Imerys Ellijay Marble Hill Mine: 1 recorded fatality Metal/Non-Metal

EE was loading 50lb. prell bags from a tractor trailer onto the powder truck in preparation for loading headings. When he lifted one of the bags he stated that he felt pain in his lower back. EE was diagnosed with a strained back and did not work March 25, 26, & 27.

Employee was working with the plant mechanic and was repairing a conveyor belt at the crusher. The employee was making a straight cut of the 30 inch belt when the razor knife slipped and cut his leg slightly above the left knee. Later that evening, the employee, called the supervisor and said that he wanted to go to the ER because of the pain in his leg. He received two stitches.

Employee breathed in smoke while evacuating the mine during a fire on a haul truck. He was sent to the hospital for evaluation as a precaution. He was released to light duty one day then released back to full duty. EE operating haul truck, heard pop, stopped truck and opened door and saw flames out the door. Accident is still under investigation to determine cause of the fire.

Employee had removed a plate from the chip chute and was clearing the build-up from the chute when his jacket became entangled in a rotating shaft. He did NOT get pulled into the shaft. His injury was caused from the tearing of the jacket.

Injured Employee was part of a scaling crew. He was pointing out a loose rock on the opposite rib when a rock fell from the roof striking him on the left shoulder. Injuries are fractured left clavicle and 3 compressed lumbar vetibrae.Employee should have not been standing in the immediate area of the scaling.

Employee was scaling in Level 9 North 7 when a large rock fell from the roof and landed on the boom of the Getman Scaler. His right arm hit the side of the machine. He was taken to the ER and x-rays were taken. He was released back to work with no restrictions. Report was bruised forearm.

Employee was using a frontend loader to clean up an area on level 8, when he parked his loader to get out and look the area over he stepped on a rock on turned his ankle. Agrivating an old injury. He did not miss time until 10/20/2004. On the 20th he called and said he would not be able to work due to his injury. He has an appointment 10/29/2004 with a doctor.

EE HAD CLOCKED OUT AT 1600 AT THE END OF HIS SHIFT. HE WAS LEAVING THE PROPERTY WHEN HE RAN INTO AN OPENED GATE. THE GATE WAS CHAINED IN THE OPEN POSITION AT THE EDGE OF THE ROAD. THE END OF T HE GATE BEING ON THE EDGE OF THE ROAD AND THE RATE OF SPEED PLUS THE DISTRACTION OF PASSING THE OVER THE ROAD ROCK TRUCK WERE THE CONTRIBUTING CONDITIONS. THE GATE WAS CHAINED IN THE OPEN POS

MINER WAS HAULING MUCK FROM THE MINE TO THE SURFACE. STEERING CYLINDER SUPPORT BROKE & BUSTED THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING & RIPPED OUT THE BRAKE LINES. THE EQUIPMENT ROLLED BACKWARDS ABOUT 60-75' STRIKING THE WALL. THE SUDDEN STOP GAVE THE EE WHIPLASH. DOCTORS RELEASED HIM TO FULL DUTY. HOWEVER HE STATES HE IS HAVING HEADACHES & CANNOT RETURN TO WORK.

WHILE SETTING UP THE POWDER WAGON, OTHER INADVERTENTLY LOWERED THE RIGHT SIDE OUTRIGGER DOWN ON EE'S RIGHT FOOT. HE RECEIVED A FRACTURED FOOT AND AN OPEN LACERATION TO THE TOP OF HIS FOOT.

DRILLER WAS ATTEMPTING TO PLUG A 2" DRILL HOLE WHICH HAD EVIDENTLY BEEN DRILLED INTO A CAVITY AND WAS SPRAYING WATER. AFTER SEVERAL UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPTS TO PLUG THE 2" HOLE, IT WAS DECIDED TO REMOVE THE DRILL AND SET UP A PUMP WHICH WOULD ALLOW TIME TO PROPERLY PLUG THE HOLE. THE WATER WAS ONLY COMING OUT OF THE 2" HOLE THE LAST TIME ANYONE SAW THE FACE. HOWEVER SEVERAL HOURS LATE

A ROCK WEIGHING APPRXO 30 LBS FELL FROM ABOUT 50' FROM THE ROOF HITTING ON WINDSHIELD AND EDGE OF THE CAB. THE ROCK PENETRATED THE WINDSHIELD STRIKING THE VICTIM ON BOTH HANDS. THE VICTIM RE CEIVED A LACERATION TO THE LEFT HAND REQUIRING 2 STITCHES AND CHIPPING THE BONE IN THE MIDDLE FINGER ALSO REQUIRING THREE STTICHES.

EMPLOYEE CUT LEFT INDEX FINGER & HAND WHILE CUTTING PACKAGING BOX OPEN WITH POCKET KNIFE KNIFE SLIPPED & CUT HAND

EMPLOYEE OPENED STORAGE TRAILER LATCH, THE DOOR HAD PRESSURE ON IT FROM LOAD SHIFT AND THE LATCH SPRUNG OUTWARD STRIKING EMPLOYEE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FOREHEAD.

EMPLOYEE WAS LOADING TRUCKS WITH 988 CAT LOADER. SAID HE HAD SHARP PAIN IN HIS BACK AND PAIN GOT WORSE. EMPLOYEE HAD TO GO HOME AND I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH DOCTOR FOR HIM. EMPLOYEE WAS DOING NO PHYSICAL LIFTING. EMPLOYEE PREVIOUSLY HAD SAME PROBLEM ON 7-29-91.

EMPLOYEE WAS LOADING TRUCKS WITH CAT LOADER, BEGAN COMPLAINING OF BACK HURTING. WAS NOT LIFTING ANYTHING HEAVY OR DOING ANY MANUAL LABOR. OPERATION OF LOADER WAS ON SMOOTH, LEVEL GROUND.

VICTIM WAS SCALING DOWN THE BACK WHEN A ROCK TRAVELED DOWN THE SCALING POLE STRIKING THE VICTIM ON THE ARM. THUS REQUIRING 4 SUTURES IN THE LEFT ARM.

LOADING TOP ROW ROCK FELL ON BUCKET LANDED ON R FOOT, CRUSHING LITTLE TOE AND LACER IT WAS REMOVED BY SURGEON AT MED CENTER