Silica Services Mining, LLC: 219 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Employee was removing a motor and agitator from flocculant machine, when lifting it out it started to slip forward and employee tried to catch it, upon doing so the guard caught the palm of EE's hand cutting it, requiring 5 stiches. Employee was not wearing gloves.

Employee was installing a door on an elevated building, they used a dead blow hammer to help knock door frame in place, when they hit the door frame the door bounced back and upon trying to catch the door they fell backwards and sprained right ankle when catching.

Employee was utilizing a shovel to clean around plant when they strained their back.

After completion of maintenance work on an elevated area, the employee was lowering a tool bucket down with a rope, the tail end of the rope became entangled in a shaft pulling the rope tight and cutting employees right ring finger.

Employee was walking over scrap metal in laydown when EE lost footing and when EE landed on right foot EE felt a pain in the bottom of foot.

Employee was cleaning around plant when they slipped on ice and pulled a leg muscle.

Employee was exiting a semi truck at end of shift with lunch bag in one hand and paperwork in the other while stepping down, EE felt a sharp pain in left knee upon slipping on the bottom step resulting in falling to the ground landing on left foot then the right. EE has an injury to left knee.

While cutting a storage sand bag downwards with a pocket knife in right hand, EE was holding bag and stretching with left hand. The knife became stuck and upon applying more pressure to cut, it became free and struck the left thumb cutting the tip and requiring stitches.

Employee was cutting a plastic bag with a knife, upon cutting downward EE knelt down to finish the cut. When EE stood back up, EE felt a pop in the right knee.

Employee was stepping out of a building onto a ramp and twisted right ankle resulting in a sprain.

A driver was unloading a trailer onto a portable conveyor belt, upon doing so slipped and fell onto conveyor while opening gate. EE's right foot became wedged between conveyor and frame, fracturing EE's right ankle.

Employee was climbing down (backwards) a step ladder attached to a machine. When stepping on the bottom rung, EE's left foot slipped forward and EE fell backwards landing on EE's rear end. Employee did not utilize 3-points of contact.

Employee was picking up a 2"x4" board when EE felt a pop in EE's lower back. Resulting in a muscle strain.

Employee was shoveling sand while standing in an awkward position when EE felt a pain under EE's right shoulder. Resulting in a Muscle strain.

EE was operating a stand behind skid steer and it became stuck in the mud. When backing it out, the skid steer bounced on the tracks and EE fell off landing on their feet and the standing plate of the skid steer landed on top of EE's left foot.

EE was walking to dewatering plant and stepped on rock resulting in a left sprained ankle.

EE was was performing a vehicle inspection under vehicle, troubleshooting wires when a gust of wind came and blew sand under the vehicle. As a result sand got into left eye. Overnight irritation got worse and the next day they sought medical attention. The doctor prescribed an eye drop to help with irritation.

While walking a belt line checking on the conveyors Employee stepped between two blocks of ice and twisted left inside ankle.

While operating a skid steer, EE was cleaning the floor of the truck scale when the bucket came into contact with a metal bar causing a sudden stop. Resulting in a soft tissue contusion to EE's chest.

EE was operating front end loader, EE stopped and was exiting loader on left side. Upon stepping off bottom rung of ladder, EE stepped on a frozen tire rut with EE's right foot and EE's ankle folded over spraining / tearing ligaments in right ankle.

EE had returned to work from an injury of a sprained right knee. While working near pump EE's right foot became stuck in the mud and when EE turned, it twisted and sprained the same right knee. Upon return to work EE resigned 01/04/2022.

EE was looking up at plant while walking and stepped in a water hole spraining the right knee.

While repairing a dryer bearing, the maintenance person used a blow torch to cut a metal sleeve, followed by using a steel hammer to loosen and remove the sleeve. The heated and cooling metal shattered, causing small metal pieces to become airborne and embed the employee's left bicep. One stitch/suture applied after metal piece removal. No restrictions.

While repairing a dryer bearing, the maintenance person used a blow torch to cut a metal sleeve, followed by using a steel hammer to loosen and remove the sleeve. The heated and cooling metal shattered, causing small metal pieces to become airborne and embed the employee's left bicep.

While preparing to enter a cab driver's side, an employee fell back off the top step (31 inches from the ground) and landed on the ground. The employee may have hit the bottom step of another vehicle parked less than 5 feet away. The employee was diagnosed with a dislocated left shoulder and possible fractured left wrist.

Peterbilt truck and trailer operator was removing tow cable used to pull truck out of sand by loader. Employee placed cable on the loader stepladder and released their hold on the cable with the right hand. The cable straightened and snapped back, hitting their left thumb. Initial symptoms were bruising and swelling.

Employee grabbed onto edge of belt cover (sheet metal) to pull self up for inspection. Sharp edge of metal cut into employee's multiple right fingers. Most of the cuts were superficial, but one cut resulted in exposed tissue. The employee failed to use gloves and a nearby ladder.

While removing wheel chocks from a vehicle, the employee slipped in a sandy area and threw the wheel chocks. EE felt a slight pull in the lower back but did not feel pain and tightness until near the end of the shift. Injury reported @ 4:45pm; shift ended at 5pm.

During a snowstorm, employee was outside and stepping down from a sidewalk/cement walkway onto a cement pad covered in snow. The employee slipped on ice under the snow and fell back, which resulted in a muscle strain in the left bicep. The employee is unsure if their bicep impacted the walkway they stepped off of.

In the process of cutting a steel pipe with a cutting torch, the metal popped out at the end of the cut, which caused the employee to sustain laceration in the left thumb.

An employee was using a loader to do some cleanups, while going into the pile for a bucket, employee went into a dip on the road and the Operator was jolted around in employee's seat and which caused a muscle strain in employee's upper leg.

Mechanic pulled over to check fuel in the generator, while exiting from the fuel truck mechanic stepped on a broken step and sprained right ankle.

Employee slipped and fell on the driver's side excavator track while cleaning the windshield. While falling, they grabbed onto the grab bar and hit the right lower back on the excavator track. Injury consists of overextension of lower right back muscle, resulting from holding onto grab bar while falling and/or impact with track.

Employee was shoveling sand under a waste belt and caught employee's right pinky finger between the shovel handle and an angle iron (angled metal support) on the belt.

While preparing to dispense hydraulic oil, the employee started the air compressor and was sprayed in the face with hydraulic oil, due to the handle left in the locked/on position and the nozzle left open. Employee was wearing safety glasses, but the hydraulic oil still got in employee's eyes.

Conditions unknown. Injury reported at 6:00pm on 9/2/2017. Employee did not feel or notice anything during the prior night shift (9/1/2017). Upon waking the following afternoon, they noticed swelling, from the right elbow to the hand, and soreness.

Employee doing first of the month task,(checking fire extinguishers). The employee was climbing to the deck of a 980K loader to check the fire extinguisher. While on ascent the employee hit their left knee injuring it.

Employee slipped when exiting lab, fell and twisted knee

Employee climbed off ladder on John Deere 450 EX and lost footing when EE was on ground. EE fell on ground and hit head on the ground. The fall was not from an elevation but when EE was flat on ground.

Wet Plant belt #2 employee laying on cat walk on conveyor trying to brush material off belt and pulley. Wire brush got caught and pulled into belt, employee let go of wire brush & hit fore arm on 2.5 inch angle iron.

Employee driving a Volvo 180 loader hit 3 bumps in travel way and strained his back. Employee brought to ER and diagnosed with strain back and put on light duty.

Employee was trying to locate a bolt on a CAT D6 Dozer and tweaked neck while looking for bolt in awkward position.

The employee was checking the oil on a CAT 980K and while running a rag down oil dip stick was impaled by a cable spur into his left index finger. He came immediately and reported the incident to Safety Coordinator. After looking at his finger they transported him via ambulance to RMCH in Gallup.

The haul truck operator was operating the haul truck when he hit a bump in the road causing the fire extinguisher to momentarily discharge. The operator finished the rest of his shift for the day without complaint to his condition. The employee reported to work for his next scheduled shift and worked 6 hours before complaining of shortness of breath.

Worker kneeled down while shoveling and stretched his Achilles tendon.

Employee was grinding a crack on an exhaust stack. Employee was wearing full face shield, hard hat, safety glasses and gloves. Grinder kicked back to hit his face shield and chin which resulted in a crack tooth.

Employee was inspecting a chute while the plant was operating and an inspection cover fell and hit the employee on the left hand fracturing the bone on the back of his left hand.

Employee was replacing a section of pipe when the pipe slipped striking the employee in the left hand. Employee developed soreness in the left the following morning.