Blue Rapids Mine and Mill: 481 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

The equipment operators were helping with the continuous miner move in the last open cross-cut. The water and power cables that trail the miner were part of the move. The injured employee tripped and struck EE's rt. knee on the uneven ground. Soreness and swelling developed but EE managed to complete EE's shift. An exam occurred. No treatment or RX were required. 7 days off work.

A recent audiologist report on 12/26/24 revealed a STS in a employees left ear. The sound level of the Rock handling is at dBA 78.4 or below. Potential recordable hearing shift; evaluation ongoing.

Employee was shoveling material when they stepped on a loose rock. Employee went to doctor and received prescription medication. Employee returned to work with no restrictions.

Smoke was observed exiting the mine prior to the start of the shift. No miners were underground. The light smoke indicated that it might be coming from the battery charging station. This was accurate. One battery was smoldering. Power was de-energized and the smoke stopped. Under MSHA direction a rescue team eliminated the hazard with baking soda.

The EE was using a skid steer to carry materials through a curtain. The curtain was raised manually. As EE passed through the machine nicked the bottom of the curtain causing it to drop. The weighted PVC bar on the bottom of the curtain struck EE's safety glasses on the left side. The frame of the glasses caused a small laceration to EE's left eye lid. Five sutures were required.

A roof fall occurred on 10/22/2020 during the night time & no miners were in the mine at that time. This occurred at Panel #3 W at cross cut 38 F3 & 38 G3 in an area that had been mined. The area has been barricaded & a formal geotechnical engineering study of this area is bein conducted. It appears the fall occurred below the anchor zone of the 42" fgr bolts.

We had a roof fall in the Blue Rapids mine that was discovered this morning, 2/7/2018, during routine inspections. The exact time of fall is unknown but the area was observed yesterday afternoon too and the fall had not occurred then. No injuries occurred.

A roof fall occurred in the underground mine at location of 33 and 2v, the fall blocks passage thru this area. Operators were approximately 1300ft away from the area of the fall when it occurred. No miners were injured.

Employee notified supervisor that while stepping away from the continuous miner, stepped into a hole about 1-2 inches deep and jarred back resulting in restrictions of no bending or lifting.

During routine scoop operations the right front corner of the bucket caught the rib, suddenly stopping the scoop. Causing the operator to strike EE's head on the door resulting in a laceration of the scalp. After seeing EE's own blood EE felt woozy, laid down and fainted for 30 seconds. Operator returned to work with no medical treatment. no damage to the equipment or the mine.

During the task of bolting, the operator had to hold the head of the bolt to stabilize it while the bolt driver was being positioned. When the driver head contacted the bolt and was pushed into position the employee's left index finger became caught between the bolt head and the plate resulting in a laceration to the inside of the left index finger.

Employee fell to same level ground when he came in contact with elevated extension cord.

Employee fell to the same level ground when trailing cable from continuous miner came in contact with his feet/legs.

Employee reported that previously unreported shoulder discomfort that she was having for the past 8 months was work related. There was no event that EE could think of that resulted in the discomfort. Initial evaluation by the doctor on 7/14/14 confirmed work relatedneess dependant on MRI scheduled 7/24/14.

A scoop that was cleaning the slope after a beltline was removed lost traction on the slope and slid approx 10' to the apex at the bottom and came to a sudden stop. This caused the operator inside to hit his head on the window frame in the cab resulting in 6 sutures.

Annual audiogram testing indicated the employee suffered hearing loss in the past year that may be related to work noise

Mechanic was backing up a scooter and trailer when he ran over something that made his foot come off the side of the scooter. His foot then became pinned against a piece of equipment causing a puncture wound to the upper left ankle.

The roofman had finished drilling a hole to install a hanger and was attempting to install resin and the bolt when an approximately 75-100lb rock sprawled away form the rib and struck the roofman in the right shoulder.

Mechanic was replacing a broken block pin in a cutter block using a punch and 3 lb. hammer. Upon striking the punch with the hammer, a piece of pin that was being driven out broke away. This "zinger" struck the mechanic in the tooth and upper lip. A small corner was broken off the tooth.

While moving cutter from rib to rib the cutter blade is left "sumped in" and the body of the cutter is lifted off the ground and shifted to the other side. 3/4 of the way through the shift, the motor housing/outer cone attachment suffered a catastrophic failure dropping the machine approx. 8" to the ground causing the operator to bump his head.

Miner stepped off the man trip at the top of the mine slope, onto a mud clod, causing him to slip/lose his balance and drop to a "3 point stance". On 2-21-07, the miner reported soreness in his left wrist. X-rays were negative on 3-7-07. The doctor did not prescribe or restrict. On 5-1-07 a wrist brace and prescription anti-inflammatory were prescribed.

Two mine mechanics were attempting to replace 6 worn belts for our primary crusher. These belts drive the flywheel that power the jaw of our crusher. While attempting to place the 4th belt on, the injured miner had his hand caught between pulley and belt. He fractured his left middle finger. It was locked out.

Prying on a rim when the whole rim let loose. Pushed off on the largest piece falling at me with my roof bar. Twisted to the left, fell over a piece of fly rock behind me. Twisted my back. The roof bar was wrenched from my right hand, caught my thumb and twisted my wrist.

Employee noticed pain in his right hand from running the controls on our undercutters. He requested to see a doctor and was given a brace. We changed the controls to make them more ergonomic friendly. One week later he states he is fine. He asked to see a doctor on 2/7/06, went 2/14/06.

MINER WAS PREPARING TO SERVICE HIS UNDERCUTTER. HE REMOVED HIMSELF FROM HIS CAB AND WALKED ABOUT 5 STEPS BEHIND HIS CUTTER. HE STEPPED ON A ROCK, THIS CAUSED HIM TO LOSE HIS BALANCE. HE TRIED TO CATCH HIMSELF WITH HIS LEFT ARM. THE WEIGHT OF HIS BODY CAUSED A STRAIN ON HIS LEFT SHOULDER.

INJURED WAS OPERATING BOBCAT AND WHEN HE DISMOUNTED FROM THE MACHINE HE STEPPED ON A ROCK, TWISTING HIS RIGHT ANKLE.

INJURED WAS INTERUPTED BY ANOTHER PERSON, HE STEPPED FORWARD TO ASK WHAT DID HE SAY WHEN THE TAIL JACK WAS COMING DOWN HE AHD PUT HIS RIGHT FOOT UNDER THE JACK AT THAT POINT, THE STEEL TOED SH OES SAVEDHIS TOES FROM BEING CRUSHED, INJURED HAD SMALL FRACTURE TIP OF BIG TOE AND STITCHES.

INJURED WAS NOT WEARING SAFETY GLASSES WHEN SHALE FROM ROOF FELL AND SPLINTERED INTO INJURED'S LEFT EYE LEAVING TWO SMALL SCRATCHES.

TWO MECHANICS WERE ROLLING AN AXLE HOUSING TO BOLT UP TO A DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. THE INJURED PLACED HIS LEFT HAND ON THE FRONT SIDE OF AXLE HOUSING WHERE GEARS WERE EXPOSED. HIS SMALL FINGER A DN SECOND FINGER WERE CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO GEARS.

UNDERCUTTER OPERATOR & ROOFMAN WERE REMOVING LOOSE ROOF WITH A UNDERCUTTER. AFTER ALLOWING DUST TO SETTLE AFTER MAKING A CUT THEY APPROACHED THE AREA TO CHECK THEIR PROGRESS. A LOOSE PIECE OF SHALE 8' X 27" X 11" IRREGULARLY SHAPED FELL INBY THE BOLT LINE STRIKING THEM.

UNDERCUTTER OPERATOR AND ROOFMAN WERE REMOVING LOOSE ROOF WITH AN UNDERCUTTER. AFTER ALLOWING DUST TO SETTLE AFTER MAKING A CUT THEY APPROACHED THE AREA TO CHECK THEIR PROGREE. A LOOSE PIECE O F SHALE 8 FT X 27" X 11" IRREGULARLY SHAPED FELLINBY THE BOLT LINE STRIKING THEM.

THE HYDRAULIC PUMP ON AN UNDERCUTTER FAILED AND EMPLOYEE WAS REPLACING IT WITH THE OPERATORS HELP. PUMP IS HEAVY AND AWKWARD TO HANDLE. WHILE LIFTING PUMP EMPLOYEE OVER EXERTED.

EE WAS SHOVELING GYPSUM FINES FROM UNDER #2 MINEBELT HEADPIECE WHILE THE BELTLINE COULD BE SHUT OFF & LOCKED OUT WITHOUT AFFECTING THE NORMAL PRODUCTION OF THE MINE. IN PUSHING HIS SHOVE UNDER A SUPORT I BEAM, THE EE BENT IS KNEES TO GET LOWER AND INBRINGING OUT THE SHOVE LOAD OF FINES AND ATTEMPT TO LIFT THE SHOVEL & RAISE UP, HE FELTA SHARP PAIN IN HIS LOWER BACK

EMPLOYEE WAS PERFORMIGN MECHANICAL WORK UNDER A SCOOP BUCKET AND WHEN HE ROLLED OVER ONTO HIS BACK TO DO THE REQUIRED WORK HIS BACK WAS PINCHED BETWEEN HIS SELF RESCUER AND THE GROUND. AN AB SESS FORMED ON THE PINCHED AREA WHICH WAS EXAMINED BYT A DR AND AN ANTIBIOTIC PRESCRIBED TO RID THE BODY OF INFECTION.

EMPLOYEE ASSUMED THE HABIT OF TIPPING HIS HEAD IN A CERTAIN MANNER WHILE TRAINING ON THIS JOB, WHEN HE BEGAN TO WORK THE JOB ON A PERMANENT BASIS, THIS HABIT BEGAN TO CUASE A STRAIN ON THE NEC K MUSCLES CAUSING STIFFNESS AND SORENESS. THE EMPLOYEE VISITED A DOCTOR AND PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR THE NECK MUSCLES WAS PRESCRIBED.

TROUBLE SHOOTING ON SKIDSTEER LOADER TO DETERMINE WHY IT WOULD NOT START UP AND HAD NOT YET DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY GROUND. A WRENCH SHORTED ACROOS THE STARTER SOLENOID POSTS ROLLING THE ENGINE OVER AND CATCHING THE EMPLOYEES RIGHT HAND INDEX FINGER TIP BETWEEN THE V BELT AND PULLEY CAUSING THE FINGERNAIL TO BE TORN OFF AND BRUISING THE FINGERTIP.

BUMPED HIS HEAD ON SOME LOW ROOF ON 02-22-93 DECIDED TO VISIT CHIROPRACTOR FOR TREATMENT ON 03-01-93

EMPLOYEE WAS PLACING A ROCK ONTO A ROCK BELT LINE (CLEAN UP) AT BELT JUNCTION,ANOTHER ROCK SPUN AT THE JUNCTION FELL OFF BELT,HIT RIGHT ANKLE CAUSING A BRUISE.

DRIVING A ROLLER STUD SIDE RAIL FOR ROLLER REPLACEMENT. EE HIT HIS LEFT THUMB WITH HAMMER RESULTING IN PAIN CONTUSION.

LOW ROOF -SIDE CUTS IRREGULAR SURFACE DRIVING BLASTING SCOOTER THROUGH SIDE CUTS.

EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTING TO SUCURE A REPARIED BUGDUSTER AUGER TO FORKS OF MUSTANGE TO REPLACEMENT STORAGE AREA. THE ASSEMBLY SHIFTED FALLING APPROX. 28 INCHES TO FLOOR INJURING LITTLE TOE ON LEFT FOOT.

LACERATION TOP SIDE OF LEFT INDEX FINGER- REQUIRED SUTURES.

EMP CHECKING EWUIP SCOOP BEFOR OPER CHECK EMP FAILED TO PLACE RADIATOR GUARD IN LOCKED POSITION GUARD FELL BACK INTO PLACE INJ. R. FOREARM BRUISE LACERATION.

STRAIN RT SHOULDER - PULLING SCALING MINE ROOF. DOCTOR OBSERVATION 7-9-88 - 9-6-88 SURGERY REPAIR 9-6-88.

EMPL ASSISTING 1ULLLING 2 200' 3/4'' WIRE ROPE WITH HOOKUP TO SCOOTER VEHICLE.EMPL ATTEMPTED TO HOLD CLEVIS HOOKUP SO IT WOULDNT SWIVEL.PINCH POINT.

LIFTING THROWIN1 LOADER TRAILING CABLE ALONG THE RIB.

EMPLOYEE PLACING ROOF BOLT WITH BOLTING MACHINE. BOLT LODGED IN ROOF CAUSING BOLT WRENCH TO SPRING OUT UNDER PRESSURE, STRIKING EMPLOYEE IN THE FACE.

EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTING TO SCALE SHALE FROM ROOF A PIECE OF SHALE DISLODGED AT A UNEXPECTED SPOT CAUSING PRY BAR OR LOOSE SHALE TO STRIKE RT LEG CAUSING FRACTURE

EMPL MOUNTING DRILL-STEPPED TO PLATFORM OF MACHINE BUMPED HEAD ON LOW ROOF.

MINE MECHANIC - HAND TOOLS NOT POWERED - USE OF HAMMER AND PUNCH TO EXTRACT 5/8" BOLT FROM MOTOR MOUNT FRAME GLANCING BLOW OF HAMMER STRUCK L. INDEX FINGER

ATTEMPTING TO MOVE PIECE OF GYPSUM ROCK FROM IMMEDIATE WORK AREA.

ASSISTING-PLACEMENT OF AXLE SHAFT ONTO LOADER HAND SLIPPED OFF SHAFT STRIKING CASE FRAME.

EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTING TO PLUG HOLE IN THE INSULATION OF ROCK CHUTE. SMALL PIECE OF WIRE IN THE INSULATION LACERATED TIP OF INDEX FINGER RT HAND.

EMP ASSISTING ROOFMAN SCALE & PRY DOWN ROOF, IN PROCESS OF PRYING A SECTION OF ROOF CAME DOWN EMPLOYEE WAS NOT CLEAR OF FALL AREA IN THE ATTEMPT TO MOVE FROM FALL EMPLOYEES RIGHT FOOT WAS LODG ED BETWEEN ROCK EMP RECEIVED MULTI BRUISES & LACERATIONS ON KNUCKLE INDEX FINGER RT HAND TWO DAYS LATER X-RAY FRACTURE RT FOOT

EMP OVERREACTED TO FREE WHEEL OF MAN CAR EMP DISMOUNTED CAR SLIPPED ON SLOPE FRACTURED BONE IN LEFT HAND