Alcoa World Alumina LLCMining Incidents in 2007

EE suffered an approx 1/8"" amputation to the tip of his left middle finger. He was transported to Victoria for surgery. He returned to work the following day with restrictions. He was removing a piece of grating from platform. His fingers were inside the grating to pull on it. As he pulled the grating to break it free, it gave way & he lost control of it. Finger was caught.

EE was using 8-lb sledgehammer to open & close valves & screen boxes in Calcination area of plant when she suffered a strain to her rt shoulder. She was seen by the plant doctor who issued restrictions & referred her to an orthopedic dr. She was instructed by the orthopedic dr not to return to work pending results of exam. This resulted in EE losing time from work.

Employee suffered chemical burns to both eyes, left ear, back, and mouth. He was attempting to clear a blocked precoat line to #24 filter press when he was contacted by precoat. The injury to his eyes resulted in him being transported to University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX where he was treated & released the same day.

EE suffered chemical burns to his body. He was trasported by air ambulance to Galveston. He underwent surgery for chemical burns to his back & lower body. Additional surgery is planned for week of 6/25/07. EE was working in the Clarification area of the plant. He was in the process of clearing blockage of suction line to the mud pumps when he came in contact with liquor.

Empolyee was walking across the grating covering a chute at C-7 precipiatation when the grating shifted and she fell into the chute. The employee has had a persistent shoulder problem and has now elected to have medical treatment.

Employee suffered a strain to his right shoulder while emptying trash from the General Mechanic Shop in the chemicals area of the plant. The trash bag weighed about 30 lbs. As he lifted the bag to his shoulder with the right hand, he felt a ""snap"" in his bicep. He dropped the bag. He was seen at Alcoa's medical facility then taken to the ER where he was issued restrictions.

EE suffered a contusion and mild abrasions to his right arm which resulted in a lost work day. He was contacted by hydraulic oil when a discharge pipe on the hydraulic system burst under a filter in Calcination area of plant. He was treated at the local ER and returned to work. The next day, he went back complaining of pain. He was told not to return to work by the ER physician.

EE received injuries while attempting to restart No. 2 Aluminum Floride Unit in the R-84 Chemicals facility. During the restart, vacuum was lost and the HF was not being pulled through the converter. As this happened, HF gass was released from around the 8 & 9 feed screws and around the seal of the kiln. EE was transported to a hospital for treatment and was released the next day.

EE received injuries while attempting to restart No. 2 Aluminum Floride Unit in the R-84 Chemicals facility. During the restart, vacuum was lost and the HF was not being pulled through the converter. As this happened, HF gass was released from around the 8 & 9 feed screws and around the seal of the kiln. EE was transported to a hospital for treatment and was released the next day.

EE was pulling up a pry bar to access more t-lead cable. The leads were burnt. They were trying to get them high enough to insulate them. There was about 3 1"" cables. EE put a shackle on the end of one of the cables; he put a pry bar through the shackle against the motor and pulled up on end. He began to feel discomfort a few days later. He sought medical attention.

Employee suffered a contusion to his right cheek while correcting lighting problems in the bauxite tunnel. While carrying a light fixture, he slipped and fell striking his face with the light fixture. He had a small laceration and bruise to his face. Due to a pre-existing medical condition, he was air lifted the University Medical Center. This resulted in lost workdays.

EE suffered a strain to his left shoulder on 2/1/07, which was a first-aid case. On 3/14/07, he was issued restrictions. A bolt had fallen to the floor and EE was trying to retrieve the bolt. He braced himself by holding onto a pipe. It was raining and the pipe was wet. His hand slipped off the pipe and he jarred his shoulder.

EE was using a 8lb sledge hammer while opening & closing a valve. EE stated he felt a burning sensation in the abdomen area while closing the valve. The incident occurred 1/31/07 & was classified as a 1st aid case. Due to strain of abdominal muscles, EE developed umblical hernia & underwent surgery 3/20/07.

Employee was breaking refractory with a pry bar inside the opening of a holding vessel. The refractory broke off the vessel and struck him on the top of his left hand resulting in a laceration. He worked the following day and in the afternoon he reported his hand was swollen. He was transported to the local medical facility emergency room where he was given antibiotics. rtw

EE was opening a valve on a tank in the Precipitation area of the plant when he received a laceration to his head. As he was releasing the locking handle, valve handle spun around and struck him. He was working from a portable stand & was driven off the stand by the impact of the valve handle. He was transported to a local medical facility where the laceration was sutured.

Employee was closing a pump off discharge valve on #7 pump in the precipitation area of the plant. While tightening down the valve the employee strained muscles in his left shoulder. The employee reported to the plant Medical Dept. and was placed on work restrictions.

EE strained his right shoulder while pulling out a refractory plug on a holding vessel. Because the eye bolt was broken, he had to pull the plug out with a pair of channel locks & a pry bar, straining his shoulder. After showering with hot water his shoulder felt better, but the following morning, he felt stiffness & pain. On 11/2 the plant dr issued a prescription & restrictions.

EE suffered chemical burns to his inside lips. He was disconnecting air compressed line which was slightly pressurized. Connection broke, caustic which had drained into the hose sprayed into his mouth. Air line shut down improperly by a prior shift which allowed caustic to backflow into hose. EE used 2 cans of DAP & utilized emergency rinse station.

Employee was cutting a piece of angle iron. He cut a 5' piece of angle when the piece fell, hit the ground, bounced up and hit his (L) foot. Employee continued to work, but was taken to the doctor on 10/9/07 where a fracture was discovered. He was released to return to work on modified duty.

EE suffered a chemical burn to his rt eye. He'd been changing a gasket on an acid line & stepped away from the job & pulled his goggles away from his face to clear fog. He felt something contact his eye. Security Officer irrigated the eye & transported EE to a local medical facility. He was then transported to a specialist for treatment & restrictions were issued.

Employee was standing on a clean surface on the top floor of the R-45 in the precipitation area of the plant. When he turned around to head in a different direction, he rolled his ankle. Restrictions were issued due to the swelling.

Employee in the Raw Materials area suffered a fracture to his left ring finger. He was transported by company vehicle to a local emergency medical facility where he received sutures and it was determined that his finger was fractured. Employee was latching the lid on a barge when the injury occurred.

1. Approx late june He stated he bumped his knee on ladder while climbing down from HEC platform. He self-medicated and rested knee. 2. 7/19/07 he indicated while working on top of F-7 thickener, upon climbing rain slicked ladder, he slipped and bumped knee again on ladder rung. He reported to Medical for evaluation by the plant dr on 8/9/07.

EE suffered chemical burns to his right hand which is reportable due to the issuance of restrictions to his hand. EE was moving loose lime into a pile. As the skid steer loader pushed into the pile, a dust cloud enveloped the employee and loader, resulting in the burns.

EE was putting a tank in service in the Precipitatin area of the plant, when he received a chemical butn to his right eye, resulting in a restricted work day case. The A-frame he was adjusting slipped, hitting his goggles and knocking them out of place. The the A-frame fell into the trough, splashing liquor into his eye. He was taken by to ER, treated and released.

Employee was lining up a pump with a pry-bar. The pry-bar slipped in the process causing a forward motion. When the forward motion occurred, employee strained his neck. Employee was placed on restrictions.

EE and co-worker were cleaning out a screen box that did not want to come out. After hosing and washing it out and beating it with a hammer, EE tried to pull it out. He could not get it out, so he hit it again with the hammer, then tried to pull it again and strained his right shoulder.

Employee was working to remove a restriction on 1A2 Supplemental line. He used a 3-lb hammer to open a valve. Upon striking the locking handle, the hammer struck a glancing blow resulting in a laceration to his right index finger when it came in contact with the edge of the handle. After being seen by the plant doctor, he was taken to a medical facility and had sutures.

Employee suffered a strain to his left shoulder. He was swinging an 8 lb sledge hammer to close valve. His shoulder felt tired but he completed closing the valve, then moved to the next valve & proceded to close it. On the 2nd swing, his shoulder popped. He was seen by plant dr. who referred him to the local hospital E.R. He was issued restrictions.

EE was preparing to leave work at end of 12-hr shift. As he reached down to pick up lunch box, he experienced sharp pain to lower back. He received 1st aid treatment by security personnel & went home. He continued to have pain & went to personal dr. on morning of 1/22/07 where he was given Rx. He visited company dr. following visit to personal dr. & restrictions were issued.

EE was working in R325 overhaul yard on a kiln end plate. He was installing a gasket to fit around the outside edge of the plate. He was trimming the width of the gasket using a utility knife in a clenched fist & pulling down & across it. When the knife came to the end of the gasket, it slipped down & struck him in the rt leg above the knee. Laceration was closed w/sutures.

Employee was loading at Alcoa R-50 Railcar Loading Station when he suffered possible exposure to HF from a near by chemical release. Employee was taken to first aid and given HF first aid treatment and then transported to local hospital emergency room.

Employee was loading at Alcoa R-50 Railcar Loading Station when he suffered possible exposure to HF from a near by chemical release. Employee was taken to first aid and given HF first aid treatment and then transported to local hospital emergency room.

A small amount of acid gas was released from the 10 screw area of the number 5 kiln in the r-84 unit. The smell of the gas was disagreeable to the employee causing him to gag and vomit. The personal monitor the ee was wearing detected hydrofluoric gas well below dangerous levels. He received precautionary treatment but no evidence of exposure was detected the dr. the company does

Employee was prying flanges with a bar when his right little finger was lacerated. The bar he was using slipped, smashing his finger between the bar and a cross brace. He was treated at a local medical facility where the laceration was closed with stitches.

Employee was washing out a flash. It slipped from his hands, broke in the sink and a piece of glass went through his rubber glove, resulting in a 1"" laceration to his right palm. He was sent to the local medical emergency facility where he received stitches to close the wound.

EE was injured when a section of grating failed at the R-52 Bulk Loading Tower. EE dropped his tool underneath the stationary counterweights of the tower. He knelt down in order to crawl to the tool, when the grating failed. He fell approx 18' to the water below the tower, approx 2 1/2'. Suffered a laceration to upper lip, a contusion below his right eye and abrasions to shin.

EE was performing work tasks from a stand and when he stepped down off the stand, his right knee caught the stand, ripping his right pant leg and lacerating his right knee. He was seen by Security personnel, then transported to the local medical ER, where they sutured the approximate 1"" X 1"" laceration.

EE sustained a laceration to the right side of his forehead while operating a D10 dozer. A pathway had been cut during the previous shift by the D10 dozer. After the run was completed, the dozer operator decided to help push bauxite to the other hopper. When he crossed the mound with the dozer, it came crushing down to the ground. He was unaware that the ramp had been dug out.