Schoolhouse Quartz Plant: 1 recorded fatality Metal/Non-Metal

Contractor employee traveled on UTV to load the drill core on service truck. On the travel back to drill, the UTV began sliding out of control, becoming sideways, catching the edge of the road and tipping the UTV on the side causing the contractor to hit abdomen area on roll cage bar.

Maintenance employee was replacing bull gear on rod mill. While transferring the old gear from the rod mill to the designated location, one of the dollies that was holding up one of the two chain hoists being used came off of beam causing the gear to slightly shift positions and come in contact with employees right leg.

Employee was adjusting the water on a cyclone to put more water in the sump. When employee was stepping away from the sump employee's right foot slipped causing employee to lose footing and fall on left side and strike left elbow off of the floor. Employee was experiencing some pain and swelling and was taken to local hospital for treatment.

While changing out an HF acid pump, a maintenance employee received a chemical burn on right thumb, caused by a pinhole leak. The employee was administered first aid at the facility when normal specialized HF first aid treatment did not relieve pain, the employee was then transported to the local hospital.

No conditions at the mine-site caused this accident to occur. Every effort was made by the mine owner to assist contractor guard operator, on the guard's physical ailments, until local ambulance and EMT officials arrived outside gate.

On Saturday, November 12th 2016, EE was replacing a motor at approximately 8:30 am. The motor and the iron created a pinch point and caught EE's gloved pinky finger between the two. EE reported the injury to supervisor, and they immediately were seen at the clinic at Spruce Pine. EE was examined and given stitches.

While working on a pump in the maintenance shop, the EE had his hand placed on top of the pump, lining up the chuck in the shaft. Another employee had a pry bar lifting on the opening of the shaft, when the bar slipped, striking the injured employee's hand, breaking the metacarpal bone in his right hand.

Suspected pneumoconiosis with median consensus ILO reading of 1/2. Operator suspects prior occupational & smoking contributed to ILO reading. Case reported during March 2014 has been denied by numerous medical professionals. Instead of pneumoconiosis per result of CT/Scan, "lungs are Hyper inflated. No nodules are seen. No suspicious densities are present". Remove illness.

The employee was using a table saw to cut pieces of PVC blocks. With the saw running, he reached under it, and his right middle finger was struck by the rotating blade. He sustained a laceration and damaged distal phalanx bone. Prior to the task the supervisor had a meeting with the three employees that were assigned to do the task about the safety issues with the job.

EE was coming down expanded metal steps in the screen house. His right heel got hung in the step grating. He fell forward and put his weight on his left foot. He suffered a fractured heel.

EE was using a wire brush attached to a power drill to clean teeter pipes. His left glove became entangled in the chuck attachment while operating the tool and twisted his thumb. The thumb was bruised and suffered some ligament damage.

Injured EE and another EE were at the dump site, disposing of waste sand. EE lifted a 55 gal drum that was near empty, by its' bottom, to dump it. The fiber drum has metal reinforcement bands on top and bottom. The band edge extended out far enough to cut 3 of EE's fingers when he lifted it.

Operator was working with contractor to dispose of flotation reagents stored in 55 gal. drums. He was using a fork lift to move drums. Operator is allergic to the reagent in some of the drums. He reported itching and swelling in both hands and wrists. He was wearing gloves, hard hat safety glasses, safety shoes, and a jacket.

Employee stepped beyond berm to edge of bench in mine. Edge broke away and he fell 18ft with falling material. A rock struck his right shoulder. He walked to his truck, drove to mine shop and was taken to Dr office for exam. Xrays were negative. Ice and light exercises were recommended. Followup appt. 7/9/09.

Employee and co-worker were lowering material removal screw closer to take. Shim and bolts are removed to lower screw. When removing shims, gearbox fell striking and cut employee's right hand.

Employee was cutting a tree and it got lodged. In an attempt to get the tree on down, it broke loose striking the employee on the right shoulder causing a fracture.

Employee was exiting over-the-road trailer with pallets of sand when trailer floor broke through causing forklift to tilt to the left. He apparently cut fingers as the forklift was tilting and going down.

EE had went to eat and after he finished he felt discomfort to his right eye. First aid of flushing with water did not help. EE went to doctor on Monday and had a metal sliver removed.

Installing a weather seal on exhaust fan, after completing job, employee went back to retrieve a hammer and placed his fingers into the fan frame resulting in the injury.

AFTER COMPLETING JOB OF ARRANGING SOME LIGHT FIXTURES, EE JUMPED UP TO TRY & TOUCH CEILING CAUSING A SPRAIN/STRAIN TO HIS RIGHT ANKLE.

EE WAS PREPARING A PALLET OF SAMPLES TO BE SHIPPED. CUT RING & LITTLE FINGER ON LT. HAND.

INJURED AND COWORKER WAS CARRYING A GEAR BOX MOUNTED ON A SHIPPING PALLET. STARTED UPSTAIRS AND WAS ADJUSTING THEIR HOLD ON PALLET WHEN IT SHIFTED AND THE CORNER OF THE PALLET STRUCK EE IN THE GROIN AREA JUST BELOW THE BELT LINE. EE IS SCHEDULED TO HAVE OUTPATIENT SURGERY ON 9-17.

INJURED ALONG WITH TWO COWORKERS WERE UPRIGHTING A 500# DRUM. AS DRUM WAS BEING PLACED ON A PALLET EE MASHED AND CUT HIS RIGHT RING FINGER.

EE USING PRYBAR TO DISLODGE OBSTRUCTION IN CHUTE. WHEN RAISING THE PRYBAR OVER HIS HEAD, THE BAR STRUCK THE GLOBE ON THE LIGHT FIXTURE. THE LIGHT FIXTURE BROKE IN TO SEVERAL PIECES. THE GLASS STRUCK HIS FACE AND HAND CAUSING ONE CUT TO THE FACE AND TWO CUTS ON HIS HAND.

EE ENTERED BUILDING TO INVESTIGATE REPORTED PROBLEM WITH ACID WEIGHT SCALE. THE ACID HAD OVER FLOWED THE TANK CREATING A CLOUD OF ACID FUMES. EMPLOYEE INHALED SOME OF THE ACID FUMES.

EE WAS MOVING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANTOHER AND HOOKED HIS SAFETY BELT HOOK TO THE WALL FORM. HE DIDN'T GET HIS HOOK IN THE RIGHT POSITION AND IT CAME OFF AND HE FELL OFF THE SIDE OF THE WALL AND LANDED ON HIS FEET AND BROKE HIS ANKLE.

EE WAS CLEARING A DRILL SITE. HE WAS USING THE EXCAVATOR TO MOVE A DOWN TREE ON A STEEP BANK ABOVE. THE FAR END OF THE TREE BECAME LOGED CAUSING THE ROOT BALL TO HIT THE EXCAVATOR CAB.

EE WAS REPLACING METAL BANDING ON PRODUCT DRUMS THAT HE SHIFTED DURING SHIPPING. AFTER CUTTING A BAND HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL IT FROM UNDER THE SKID IS WAS STUCK AND HE CUT HIS HAND ON THE SHARP BAND CLAMP.

EE WAS MOVING A SPRING STEEL WOUND PUMP DISCHARGE HOSE, WHEN HE RELEASED IT, IT SHIFTED. A SHARPWIRE STICKING OUT OF THE HOSE CUT THE PALM OF HIS LEFT HAND.

EE WAS DOING RECLAIM WORK WITH A D-8 CAT ON A RIDGE. WITNESS LOCATED A 14" HOLE. EE STOPPED D-8 , GOT OFF AND WAS WALKING OVER TO HELP INVESTIGATE. GROUND GAVE WAY AND HE FELL INTO ANOTHER HOL E THAT WAS COVERED. EE BROKE HIS LEFT SHOULDER. THERE ARE NO RECORDS OF UNDERGROUND WORKINGS IN THIS AREA.

EE WAS CUTTING WRAPPER OFF OF A ROLL OF DUCT TAPE. THE KNIFE SLIPPED & CUT HIS FINGER.

EE WAS LOADING LOOSE MILL RODS BY HAND ONTO A FORTRUCK FOR TRANSPORT. HELPER MOVED A ROD BEFORE EE WAS READY. THE LOAD SHIFTED & A ROD ROLLED ONTO EE'S FINGER AND PINCHED IT.

EMPLOYEE WAS CHECKING CONDITIONER FOR ACID FLOW.HE DID NOT CLEARLY HEAR ON THE RADIO THE THE PUMP WAS BEING STARTED. THE END OF THE NEW ACID SUPPLY TUBE WAS NOT SECURE. WHEN THE PUMP STARTED T HE END OF THE LINE JERKED & SPRAYED ACID ON EMPLOYEE.

EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING ON AN ACID PUMP. ACID RAN DOWN THE ARM OF HIS ACID SUIT AND FOUND ENTRY TRHOUGH A POORLY SEALED GLOVE TO SLEEVE JOINT.

THE CAP THREADS ON THE OXYGEN BOTTLE WERE WORN TO THE POINT THAT THE CAP COULD NOT BE HELD FIRMLY IN PLACE.

FLOATING PLATFORM INTO POSITION. LEGS OF PLATFORM SLIPPED OFF BEAM CAUSING HEAVY END TO LAND ON LEFT FOOT, BREAKING TWO BONES IN TOP OF FOOT.

TAKING A FULL BAG (50LB) OF MICA OFF OF BAGGER & TURNED TO PUT IT ON A PALLET & HURT HIS BACK

TWO EMPS WERE OPERATING AIR TRACK DRILL RIG AT SCHOOLHOUSE MINE. EMPL REACHED DOWN & PICKED UP 2"X10 PIECE OF DRILL STEEL WHEN HE FLT POP IN BACK. HE WORKED OUT PAIN & WORKED REST OF DAY WITH NO DISCOMFORT.

EE WAS BOLTING AIR PIPES TOGETHER THAT ARE COVERED WITH INSULATION NON ASBESTOS. HE BUMPED THE PIPES CAUSING THE INSULATION TO FALL. THIS STRUCK HIM AROUND HIS SAFETY GLASSES AND CASCADED AROU ND THEM INTO HIS EYE.

EMPLOYEE STATED THAT WHAT HE DID WAS A STUPID THINK AND WAS NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT HE WAS DOING. THE FLESH WAS TORN LOOSE FROM THE LEFT INDEX FINGER.

EMPLOYEE WAS USING A SCREWDRIVER TO PRY ON A SCREEN. THE SCREWDRIVER SLIPPED CAUSING THE EMPLOYEE TO CUT HIS RING AND MIDDLE FINGER ON A PIECE OF STAINLESS STEEL. WITH THE AMOUNT OF PRYING T O BREAK LOOSE THE SCREEN, THE BIG SCREWDRIVER WAS SUFFICIENT.

EMPL WAS ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE CONDUIT COMPRESSED AIR WAS BLOSING MICA THROUGH HOLE IN RISER PIPE MICA BLEW INTO LEFT EYE.

EMPLOYEE BACKING 75C CLARK LOADER FROM THE QUARTZ BIN. HE WAS LOOKING BACK OVER HIS SHOULDER, WARING SEAT BELT, WHEN THE RIGHT BACK TIRE SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN CAUSING HIM TO " JERK HIS BODY" CAUSING INJURY TO HIS BACK.

SULFURIC ACID LINE STARTED LEAKING AS EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING UNDER LINE. A DROP OF ACID HIT EMPOYEE IN THE LEFT EYE. EMPLOYEE WAS WEARING SAFETY GLASSES AND IMMEDICATELY WASHED EYES WITH WATER.

EMPLOYEE HEATING FEED PIPE WITH PIECE OF STEEL LOSS FOOTING STRIKING RIGHT LITTLE FINGER.

I NAME REMOVING3AN OLD GEAR GUARD OFF OF A CATWALK.THEY WAS STOPPES AT THE END OF CATWALK TO MOVE A BARREL THAT BLOCKES THEIR PATH.THE GUARD WHICH HAD BEEN LEARNED UP AGAINST THE HANDRAIL FELL AND PINNES I NA4E FINGER AGAINST A PIECE OF RIBSCONDUIT.

OPERATOR WAS FU9LING HIS FRONT END LOADER. AS HE WALKED AROUND THE FRONT OF THE MACHINE HE SLIPPED ON A PATCH OF ICE AND FELL AGAINST THE BUCKET LIP. THE EDGE OF THE BUCKET HIS FOREARM.

EMP STATED HE REMOVED A STONE FROM HOPPER ABOUT 1 30 PM 5 19 84 HIS BACK STARTED HURTING SOMETIME LATER ON IN THE NIGHT HE STATED HE DID NOT FEEL ANY PAIN AT THE TIME HE REMOVED THE STONE FR FROM THE HOPPER HE CAME IN HARRIS MINING OFFICE 5 21 AND STATED HE HAD BEEN TO THE DR AND THE DR TOLD HIM HE HAD A BACK STRAIN

EMPLOYEE CLIMBED UPON A MICA TANK TO STOP A LEAK WHEN CLIMBING DOWN STRUCK A PIECE OF STEEL ON TANK BRUISING LOWER MIDDLE SECTION OF BACK