SUWANNEE AMERICAN CEMENT: 344 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Washing on Preheater tower Riser, as attendant was washing hot material blew back on to their hot suit and small amount fell into welding gloves causing burn to side of left hand.

A team member was cleaning up an oil spill and slipped. While EE did not fall, teammate reported that EE felt a pain in lower back.

Employee was conducting Firewatch next to a conveyor head chute where one of the mechanics was welding. The employee wore PPE and was not staring directly at the welding arc. Employee went home with no issues and woke up the next day with burning eyes and irritation. Employee went to urgent care and received prescription eye drops/antibiotics and was returned to full duty.

Event occurred on 01-21-2024 Went to Urgent Care 02-03-24 (own volition) Notification made to supervisor 2-5-24. Employee stepped down into the cooler and slipped on a rock that was on the floor of the cooler. Employee is under physician care and on light duty.

For unknown reasons employee felt hip discomfort on 4/9/23. Employee sought treatment on their own, without resolution. MRI results on 5/11/23 shows medical condition that may possibly be work related. Employee is being referred to a specialist for further evaluation.

While securing a pipe, employee's left pinky was pinched in the pipe holder clamp; employee was not wearing gloves. After the assessment at the hospital, employee received 7 stitches, antibiotics, and pain medication. Employee was released without restrictions upon leaving the hospital.

On 12/05, employee was jackhammering material in the baghouse; debris got under their safety glasses and in their eye. Employee reported on 12/06, and upon visiting the eye doctor, a piece of metal was removed and antibiotics were given. Employee returned to work the same day.

Employee was exiting the Raw Mill with a jack hammer in hand. Stepping from the Raw Mill table, employee slipped and fell in a hole of the plow holder structure, sustaining a laceration to the pinky finger of their gloved/left hand when it was pinched between the structure and jack hammer. Received 10 stitches w/antibiotics at the clinic; returned to work the same day.

On 4/19/2022 - First aid event: Employee was rotating a valve using a Johnson bar. While pulling on the bar, it slipped, and the employee felt pain in their right shoulder. On 5/03/2022 - after further evaluation: Met reportable criteria.

Teammate was ascending ladder to gain access to wind-box. according to teammate EE's foot slipped ladder slid causing teammate to fall. In the process of falling teammate instinctively used right hand to lessen impact, as a result teammate sustained a fracture to right wrist - diagnosis made 01/18/2022

While working, employee noticed eye was irritated. After further medical evaluation, employee received prescription eye drops.

Employee was air lancing along the south wall of stage 1 to remove build-up of material. As the employee pushed forward with the air lance, they felt a pop in their left shoulder.

A contractor was stuck in the Clinker Silo elevator for more than 30 minutes on September 23rd, at 9:30am. A report was not submitted, nor anyone notified at the time of the event. Statements were obtained on September 24th, at 3:00pm. Contractor was safely removed from the elevator without injury, returned to work immediately.

Employee states that they began experiencing ear pain and ringing in both ears after performing housekeeping for 3 hours while wearing hearing protection in the Finish Mill. Employee received medical diagnosis of Tinnitus on 9/14/2021.

Employee did not realize that a piece of hot slag material had fallen into EE's boot until EE had already sustained a burn. Upon further medical evaluation on 1/11/21, the employee received antibiotic and a restriction of "sit down work only". Employee returned to work the same day. Employee returned for a follow-up evaluation on 1/14/21 and received a full duty release.

An employee had been working to clear an air slide. The employee opened a hatch which resulted in a burst of cement dust to the employee's face resulting in cement dust entering both eyes. The employee received first aid at the plant prior. Upon further evaluation at the urgent care facility the employee received preventative prescription eye drop antibiotics.

Employee responding to a call to clear material blockage from the raw mill inlet chute. Opened a bolted access panel and attempted to clear material with a jack hammer bit. EE failed to lockout the equipment and the bit got caught in a moving rotary air lock and EE cut/lacerated left index finger on the access door flange.

Employee was working at the MSC to clear material build up when EE removed the protective lens on the hot suit to peer into a drilled port in the vessel. An air cannon discharged, and hot gas and material struck the exposed area of EE's face. Corneal abrasion to right eye and minor burns around eyes and bridge of nose. EE had turned off air cannon but failed to discharge it.

On 7/18/2019 the employee provided the mine with a doctor's note stating that they could not perform job duties due to possible injury to the right knee that the employee states occurred on 5/29/2019 while cutting electrical conduit and kneeling without knee pads (knee pads are made available at the mine site).

Employee was cutting tape off a broom handle with razor knife and cut forearm. It was just deep enough to require stitches.

Employee was changing the bit in a jack hammer and cut finger

Cement dust in the eye

10/15/2015- Employee reported a bruised tail bone to safety. Said he did it on 10/07/2015. While leaning on one knee on the ground, employee was torqueing bolts on a steel block. Employees fell back onto another steel block, bruising tail bone. He compared the initial injury to hitting his funny bone so he didn't report it. Had X-rays done to very it is bruised only.

Employee in Laydown Yard lifting 1/4" steel plate 4'x4' to load on buggy. Plate slipped on to right foot behind steel toe in boot resulting in fracture of big toe and 3rd and 4th toes. Plate was slippery and muddy from rain.

Employee was unbolting bolts with air ratchet at bottom of shaft with left hand. Had the right hand on top of bolt with out using gloves - bolt spun quickly and cut middle finger, right hand. Employee received (2) stitches on finger.

Employee was working in the Alternative Fuels area using a forklift to lift a bale of carpet into the Shredder hopper when the carpet did not go into hopper. Carpet fell to ground and broke the bale wire that was holding it together. Employee got off forklift and walked in front of forklift through the carpet and tripped on the bale wire, fell and broke his right lower leg.

Employee was working on M19 Drag Chain unbolting the bolts from a metal plate. 3 of 4 bolts were removed from the 40"x20' metal plate when the plate fell, swung around and hit him in the groin area on the right side. He was lifted about 2 ft in the air from the blow, and sustained swelling, and pain in and around that area.

Employee was grinding a metal pipe and an accumulation of small metal shavings gathered on top of his welding hood and hat. When welding hood was raised small metal shavings fell onto face and got in the employee's right eye. Employee washed out his eye with saline solution & was taken to the local Wellness Center & Medical Center on 9/24 as he was still feeling discomfort.

Employee was unbolting a cover with the intentions of resting it on a bucket elevator chain they were working on when the metal cover slipped and pinched the employees 4th finger on his right hand.

Employee was working on Kiln Burner floor, bent over pushing in a ramp walkway into the Kiln door, when he felt and heard his shoulder pop. Immediately after that he experienced pain from his shoulder down to his hand/fingers.

Employee was trying to clear a plug. While attemping to step off of the pile onto the Flyash Reclaimer, he missed the step falling between the wall and the Flyash Reclaimer twisting his left leg from the knee down to the ankle.

Labor employee was doing normal work duties and felt tightness in his chest area, begin sweating, and legs went numb. Employee called Supv for assistance and ambulance was called. Factors in incident: extreme heat 98F, very little water intake (dehydrated), had not eaten breakfast that morning.

Employee was clearing hopper in Quarry with loader, when employee got off the loader to see inside of hopper a steele plate fell off and hit ankle/foot area.

Employee was climbing down stairs when left foot slipped pulling groin area.

Contract Laborer was working in the Cooler area shoveling wet material. Material (Alkaline) got into boot and rubbed foot and ankle raw.

Employee was washing tower with Woma Gun holding air lance above head when material fell onto face getting in between safety glasses. Employee washed eye out, next morning eye was still irritated due to small piece of material was still caught under eye lid.

Supervisor was doing maintenance on the golf cart pulling out wires, etc when his hand slipped and struck a metal object. As a result his left thumb was cut.

Several employees trying to clear a plugged Bag House. Emp (1) hitting material with pipe a downward motion, when Emp (2)was holding/trying to stop material from hitting Emp (3) with both hands. Right hand slipped in the way of Emp (1) and broke right index finger with pipe.

Employee ws trying to straighten out coal grizzly from being plugged with mateiral using a 2"pipe. Pulling pipe towards body, hand slipped and pipe hit employee in the face - right jaw area.

Employee was working inside the Finish Mill in compartment 2 and was overcome by heat. 911 Emergency was called as precaution as employee became ill.

Employee tipped over a trail wagon while driving. Left leg below the knee was trapped in the roll bar. Leg was broken.

While drilling a hole in metal. Drill spun out of employee's hand. Injury was caused by twist/strike to hand. First aid was self administered, and medical attention refused. The next day increased swelling and bruising of the hand were evident. Employee was sent for x-rays. Injury: 4th metacarpal fracture to right hand. Light duty restriction.

Employee was lifting steel plates and welding over head, and noticed that shoulder was sore.

Employee was using a pry bar to loosen material. When material broke free, employee lost balance and fell. This caused a bruise on his elbow; medical attention was sought to ensure that there were no other injuries.

Employee was using sledge hammer to hit a chain and a piece of rust flew into the employee's eye.

Rupture disk went off, no injuries, no apparent bin damage.

Employee stepped back off of a cement ledge about 3 feet off of ground. When trying to gain balance employee dislocated left thumb.

Employee bent over to move or lift a small broom and when the employee bent over he felt a pain in his back.

An isolation gate for a cement silo failed to isolate the silo. As a result, cement poured out from an open pod door.

An isolation gate for a cement silo failed to isolate the silo. As a result, cement poured out from an open pod door.

An isolation gate for a cement silo failed to isolate the silo. As a result, cement poured out from an open pod door.

An isolation gate for a cement silo failed to isolate the silo. As a result, cement poured out from an open pod door.

Truck driver is suspected to have fallen out of his truck and suffered a head injury.

Employee was transporting a Cardox power shot tube which had been recently fired. The head of the tube was still hot and burned employee's abdominal region.

Employee was tightening pipe plug on an air compressor dryer tank. When employee added extra force to tighten the plug, he slipped and injured knee.

Employee noticed pain in shoulder. Although there is no exact moment in which the injury can be traced to, the suspected cause is cleaning the pre-heater tower.

Employee was working approximately 120 feet in air when a gust of wind blew material around safety glasses and into eye.

Employee was lifting tool bag while turning to walk. This action resulted in a back muscle strain.

Three miners were investigating a coal feed starvation. The fine coal bin exploded cracking the fine coal bin causing a fire ball to escape which burned three miners. Two seriously and one first aid.

Three miners were investigating a coal feed starvation. The fine coal bin exploded cracking the fine coal bin causing a fire ball to escape which burned three miners. Two seriously and one first aid.

Employee was walking down stairs and his heel caught the last step. This caused him to twist his ankle.

Employee was located on top floor of the pre-heater tower, when wind blew dust in his eye. He was wearing safety glasses. Tried to flush out with eye wash but when that failed he was taken to the hospital.

On Oct. 12, 2005, an air gate and beck valve in silo failed to close. Approximately 300-400 tons of cement dropped onto silo floor. Cement had entered employees ear during clean up. On Oct. 15,2005, employee went to doctor because of ear/headache problem, but he did not know the cause. Doctor reportedly found cement in ear which may have caused the problem.

EE was using a 4.5" grinder to remove paint from metal channel when the grinder caught the metal and kicked back. The grinder caught the EE under the nose and cut it. The EE was not wearing his faceshield. Improper use of hand power tools and PPE

While checking material at kiln inlet EE lifted his facegear to look in the hatch. Opening went positive causing hot material to blow in his face and eyes.

Using pipe wrench on a conveyor take up adjustment, wrench slipped pinching tip of third finger

EE WAS OPERATING A 120' MAN LIFT OVER ROUGH TERRAIN. WHEN HE HIT A BUMP HE WAS THROWN INTO THE BASKET RAILING AND INJURED HIS RT. LEG.

EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING ON TOP OF AN INSULATED BAG HOUSE. HE WAS KNEELING ON THE OUTER METAL SKIN. ONE OF THE GALVANIZED TABS WHICH HOLDS THE INSULATION IN PLACE UNDER THE SKIN HAD APPARENTLY BEE N CUT OFF SHORT INSTEAD OF BENT OVER DURING CONSTRUCTION. THIS SHORT METAL SPIKE PUNCTURED THE OUTER SKIN WHERE THE EMPLOYEE WAS KNEELING AND ENTERED HIS KNEE UP UNDER THE KNEECAP.

CONTRACTOR WAS USING AN AIR LANCE TO MOVE BUILT UP MATERIAL. SOME OF THE MATERIAL BLEW BACK IN HIS FACE AND AROUND HIS SAFETY GLASSES GETTING A PARTICLE IN HIS EYE.

CONTRACTOR WAS INSPECTING THE CYCLONES TO TAKE MEASUREMENTS WITHOUT WEARING PROPER SAFETY EQUIPMENT.

INJURED EE#1 WAS LIFTING OFF A CONVEYOR COVER WITH ANOTHER EE#2. EE#2 LIFTED HIS END BEFORE EE#1 WAS READY CAUSING EE#1'S FINGER TO BE PINCHED BETWEEN COVER & A STEEL BEAM.