Alpine Silica, LLCMining Incidents in 2024

Miner suffered 3rd degree burns to the abdomen when a hose popped off the seal pump in the process of removal. Burns required debridement and an allograft.

Miner struck by 'clay boulder' when EE crawled into a feed hopper to clear an obstruction. The miner suffered muscle damage requiring hospitalization and medication. Diagnosed with Rhabdomyolysis. No broken bones were found during the examination.

Operator was using a 2 pound sledgehammer to remove a worn tooth from an excavator bucket. When the operator hit the worn tooth (one time) with the hammer, a metal shard broke off of the worn tooth and passed through the operator's pants and the top of EE's leather boots before penetrating the operator's left leg, just above EE's ankle.

Miner Suffered a laceration requiring 6 sutures to their left arm while removing a dryer expansion joint.

While observing another miner removing teeth from an excavator bucket from approximately 5-6 feet away. The injured miner was struck in the hand by a shard of metal (approximately 4mm X5mm) that broke off of the excavator tooth.

Employee was in the control room preparing for shift change. Employee then noticed co-worker had a knife on the table and asked if EE could look at it. Co-worker handed the knife to the employee. EE ended up grabbing it wrongly by the blade, cutting self in the process. Laceration required 6 sutures to close the wound. Employee returned to duty after medical treatment.

Employee was adjusting the trunnion bearings of the dryer drum. Employee in 102° weather started to feel hot/ill, notified supervisor. EE was then taken to a break room. First aid administered. Symptoms worsened, decided to take employee to the hospital. When employee was stood up, EE lost consciousness but regained it a moment later. Taken by ambulance for medical treatment.