years on record
2007–2018
Latest incident
Mar 2018

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
Struck against a moving object

Truck driver was hauling gold ore to the plant. While descending the roadway from the mine, the victim lost control of truck. Went up embankment & over an appox drop 20' drop landing back in the roadway. The victim was transported to the hospital & died of injuries several days later.

Reportable incidents

30 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2018 · 1 incident

Fall to the walkway or working surface

After significant snowfall the previous day and cold temperatures, the employee tripped and landed on right hip / lower back. EE was carrying two 15 lb. hoses in each hand. The area where the incident occurred had been plowed and was icy. No immediate care was received but on 3/12/2018, EE was seen by a doctor after continued chronic pain. Physical therapy was prescribed.

2017 · 3 incidents

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Occupational Illness diagnosed as being caused by prolonged noise exposure.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Repetitive Motion.

Accident type, without injuries

At approximately 2:25 PM Superintendent received notice from the lead man that our bolter operator wanted us to come look at 5265-L6 because the back was starting to fall out where the last round had been taken. Upon arrival to the 5265-L6 the bolter (1621 Pluton) had been withdrawn from the heading and the back had fallen out to the intersection of 5265-L-S1.

2016 · 3 incidents

Fall from machine

Slipped off of step and twisted right knee.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Unknown, Occupational Illness Carpel Tunnel.

Struck against stationary object

While backing a haul truck into sample stockpile, operator ran over a large rock. This action resulted in truck bouncing and operator striking back of head on the AC post, which caused a laceration needing 13 staples.

2015 · 4 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee received a laceration to his head when he exited a Club Car ® that is used for transportation underground and fell to the ground, striking his head.

Struck against a moving object

While tramming mucker employee struck rib with lip of muck bucket causing mucker to come to a sudden stop.

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Miner was conducting routine work activities when a tractor fire broke out underground. Miner was in a fresh air section of the heading. He self evacuated himself from the area. Was evaluated for possible smoke inhalation at a hospital as a precaution. Blood work was taken, no treatment given. Blood results were available two days later and showed no smoke inhalation.

Accident type, without injuries

John Deere tractor was parked and engine turned off. Shortly after being parked, the tractor was seen as being on fire. Fire emanating from engine compartment.

2014 · 3 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was removing screws from a light housing on a piece of mobile equipment. He was removing the second screw, and because it was not backing out, he applied more pressure when the screw driver slipped from the screw and his hand made contact with the lens/housing causing a small cut.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Occupational illness diagnosed as being caused by prolonged noise exposure.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Occupational illness diagnosed as being caused by prolonged noise exposure.

2013 · 2 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A miner was in process of installing bolts in heading. He cut the metal band from a bundle of split sets and when the band released the tension, it swung back and caused a laceration to the miners left forearm, resulting in 4 stitches.

Struck against stationary object

A miner was installing resin bolts in active heading, when he went to set the bolt on the rail of bolter, he hit his finger on the bolt plate and when he reacted, he pulled his hand back causing a laceration to right index finger, requiring stitches.

2012 · 2 incidents

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

A miner and a mechanic were changing a rear tire on a tractor. They removed the flat tire. The jack would not go high enough to install the full tire. They jacked the tractor back up from under the man basket. When the mechanic tried to position the new tire, the tractor slipped off of the jack and the mechanic's left thumb was smashed between the fender and the tire.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

An underground miner exited the scissor lift. While walking across the drift, he stepped on a 4 to 6 inch pile of dirt the grader had left behind. The small pile of dirt gave away resulting in miner twisting his right ankle.

2011 · 4 incidents

Fall onto or against objects

A miner noticed a hydraulic fitting on the jumbo boom leaking. He grounded both booms and climbed on a front cover to tighten the fitting. The cover slid off when he stood on it, causing the miner to fall on his back on the cover. This resulted in a hairline fracture to the right shoulder blade. Miner is on restricted duty.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A truck driver stepped out of his haul truck to take a sample at the scale. When stepping to the ground he twisted his right ankle spraining it and causing a hairline fracture to ankle bone.

Struck by falling object

A miner was installing dwyidags with Maclean bolter. He had his hand on the handrail when a small rock fell hitting the top of his right hand causing a small cut which required 2 stitches. Returned full duty that shift

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A mechanic suffered a cut to the hand requiring 13 stitches while installing carriage bolts on a bucket of a 966 loader. He was holding the nut with his left hand while holding the impact wrench in his right hand. Once the wrench was activated, the nut spun freely slicing his Mechanix glove and cutting the employee's palm. The mechanic received a full duty release for work

2010 · 2 incidents

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

Miner was lifting a metal lid on a dynominer machine when he lost control of the lid and it dropped on his finger smashing it between the lid and the machine frame. The injury was diag. and treated with notification on 11/16/10 at which time it became a medical reportable injury.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A truck driver was walking into the East Ramp (access 1) from the main haulage. He saw an LHD unit coming out of a heading toward him. The driver then turned to walk back to his truck. When he turned his body, his left foot was firmly planted on the ground and he felt popping in his ankle. By turning quickly his left ankle and fibula broke.

2009 · 2 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

An employee turned off the main underground fan in order to apply shotcrete near the fan. Underground mobile equipment still operating caused elevated levels of NO2. The miners were brought out of the mine, the main fan restarted, the mine reventilated, and gas tests completed in all work areas before returning miners to work.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Miner exiting haul truck from cab and while stepping down with two points of contact, rolled his right ankle causing a small fracture.

2008 · 2 incidents

Fall from machine

Miner in powder truck basket loading face round, stepped backwards and fell thru the basket gate that was not latched. Miner was not tied off with fall protection.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Miner was breaking the bands on a bundle of split set bolts and when the band broke it snapped back and hit him in the forearm just below the elbow. The band put a cut about 4"" long in his arm and it required 6 stitches.

2007 · 2 incidents

Struck by rolling or sliding object

Employee was removing chock block from water truck when rock rolled off highwall & struck left leg. Failure to warn, improper placement and inadqequate warning system, no signs posted for work being performed above highwall.

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

A 950B Cat Loader moving from the upper portal to the lower portal lost it's brakes on grade and struck a parked pickup truck. The pickup truck was pushed over a miner causing injuries to her left arm and left leg. Please see attached report for details.