Willis Mt Plant & Mullite Plant: 187 MSHA citations Metal/Non-Metal

Employee was welding at at the Mullite plant all day. Employee went home, and around 9 p.m., EE's left eye was burning and swelling. Employee said it felt like sand in the eye. It was the result of an arc flash.

Employee removed a metal door from kiln & felt a slight twist in knee. Pain did not persist. Later in the morning, employee bent down under the cooler & felt a sharp intense pain in right knee, which has caused some swelling.

Employee attempted to diagnose a feed flow problem. EE removed the rotary feeder cover and stuck hand in to remove any blockage. EE did not de-energize, or lock/tag as ee was trained. The rotating machinery cut off the tip of middle finger.

Employee was bitten by a spider in a company truck while on break. It later swelled so EE reported it as a WC injury 6/11/18. EE's drug test was non-negative, was sent to lab, came back negative after employee missed 7 work days. Waiting drug test results was only reason employee missed work, thus making injury reportable.

Employee was standing on a flat bed truck loading 50 lb bags of lime into a hopper and strained right groin.

Employee was installing hand rails between the #1 and #2 elevators at the Mullite Plant. The wind was gusting very hard and stirring up debris and dust, which blew into the employee's left eye.

Employee was removing a choked pipe from the hopper with co-worker, as the co-worker removed the last bolt, the pipe twisted and caught left pinky finger between pipe and silo, partially severing the tip, which required surgical removal.

Employee struck right elbow, causing numbness and tingling, on roll cage of forklift while walking around to lift the lever to raise the forks. Employee did not seek treatment until 6/22 when elbow became sore and swollen after bagging 50lb bags on 6/20 & 6/21. Diagnosis: Tendinitis, with treatment of anti-inflammatory medication and 2 days of rest.

Standard Threshold Shift in hearing, noted through hearing loss prevention program. Test performed 2/25/16. 4/01/16, employee examined by Otolaryngologist, treated for ear infection, released for re-test 4/08/16. Retest performed 4/14/16, hearing loss slightly improved, still STS. 4/29/16, medical records confirmed hearing loss not due to underlying health condition.

Employee was carrying a Metabo grinder under his left arm, he was unaware that it was in the locked-on position. When he plugged it in, it automatically started and cut him in his left chest area--he sustained a 1 3/4 - 2 inch laceration, requiring 5 stitches.

Employee was taking the starter off the 515 Dump truck when it slipped and caught his right thumb between the starter and a cinder block, resulting in a contusion that required drainage of blood.

Employee was bagging M35 100lb bags, he threw a bag on the pallet and felt a pull in left forearm, resulting in muscle strain.

Employee was replacing wire on the welding machine. He picked up the spool of wire and felt pain in his left shoulder, which was subsequently diagnosed as a sprained shoulder.

Employee was bagging M35 100lb bags, he felt a pull in his left forearm when throwing a bag on the pallet, resulting in muscle strain.

Employee was bagging M-200 mullite product, as he took the bag off the mullite spout to place on the pallet, his arm struck the mullite bagging spout, causing a 1 and 1/2 inch long laceration on his left forearm near the elbow that resulted in 14 stitches.

Employee was moving firewood as part of site clean-up when he felt a sharp pain in his back and down his leg.

Employee was moving mullite from under #1 cooler with Bobcat Skid Steer, when he dumped the bucket of mullite onto surplus pile, steam was created causing second degree thermal burns of less than 2 inches in diameter to right arm and right leg and first degree burns to right side of face.

Removed sunglasses to see phone to call for supplies, tripped over something and right hand was cut on tin that was on the ground.

While working in a water tank, the employee was standing on one ladder. He lifted a second ladder and twisted to place it into a second water tank. He pulled a muscle in his lower back.

While reaching for handrail to climb stairs in the kiln area, employee's finger caught on metal edge of safety sign resulting in a minor laceration to his right index finger.

Using 70lb sledge hammer inside 5' diameter mill, felt pull in lower abdomen. Did not seek treatment until 3/07/2008; Diagnosis: inguinal hernia. Did not recieve treatment until 3/18/2008.

While putting cutting egdes and teeth onto 988 loader using sledge hammer and drive pins to remove old teeth an airborne particulate went under safety glasses and into left eye.

While helping another employee dump a hopper with material in it onto a belt, caught middle finger on right hand between hopper and a piece of steel.

While training at the #2 kiln feed hopper, stepped across the feed screw, foot was planted awkwardly and turned over right ankle. He did not feel it was necessary to be seen by a doctor until 04-05-2006.

While making repairs on the #2 elevator at the Mullite plant. Splicing #2 elevator belt, locked out drive motor-sheave elevator belt against motion. Had to move elevator belt in position, accidentally moved left hand towards sheave and caught left ring finger between sheave and v-belt.

EE went up on the wet bins to start the belt and screw. As EE was coming down the stairs a puff of smoke from the dryer (scrubber emission exhaust) came up the staircase. With the below freezing temperature and the exertion from climbing the steps, this caused EE's breathing to become difficult.

While priming pollution pump the pipe pulled loose from the threads spraying water containing sodium hydroxide (12pH) in face and eyes.

While climbing onto the cherry picker, using the steps, when he got to the top step and stepped over onto the tire his foot slipped and he fell backwards.

ROPE BROKE WHILE PULLING ELECTRICAL CABLE THROUGH CONDUIT. EE FELL TO THE GROUND & BROKE HIS SHOULDER.

WHILE COVERING WINDOWS IN REAGENT BLDG. WHEN A BOARD FELL DOWN CATCHING HIS FINGER BETWEENT HE BOARD AND THE EDGE OF A SHEET OF TIN.

HELPING ANOTHER EE RAISE A 55 GALLON DRUM FROM A HORIZONTAL POSITION TO A STANDING POSITION. FELT PAIN IN LOWER LEFT GROIN AREA.

FLAKE OF METAL GOT BEHIND EYE PROTECTION WHILE GRINDING AN I-BEAM.

EE TURNED AND STARTED TO WALK UP THE STEPS WHEN HE STEPPED IN A SHALLOW HOLE.

EE GOT OUT OF HIS TRUCK AT THE WASTE SAND DUMP & THE WIND BLEW SOMETHING IN HIS RIGHT EYE.

EE ALLEGES WHILE PLACING A BAG OF SAND ON A PALLET HIS BACK GAVE OUT, PAIN COMING FROM BOTH OF HIS SHOULDERS INTO HIS LOWER BACK AND INTO HIS LT. LEG.

WHILE WORKING BY UPPER TANK IN SCRUBBER AREA, HOSE BROKE SPRAYING HOT WATER ON LEG.

REMOVING SHOVAINGS FROM AROUND HUB ON LATHE.

EMPLOYEE WAS UNCLOGGING PYRITE CELLS AND CUT HIS LEFT HAND ON A PIECE OF METAL.

HAD TO BEND/ SQUAT TO PULL PIN ON LOWBOY LEG INTO UPPER POSITION, FELT PAIN IN LOWER BACK WHEN HE STOOD UP.

EE STARTED HAVING PAIN IN HIS UPPER LEFT SHOULDER AND RADIATING TO HIS LOWER BACK LIFTING 100LB BAGS OF SAND.

EE INJURED HIS LEG WHILE SEEDING A HILLSIDE ADJACENT TO THE WILLIS MT. QUARRY AREA. HIS LEG WAS TWISTED AND /OR A MUSLCE WAS STRAINED WHILE WALKING ALONG THE HILLSIDE. AS DESCRIBED BY EE.

DURING MAINTENANCE PIPE ROLLED AGAINST LEG CAUSING LACERATION.

WHILE LIFTING FLYASH BALL OUT OF LIME SPREADER, FELT PAIN IN LEFT KNEE.

STANDING ON LEFT TRACK ON THE D7 DOZER (WET TRACK) FOOT SLIPPED.

TRANSFERRING BAGS OF KYANITE TO PALLET WHEN FELT A SHARP PAIN IN RIB CAGE AND MOVED TO CHEST.

FLASH BURN FROM WELDING ARC.

CAUGHT RING FINGER IN TAILGATE OF TRUCK.

INSTALLING SPRING UNDER SERVICE TRUCK, PAIN IN BACK.

TAKING A SAMPLE AND GOT DUST IN EYE.

WALKING UP STEPS, PULLED A MUSCLE.

BOX TURNED OVER.

GREASING THE DRYER WHEN STOOD UP, HE PULLED A MUSCLE IN BACK.

WELDING ON PIPE DOWN A POND. FLASH FROM WELDER BURN TO EYES

MASHED MIDDLE FINGER RIGHT HAND DRIVING A SLEVE IN A BUCKET.

WAS BAGGING KYANITE AND FELT A SHARP PAIN IN BACK AND RIGHT LEG.

TWISTED ANKLE

LIFTING THRUST ROLLER BOASES, PULLED SOMETHING IN LOWER BACK.

FRACTUREDLEFT WRIST AND PINCHED LITTLE FINGER ON LEFT HAND.

STEPPED OFF RUNNING BOARD INTO BULLDOZER TRACK IMPRINT AND TWISTED LEFT ANKLE.

A BOLT BROKE IN TORQUE ARM ROD EE WAS PULLING UP ON GUARD. (PULLED MUSCLE IN SHOULDER.)

A PIECE OF DEBRIS FEL INTO EYE. WAS GRINDING BACK OF BED ON SERVICE TRUCK IN GARAGE AND WHEN DINISHED HE STARTED TO TAKE OFF GOGGLES WHEN A PIECE OF METAL FELL OFF OF GOGGLES INTO EYE. ATTEMPT ED TO FLUSH OUT BUT COULD NOT.

WORKING ON TRUNNION CATWALK, IT BROKE LOSE & FELL. HE HURT HIS LEFT ARM & SHOULDER.

WHILE TRANSPORTING BOTTLED AND CAN DRINKS FROM BASEMENT TO UPSTAIRS KITCHEN, EMP PULLED MUSCLE IN LEFT LEG, APPROX FIVE INCHES ABOVE KNEE.

WAS STACKING 40LB BAGS TO PALLET AND FELT MUSCLESPASMS IN LOWER BACK THE NEXT MORNING.

WAS WALKING BETWEEN COOLERS AND WIND BLEW DUST INTO EYES.

EMPLOYEE STEPPED ON TO A ROCK TO ENTER REAR OF EXPLOSIVES TRAILER IN CUT. HE PULLED LIGAMENTS IN LEFT ANKLE.

EE WAS OPERATING FORKLIFT AND DUST BLEW INTO EYE.

EMPLOYEE WAS MOVING A FORKLIFT & CROSSED A COMPRESSED AIRLINE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO PAINT SPRAYER THAT WAS IN USE WHICH IRRITATED EMPLOYEE WHO TURNED TOWARD EE & FORKLIFT SPRAYING THEN MOMENTA RILY

EMPLOYEE STEPPED ON A BOARD WHICH SNAPPED INTO AND HE FELL 6' TO GROUND BELOW PLATFORM.

EMPLOYEE WAS HOOKING UPTRACK ON D7F DOZER. HAD CHAIN HOOKE DOT TRACK AND CHAIN SLIPPED OFF HITTING HIM IN THE NOXE AND MOUTH.

BEGGING M35 37 BAGS TO THE PALLET & HURT BACK DID NOT MISS ANY TIME FROM WORK UNTIL MAY 8TH

WAS WALKING DOWN AN INCLINE AND SLIPPED ON LOOSE GRAVEL AND HURT BACK.

EMPLOYEE WAS REPORTING WORK, WALKED BY A FAN IN THE BAGGING HOUSE AND TRASH BLEW INTO EYE.

EMPLOYEE WAS CHECKING IN THE #6 OIL, HAD CLIMBED UPON THE TRAILER AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE TOP OF THE TANKER. THE TANKER WAS UNDER PRESSURE AND BLEW OPEN AND OIL HIT IN THE EYES AND FACE

EMPLOYEE WAS LOADING SAND, STEPPED OFF WALKWAY AND CUT LEFT KNEE ON CATWALK.

EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTED TO LIFT PALLET WHICH WAS STUCK IN THE DIRT. PULLED MUSCLE IN LOWER BACK.

45473OYEE WAS WELDING, USING A WELDING SHIELD AND BURNED BOTH EYES.

EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING ON SPIRALS SLIPPED ON OPENING TO LADDER HE PULLED BACK WITH LEFT ARM TO KEEP FROM FALLING DOWN THE LADDER HE DISLOCATED LEFT ARM AT SHOULDER

EMPL BAGGING 100 LB BAGS OF MATERIAL.TURNED TO PUT A BAG ON THE PALLET,FELT PAIN IN LOWER BACK.

EE HAD CLIMBED UP ON TRAILER AT THE FRONT, CLIMBED LADDER AND BEGAN TO SECURE HIS TARP,WHILE PULLING THE TARP HE LOST HIS BALANCE AND FELL, STRIKING TRAILER PLATFORM AND THEN THE GROUND. MAJOR IMPACT WAS TO LEFT LEG AT THE KNEE.

EMPL WAS LIFTING ANGLE & FELT MUSCLE STRAIN IN BACK.

A LARGE ROCK WAS HUNG IN THE JAW CRUSHER AND EMPLOYEE TRIED TO BREAK THE ROCK BY USING A WEDGE. THE WEDGE POPPED OUT AND STRUCK EMPLOYEE A GLANCING BLOW TO THE FOREHEAD REQUIRING 11 STITCHES.

EE WAS GETTING OUT OF CAR AT THE DIVISION OF MINES, MINERALS AND ENERGY PARKING LOT IN LYNCHBURG, VA WHEN HIS FEET SLIPPED ON GRAVEL CAUSING HIM TO HURT HIS BACK.

REOCCURRANCE DUE TO AN INJURY ON JULY 20TH. EMPLOYEE WAS CARRYING SHRINK WRAP ON HIS SHOULDER AND WHEN HE WENT TO PUT IT DOWN, HE TURNED SLIGHTLY AND FELT PAIN IN LOWER BACK.

WALKING OUTSIDE THE BLDG WIND BLEW DUST INTO HIS R EYE

EMPLOYEE WAS HELPING IN REASSEMBLY OF CONE CRUSHER BY PLACING CABLE SO BULLDOZER COULD PULL IT TO TIGHTEN CRUSHER SIGNALS GOT MIXED UP & CABLE PINCHED INDEX MIDDLE & RING FINGERS OF LEFT HAND REQUIRED SOME STITCHES

EMPLOYEE WAS CARRYING SHRINK WRAP ON HIS SHOULDER AND WHEN HE WENT TO PUT IT DOWN, HE TURNED SLIGHTLY AND FELT PAIN IN LOWER BACK.

EMPLOYEE PINCHED LEFT HAND BETWEEN TWO ROD MILL LINERS.

EMPLOYEE STRAINED HIS BACK WHILE PALLETIZING 100 PUND BAGS OF SAND.

EMPLOYEE GOT DUST LODGED INTO LEFT EYE WHEN THE WIND BLEW DUST INTO HIS FACE AND SOME OF IT WENT UNDER HIS SAFETY GLASSES.

EMPLOYEE WAS LOADING RODS INTO MILL AND CRUSHED LEFT RING FINGER BETWEEN RODS.

EMPLOYEE WAS PUTTING A 100# BAG ON SCALE AND CUT LEFT BICEP ON BAGGING MACHINE SPOUT.

EMPL WAS HELPING TO LAY DRYER BRICKS & SOME OF BRICK MUD GOT INTO LEFT EYE CAUSING IRRITATION & STRINGING.

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING CRANE WHEN THE LEFT DOOR WAS SLAMMED SHUT BY A SMALL PINE TREE CATCHING I 1ST, 2ND AND 3RD FINGERS OF LEFT HAND IN THE DOOR.

STEPPED ON A ROCK AND TWISTED HIS RIGHT ANKLE

EMP. WAS SENT TO EAST RIDGE PLANT TO DO A JOB AND WHILE ENROUTE TO PLANT WAS IN A AUTO ACCIDENT. EMPLOYEE WAS NOT USING COMPANY EQUIPMENT OR ON A COMPANY ROAD. EMP. HAD TWO CRACKED RIBS AND I NTERNAL BLEEDING WHICH A PART OF SMALL INTESTINE HAD TO BE REMOVED TO STOP BLEEDING.

OPERATING FORKL3FT AND PARTICLES OF KYANITE DUST BLEW INTO BOTH EYES

EMP WAS CLEANIN1 UP OUTSIDE MILL HOUSE AND CAUGHT LEFT LEG BETWEEN FORK LIFT AND BLDG CUTTING LEG AND REQUIRING SOME STITCHES

EMPLOYEE WAS I3 THE PROCESS OF CAPPING PALLETSAND AS HE TURNED TWISTED HIS BACK, CAUSING PAIN FROM CENTER OF CHEST AROUND RIGHT SIDE TO MIDDLE OF BACK.

TAKING DOWN CHR3STMAS WREATH AND CUT THUMB REQUIRING THREE STITCHES.

REMOVING SHIMS 0ROM BEARING SPACER & CO-WORKER RELEASED JACK CATCHING EMPLOYEE'S LEFT FINGER BETWEEN BEARING BASE AND SHIM.

EMPLOYEE SLIPPE8 OFF A FORKLIFT AND FELL INTO THE SIDE OF HOPPER AND PUNCTURED HIS RT LEG

EMPLOYEE REACHE8 ACROSS CONVEYOR TO CUT A PIECE RUBBER AND POCKETKNIFE FOLDED CLOSED WHILE DO SO AND RECEIVED A CUT ACROSS LEFT PALM. HE REQUIRED SEVEN STITCHES.

EMPLOYEE WAS GREASING TRUCK,REACHED OVER & TWISTED,TRAINING LOWER BACK.

PUSHING A LOADED PALLET TO TRUCK WHEN IT STUCK ON A BEAM, EMPLOYEE ATTEMPTED TO LIFT EDGE OF PALLET WITH A 3\ BAR AND STRAINED LOWER BACK.

EXTENDED LEFT ARM TO SIDE AND BACK TO CLOSE DOOR AS HE WAS LEAVING FLOTATION BUILDING AND LEFT SHOULDER SLIPPED OUT OF JOINT.

HELPING WITH REACTION MACHINE AND EMPLOYEE CUT THUMB ON LEFT HAND REQUIRING SOME STITCHES

EMPLOYEE WAS BINDING DOWN STACK OF PALLETS ON TRUCK AND WHILE TIGHTENING BINDER WITH 18IN PIPE THE PIPE SLIPPED OFF AND THE BINDER STRUCK EMPLOYEE ON THE CHIN UNDER LOWER LIP CAUSING SOME TEE TH TO BE KNOCKED LOOSE & LACERATION TO LOWER LIP REQUIRING SOME STITCHES

WAS PULLING BINDER TO TIGHTEN CHAIN AROUND LIME LOADED ON TRUCK AND HURT HIS BACK.

LEAVING JOB AT MIDNIGHT SLIPED AND FELL ON ICE OFF DOCK INTO PIT INJURING LEFT LEG AND RIGHT SHOULDER

WAS PUTTING BAG ON BAGGING SPOUT AND CUT LEFT FOREFINGER REQUIRING SOME STITCHES

WAS OPERATING BAGGING MACHINE & HAND HIT BAGGING SPOUT CUTTING HIS FINGER AT THE KNUCKLE ON LEFT FOREFINGER, REQUIRING SOME STITCHES.

WORKING ON KILN AND TURNED RIGHT FOOT OVER AND BROKE IT.