Specialty Granules (Ione) LLC: 334 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

While cleaning the inside of a rotary dryer an employee got EE's foot between the dryer drum and the feed chute

EE was lifting a five gallon bucket of rock when EE felt pain in EE's lower abdomen. The EE did not report the incident to the company until 1/7/2025.

The employee was changing a screen when dust went into their eye behind their safety glasses.

Employee was descending a fixed ladder when EE felt a pop in their left knee.

an EE was picking up one end of a 3" hose from the ground when EE felt a pop in EE's back.

While driving a manlift between plants the operator hit a rut and the manlift tire dipped, jarring the operator in the basket. The operator hit EE's hand on the handrail creating a non-displaced fracture of a bone in EE's hand.

Electrician was screwing a cover on an electrical pull box and had left index finger between the lid the employee was screwing and the box resulting in a laceration to the left index finger which required 3 stitches

A MTCE Mechanic was changing wear steel on a 5/1/2' Symons cone crusher head assembly when foot became caught under the lip of the mantle, compressing their steel toed boot and breaking right great toe.

We are unsure on exact day or work relatedness at this time but think it occurred around 9-19-2021. EE states they bumped a knee on a door frame 6-8 weeks ago. Received physical therapy on 10/18 thus constituting reportability.

Working on haul truck engine. Removing number 1 cylinder head bolts. Hand was caught between bracket and air gun while removing head bolts.

EE was changing out a steel plate in jaw crusher. Weld came loose during the work and plate landed on EE's foot resulting in a fractured metatarsal.

Employee was using a wrench on a fastener, pulling upwards, when EE felt discomfort in EE's back.

Employee was using a socket and ratchet to turn a fastener when the wrench slipped and hit them in the left side of upper lip requiring stitches

Employee mill utility, caught right thumb between the lifting hook and the screen frame during a screen media change. The end of the thumb was broken.

Employee was welding and a foreign object got into EE's right eye. EE didn't notice it until later that day.

The accident was a trip accident. There was a routinely used item of lift equipment. The employee moved between the equipment and the wall, forgot about the lift equipment and tripped on the base of the lift equipment when EE turned 180 deg. away from the wall. The employee will be more aware of EE's surroundings. The employee suffered a sprained little finger and a few scrapes.

EE was carrying two screens for disposal. As EE was walking thru the bldg the end of the rolled screens struck a chute which shifted the screens and subsequently pushed the screens into the EE's face. This resulted in the EE chipping EE's tooth. The EE was taken to a dentist and EE required a crown to fix the damaged tooth, thus constituting an MSHA recordable accident event.

EE was lifting a metal plate onto a screen during a maintenance project. As EE was lifting the plate the employee struck the side of the equipment and pinched EE's hand. EE was diagnosed with a small fracture in one of EE's fingers, thus constituting MSHA reportability.

EE was carrying a replaced part in right hand as walking down stairs. Near the bottom of the stairs, the heel of the EE's boot hung up on stair and the EE twisted ankle. EE went to doctor visit on 10/17/2018 and was prescribed medication, PT, and giving a rigid splint; thus constituting MSHA reportability.

An employee was cleaning the first of three railcars when the employee felt pain on right upper back.

While conducting a maintenance task on a screen, an employee was using a pry bar to lift grating to access the maintenance point and felt pain in back while lifting. The employee has missed work due to the injury, thus constituting MSHA reportability.

EE was walking along rows of pallets counting super sacks when EE tripped on a pallet causing EE to stumble, injuring EE's right thigh. Injury occurred on 5/1/17, EE was seen for diagnostic reasons, returned to work and able to conduct all job functions. On 6/5/17 the EE started PT, constituting MSHA reportablitiy on this date. Employer was not made aware of the PT until 6/12/17.

Employee was removing rocks from a conveyor belt. EE said EE hurt right side just below EE's rib cage.

EE was coming down from the 4 1/4 deck when EE's radio on EE's left hip got caught on the gate, causing EE to twist and popped right knee.

Employee missed a step and fell approximately 5 feet to the ground from our 980H loader.

EE was operating a one year old CAT 980H front end loader when the bolt holding the scissor mechanism of his seat sheared, releasing the seat suddenly with force upward, forward and then sideways.

Employee was using a pressure washer to clean the outside of a scrubber prior to welding repairs. His face shield became fogged, and he accidentally struck a scrubber support with the nozzle, causing it to change direction and strike his left leg with hot water. He received a second degree burn to his left shin, just slightly above his boot.

Employee is a mobile mechanic and was grinding and welding all day, wearing goggles under his face shield. He had no incident at work, but on arriving home and taking off his cap, a small fragment of metal fell into his left eye. He reported something in his eye the following morning and was taken to a doctor, who removed the fragment and some rust that had formed.

Employee was holding a collar bar while another employee struck it with a hammer. The employee missed his mark and struck his fellow employee on his left thumb, causing a fracture.

Employee stepped off of a forklift and immediately experienced back pain. He waited one week to see if he would get better; then requested to see a doctor Feb. 14. He was diagnoised with lumbar stain and given physical therapy for two weeks. He does not have a prescription and his minimal restrictions do not affect his job of warehouseman.

Employee did not pay attention to his surroundings and side-stepped off the end of a conveyor platform. He has been given restricted duty due to lumbar contusion and strain.

Employee climbed a fixed vertical ladder and reports he felt pain in his left side as he stepped off the top rung.

Employee strained back while lifting tie.

Employee was attempting to move a pallet of bagged pigment around another pallet with an electric pallet jack. He pulled the pallet jack with a full load on it into a confined area while walking backwards. In the process, he pulled the pallet jack onto his right foot. He was taken for an x-ray, and diagnosed with a contusion. He was given restricted duty.

Employee struck finger with hammer.

EEwas working on "J" bolts on a 6x20 screening system when his elbow came down and struck a bolt. The alleged incident occurred on 7-8-05 but not reported to the company until 7-15-05. He saw the company appointed occupational safety and health doctor on 7-18-05 and placed on restricted duty.

A steel plate weighing approx. 250 lbs. had fallen through a chute onto a coveyor. Two employees were moving the plate out of the tunnel, when the employee who was moving backwards suddenly began to feel pain in his lower back. He was taken to a doctor and diagnosed with muscle strain. He was prescribed medication, off work for 3 days and then released to modified duty.

Employee returned to work on 10-11-04 and reported that she had pain stiffness and limited rotation in neck and could not perform her job. Soreness started a few days after being off on 10-8-04 and was a result of shoveling out material from the wet scrubber on 10-6-04.

Employee was pulling broken screener guard back to keep it from banging around. The screener was still running and the guard caught on the moving drive and pushed foreward hitting his left knee.

Employee was priming a wet scrubber pump #2 by turning on fresh water intto the pump casing. When the pump primed and built pressure the threaded PVC adaptor pulled out of the coupler just above the pump outlet and sprayed hot water on the employee

EMPLOYEE TURNED TO CHANGE DIRECTION WHILE WORKING IN THE MILL OFFICE AND FELT A PAIN / SNAP IN LEFT ANKLE.

EMPLOYEE WAS CLIMBING INTO THE 6 X 20 SCREEN.

ANOTHER EE PULLED PIECE OF METAL FROM CRUSHER CHUTE AND THREW IT ON THE GROUND. THE METAL BOUNCED OFF THE GROUND HITTING THE INJURED EE ON THE LEFT KNEE.

EE WOKE UP DURING THE NIGHT OF 1-18-04 AND 1-19-04 WITH EXTREMELY SORE BACK EE FELT IT MAY HAVE BEEN RESULT OF SHOVELING ON 1-16-04.

EE WAS CLEANING CHUTE WITH HAMMER. EE STATES THAT WHILE HAMMERING OUT MATERIAL BUILD-UP, HER FINGER BECAME PINCHED BETWEEN HANDLE AND METAL CHUTE.

EMPLOYEE CLOSING RR CAR DOOR WITH BAR FELT MUSCLE PULL. HE WORKED THE REST OF SHIFT. LOWER BACK PAIN THE FOLLOWING MORNING. WORKED UNTIL 1/5/04 AT WHICH TIME HE WENT TO THE COMPANY PHYSICIAN. LOST WORK DAYS TO REST BACK; ANTI-INFLAMITORY MEDICATION.

EMPLOYEE CUTTING OUT DISCHARGE CHUTE - CONVEYOR #104- UPON COMPLETING CUT, CHUTE FELL AGAINST HIS CUT, CHUTE FELL AGAINST HIS RIGHT HAND.

EMPLOYEE WAS REPAIRING CONVEYOR BELT USING A RAZOR KNIFE. THE KNIFE SLIPPED CUTTING HIS LEFT FOREARM.

TURNED QUICKLY TO RUN TO ANOTHER SECTION OF THE MILL AND CAUGHT FOOT IN A PALLET, FALLING AND TWISTING ANKLE IN THE PROCESS.

EE WAS CLIMBING DOWN LADDER AT CRUSHING/DUST SILO. HIS FOOT BECAME ENTANGLED IN A HOSE THAT HAD BEEN LEFT THERE BY ANOTHER EE. HE LOST HIS BALANCE AS HE TRIED TO KICK HOSE AWAY, RESULTING IN A FALL OF SEVEN FEET.

EE JAMMED HIS NECK WHEN HE STOOD UP SUDDENLY UNDERNEATH A CONVEYOR. HE HAD A FIRST AID REPORT COMPLETED, BUT DID NOT SEE A DR. UNTIL 9/17/03. IT SEEMED TO BE A MINOR PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT DIMINI SHED. EE WILL UNDERGO PHYSICAL THERAPY.

EE CAME INTO CONTACT WITH ROTARY DRYER. HE RECEIVED MINOR ABRASIONS, CUTS & CONTUSIONS.

WHILE REMOVING A GEAR BOX AT THE HEAD PULLEY END OF AN INCLINDED BELT CONVEYOR THE INJURED, TIED BY HIS LANYARD TO THE HEAD PULLEY SHAFT, WAS KNEELING ON THE BELT. HE WAS PULLED DOWNWARD BY BE LT MOVEMENT & CONSEQUENTLY UPWARD BY THE LANYARD ACTING AS A WINCH. HIS RIGHT ARM WAS CAUGHT IN A STEEL STRUCTURE & WAS TORN AT THE SHOULDER.