All MSHA-reportable accidents at Alcoa World Alumina LLC operations in 2006. Fatalities appear first.
Employee was shoveling alumina from track 3 scale in the Calcination area of the plant when she suffered a strain to her lower back. This incident occurred on 12/06/06, but was not reported to the Medical Department until 12/15/06.
EE received a significant laceration to his left ring finger, resulting in restricted work. EE was positioning a 500lb cabinet onto a rolling cart w/assistance of 3 other EE's. As the cabinet was being lowered to the cart, the cart tipped up under the weight of the cabinet, pinching his left ring finger between the lip of the cart and cabinet. Transported to medical center.
EE strained his back while working overtime. EE was shoveling material under the #1 filter in R-55. He ended his shift at 11:00 p.m. He began to feel discomfort in the morning of 3/14 & went to emergency room he was given a prescription and was told to be off til 3/16. EE began his 7 days off (shift schedule) on 3/16 and was seen by the plant physician.
EE suffered chemical burns to both eyes. Transported by air ambulance to Univ. of TX Medical Branch in Galveston. Treated & released 1/21. Incident occurred when R31 relay relief tank pressurized causing lid to separate from top of tank. Liquor from tank sprayed south & east of tank & contacted EE & 8 others working in area. EE & 1 co-worker lost work days.
EE suffered chemical burns to both eyes. He was taken to Memorial Medical Center in Port Lavaca, TX by ground ambulance for evaluation. Treated & released. Incident occurred when R31 relay relief tank pressurized causing lid to separate from top of tank. Liquor from the tank sprayed south & east of tank & contacted EE & 8 others working in area. EE & 1 co-worker lost work days.
EE was hammering on a plugged underflow line with an 8lb hammer when she felt pain in her shoulder. EE worked the remainder of shift. She was seen by plant nurse & Dr & treated using ice & OTC medication. She was off for 2 days per her work schedule & returned to work with increased pain & inflamation in shoulder. She was placed on restricted duty on 12/18 by supervison in her Dept
Employee suffered a chemical burn to the first, middle and ring fingers of his left hand. He was using chemical rubber gloves to pull a blind. As part of the job a 1 1/4"" socket was needed. He pulled the socket off the impact gun but doesn't remember if the rubber gloves were on when he did so. He suspects HF acid could have contacted his skin when he was putting his tools away.
Employee was opening a cone valve in the calcination area of the plant and the cheeter bar he was using gave way resulting in a strain to his lower back. restrictions were issued.
Employee's tip of (L) finger was caught between choker and stub of uncovered leaf when the crane was coming up on hoist.
EE was pulling a slide out of a precipitator trough. The A-frame he was using with a come-along shifted. The foot on the A-frame kicked out when the A-frame was under tension hitting him in the chest, resulting in a contusion. Restrictions were issued.
Employee suffered a groin strain while shoveling wet fluorspar. He raised a dumpster to clean fluorspar that was stuck in the dumpster. As the employee attempted to shovel the material from the dumpster, he experienced a strain. Restrictions were issued.
EE was placing loading spout in railcar when part of his fall protection system snagged on spout assembly. Snag pulled EE back as he was walking away from spout, then quickly released causing him to stumble & experience same-level fall. He struck handrail while falling, resulting in laceration over rt lower rib cage. He was transported to Memorial Medical Center.
EE's were completing a project to install new 1/2"" stainless steel tubing for a conductivity meter on the #3 high pressure boiler. The line was being put into service when an elbow separated from the tubing after pressure was put into the system. The elbow & attached tubing bent backwards & struck ee in the right ear & jaw. Stitches to ear & contusion to jaw. Light Duty.
EE received 1st degree chemical burns to his back, face & right eye when he was splashed with process liquor. He was in the process of swapping pumps at the ""H"" tanks when liquor discharged through a drain valve, hit the ground & splashed the ee. He was transported to the ER. He was evaluated & sent the a burn center for treatment. EE was treated & released 7/30/06 to light duty.
Employee suffered a strain to her left shoulder while opening a valve with a 10 lb sledge hammer. Employee thinks the injury occurred when she missed the handle of the valve while swinging the sledge hammer. Restrictions were issued 6/5/2006.
Employee suffered a strain to his right shoulder while double wrenching a 36' flange. Employee saw a personal physician and an MRI is scheduled. Alcoa's plant physician issued employee restrictions on 6/6/06.
Employee was removing scale from inside the digester when a large piece of scale fell from above him and struck his body in several different areas.
Employee strained his lower right back while pulling a screen box in the Precipitaion area of the plant.
Employee strained his lower right back while pulling a screen box in the precipitation area of the plant.
Employee suffered a strain to his left elbow while working at R52 bulk loading dock. He was issued prescription medication and a restriction. He was helping to secure a barge that was being brought in. A co-worker threw a cable to him and he leaned to catch it. When he caught it, the cable jerked his left arm and hyperextended his elbow.
Employee sustained a chemical burn to his right eye. He was issued prescription medications at memeorial medical center in port lavaca. He was walking under tank #97 on the ground floor of the precipitation area. He looked up and something dropped into his right eye while wearing his safety glasses. Plant dr referred employee to victoria eye center 1/17/06
EE & co-worker were using pneumatic jacks to position motor for #4 rod mill in R-25. Jack was placed between fabricated backstop & base of motor. EE had positioned his jack in preparation to move motor & had enough pressure on jack to keep it in place against backstop. While waiting for co-worker to position other jack, backstop failed. Base of jack slipped off & hit EE in head.
Employee received a laceration to his right hand. The employee was trying to remove a stuck filter from the suction of 55-3 main blower with a rod. The frame of the filter gave way and his hand contacted the filter frame which resulted in the laceration. The laceration was closed with sutures at the local emergency room.
Employee suffered a chemical burn to both eyes. He was closing a valve when the packing blew and liquor contacted his eyes and front torso. He was treated with Morgen Lens to both eyes and was taken to a local hospital by EMS for evaluation. He was released the same night.
EE was performing normal routine tasks when his right eye became inflamed and irritated. Alcoa's plant physician referred employee to a local eye center for evaluation. He was issued a prescription medication for his eye.
Employee was changing out the blade on a utility knife he was using on the job and it slipped. As it slipped, he caught it and cut his left hand. He was taken to a local emergency room where he received sutures.
EE & co-workers were lifting a valve in the unit in the clarification area. He looked up to make sure the valve being lifted would clear the other equipment & some liquor dripped on the corner of his hard hat & splashed in his right eye(under his safety glasses). Prescription medication had to be used for his eye.
EE was taking plate off the burning table with a magnet. As he cleared the table, the plate released from the magnet and fell on his right foot. He was sent to hospital for further evaluation and treatment, where it was determined he had a fracture to his right toe. Prescription meds were issued, but he returned to work without restrictions.
Employees deviated from normal tube demoliton procedure, they used a tool that was not designated to be used in tight quarters. Resulted in injury to employee's right forearm. The injury resulted in the foreman having to be sutured by an MD. The injury did not result in any loss of mobility or impairment to the arm.
Employee suffered a strain to his left shoulder when he fell while running away from caustic spray in January 2006. As employee was running to get away from the spray, he fell on his left shoulder, which was a first-aid case at the time. However his shoulder has worsened and he is receiving therapy making this a medical treatment case.
Employee suffered heat stress & required 2 liters of intravenous fluids to rehydrate. The fluids were given at a local hospital. Employee is new to the location and was not fully acclimated to working in hot conditions. He had worked on a number of high-heat jobs throughout the day and on overtime. The employee did not maintain proper hydration levels.
Employee was working under one of the tanks in the Clarification area of the plant. As he walked to look at a screen, he became dizzy. He was taken to the plant Medical Department for evaluation and was referred to a local medical emergency room where he was given IV fluids.
ee was in training in the Chemicals area of the plant and suffered heat illness. She was taken to the ER and she was given iv fluids.
A contract nurse in the Medical Department was stuck in the right middle finger by a syringe after its use. After administering an allergy shot, the contract employee states she attempted to secure the needle and the latch (on the syringe) shifted to the side allowing her right middle finger to be punctured.