Barrick Goldstrike Mines, IncMining Incidents in 2005

The Mary Ann hoist went down due to a ground fault from a pinched wire on a limit switch cover. It went back up at 6:10 pm on 11/27/05.

On Sunday, 11/6/05 there was a power bump at the Meikle Mine which knocked all ventilation offline. All fans tripped at 4:45 pm. The bulk air cooler fans were online at 4:45 pm, the two main exhaust fans came back online at 5:24 pm. All personnel were evacuated from both Meikle & Rodeo mines until ventilation was returned to normal.

During the brake inspection by the hoist operator, the brake solenoid on the rear pinion brake #MV1-R failed.

Emp was climbing onto bolter, slipped and hit face on a piece of screen. He had immediate swelling and numbness to the right side of face. When this did not go away, he sought treatment on 12/09/05. CT scan results reviewed on 12/13/05 with an Ear/Nose/Throat doctor confirmed that he had punctured his sinus, making this a reportable injury.

The employee was welding on a large project for approximately a week in the same position, and flipping his welding hood up and down. He felt neck pain and sought treatment from Golden Health on 12/09/05. He was diagnosed with 'wry neck' and put off work.

Employee was tying two tailpipes together. A strap broke punching his left leg against the pipe they were working on therefore breaking his left leg.

Washing out lime tank some slag fell from walls & covered him causing burns to legs, arms and eyes. Drug screen results-negative.

Emp was cutting pipe; as coworkers moved cut pipe, it caused a piece of pipe tomove towards the emp, pinching his left leg between two pieces of pipe. Emp was diagnosed with fractured left fibula, placed in a boot and on crutches and told to remain off work. Emp also suffered a burn to the left calf that was grafted.

Emp was loading a ladder on a tractor and felt a twinge in the groin area on 10/02/05. Two days later on night shift, he was lifting scaffolding, and felt another twinge in the groin area. He used the restroom, and noticed a bulge in groin area. He sought evaluation on 10/05/05, was diagnosed with a hernia, and referred to a surgeon for evaluation and treatment.

ASCENDING LADDER, STEPPED ON ROCK TWISTING KNEE.

Was off day. Woke up the morning of 5/30/05 with pain in right arm.

Employee was grading road when he struck his head on a vent fan hanging from the back of grader. He was treated in ER where it was determined he suffered head, neck and back strain. He was released to return to work on 02/25/05, missing his next scheduled shift.

Employee was lifting nozzle to fuel 966 loader & pulled muscle in back. Transported to NNRH ER for eval. Given 2 days restricted duty & then return to work full duty. He contacted Safety & Health 1/31 requesting further eval still in pain. Follow up 2/01 at Golden Health; xrays of back normal. Prescribed anti-inflammatory, narcotic pain med & put off work.

EE WAS FILLING THE ACCELERATOR TANK ON THE SHOTCRETE SPRAY TRUCK. EE LOOKED DOWN AND SAW ACCELERANT COMING OUT OF THE VALVE. EE CLOSED TE VALVE BUT THE PLUG WAS NOT PUT BACK IN THE TOP OF THE TANK, THIS CAUSED THE ACCELERANT TO BLOW OUT INTO EE EYES.

Emp was holding an S hook in right hand to guide 480 volt power cable onto reel. As cable was rolling, it jerked, pulling emp's right hand and arm into the cable reel. Emp pulled hand and arm free; xrays at er were negative for fracture, emp released to full duty. Upon follow-up with dr. emp referred to orthopedist and placed on restricted duty beginning 10/13/05.

Rock from shovel bucket struck truck bed and jarred emp. Emp experienced immediate neck pain and was transported by ambulance to emergency room. X-rays of neck negative for fracture, emp diagnosed with acute cervical strain. Upon follow-up with doctor before next scheduled shift, emp placed on restricted duty.

Employee states that he was walking around a corner and his ""feet got tangled up"" and he tripped. He fell to the concrete floor, landing on his left elbow. He was transported to NNRH-ER where he was diagnosed with two fractures to the radius and ulna. Surgery to place a plate with screws on one of the fractures was performed.

Employee attempted to remove a piece of lumber that was underneath a job box in the bed of a pickup. The lid of the tool box was in a raised position, the employee placed his left hand in the jamb of the lid, and pushed upward on the box to free the lumber, this caused the lid to close smashing his left hand.

WHILE LIFTING A 10' ROD UP, THE WATER SWIVEL CAUGHT THE TOWER AND KICKED OUT LOWER END OF ROD HITTING EMPLOYEE ABOVE THE EYE.

Employee was servicing an RTD (rubber-tired dozer). He removed the radiator cap and hot antifreeze sprayed out onto his right arm and face. Employee was transported to emergency room, diagnosed with 2nd and 1st degree burns, and referred to physical therapy. He was released to restricted duty.

Employee stepped over the PM bay rail, tripped and fell to right, left leg twisted and went to the left, straining the knee. Xrays at emergency room negative for fracture, employee referred to orthopedist for further evaluation and possible treatment. Released to restricted duty.

Emp standing on bumper of boom truck attempting to raise hood. Hands slipped while pulling on hood, and emp fell backwards onto the ground. No fractures, diagnosed with lumbar strain and returned to restricted duty.

Employee stepped out of his water truck at fill stand and stepped on a rock, rolling his left ankle. He was seen at the emergency room where x-rays were negative for fracture. Was diagnosed with a sprained left ankle, given crutches and a brace and returned to restricted duty for 5 days.

The driller broke the rod loose and chucked the rod and it fell off striking employee on the shoulder.

Temporary service worker was walking pas the GET (ground engaging tool) bay during the process of changing a side protector on a CAT 922G loader bucket. While striking the protector loose (using a sledge hammer), a piece of metal from the side of the protector ""flew off"", striking the worker in the upper right thigh and lodging itself.

Emp 1 was handing large filter to emp 2; emp 2 lost hold of filter which fell. Emp 1 tried to catch the filter which struck his thumb causing a large flap laceration to the pad. Wound was closed at ER with sutures, emp 1 released to restricted duty until sutures removed.

Employee said, ""when got off truck, hit knee on fire suppression unit, then got knee caught underneath and all twisted"". Employee was transported to NNRH-ER, where x-rays were negative for fracture, he was given a brace and two days restricted duty, and told to follow up on Monday, May 9. with Dr. Parker at Golden Health, was diagnosed with contusion and released to full duty.

Employee was checking for leaks in a pipe when he fell through the grating he was walking on. He fell about 4' to the pipe gallery below and lacerated his right shin. He was transported to ER by ambulance where the wound was sutured. Upon follow up with Dr he was released to restricted duty.

Employee states he stepped off of a cement slab (connex building slab) onto gravel when his foot slipped causing a strain to his right groin. Employee was transferred to NNRH in a company vehicle. Employee was seen by a doctor and released to light duty. An investigation insued and it was determined on 04/05/05 that this indeed was to be a medical reportable.

Employee was moving timbers to lift truck with flat tire off the ground. Setting down timber, heard left knee pop, felt ""bolt of lightening"" shoot through left leg and fell to ground. Worked thru shift. Next morning left knee still sore. Went to Dr.; xray taken. Dr. felt tendon or muscle pull; will heal. Knee still unstable, saw Dr. 2/21/05 put in brace; light duty; reportable.

Employee states: I was dusted out by backfill transfer raise and couldn't see anything. While trying to escape, I grabbed the ladder with both hands and tried to step, but slipped off and fell to platform below. Transported to NNRH ER & eval for lower back strain. Given 2 days restricted duty & told to return full duty 1/31.

Employee was stepping off bus. There was some light snow on ground. He slipped & twisted his right ankle. He worked for a couple of hours driving haul truck before pain became too great. Taken to NNRH ER for eval. Xrays negative for fracture. Given 2 days restricted duty.

Employee was out of his truck, he took a step & heard a pop and had sharp pain in right ankle. Was seen by ER doctor; follow up with podiatrist on 1/21 & given hard boot to wear with follow up 1/28. Released to full duty 1/28.

Employee was carrying bolter, right foot slipped on loose rocks & he fell to the ground, landing on left knee. Reported incident to supervisor. Knee continued to swell, he requested a physician's eval. Saw Dr. Lao on 1/17; MRI requested to determine any soft tissue damage to knee. Released to full duty. 1/31 MRI results indicated meniscus tear. Surgery on 2/03. Reportable on 1/31.

Employee was stepping out of van, there was a skiff of snow covering some ice; he slipped on the ice. He had just returned on12/20/04 full duty from right knee replacement surgery. X-rays taken at NNRH ER showed no problems with knee. Diagnosed with strain, knee was wrapped with ace and given crutches. Follow up with orthopedic surgeon on 01/05/05 @ 9:45 am.

Emp was cutting down 42 inch vent bags and loading them on his truck. He picked up a piece of bag, hitting his left forearm on a cut piece of wire, resulting in a 2 inch deep puncture wound. The wound was packed and bandaged to ensure healing from the inside, and the employee was released to full duty.

Emp stepped off stairway at bottom of primary crushing building stairs and turned awkwardly, popping back. He was given a shot of cortisone to decrease the inflammation and will follow-up on 11/26/05. He is medical reportable for the shot at this time.

While removing poly coating from a tank using ultra high pressure, employee lost footing and dropped the turbo gun. The gun spun around and sprayed the employee across his foot creating a small cut to the foot. Conditions contributing to injury was poor drainage, low lighting and trip hazards.

HE WAS ADDING A 5'ROD WHEN HE GOT HIS FINGER CAUGHT BETWEEN THE ROD & CHUCK SPANNER NUT, CAUSING A LACERATION TO HIS LEFT RING FINGER REQUIRING STITCHES.

Emp was walking by loader in the 1225 shop, when his left shoulder rubbed against the cab of the loader. A metal sliver embedded in his upper left arm on the tricep-bicep transition area. He was transported to er for eval, doctor required to slit open skin to remove the sliver. No sutures necessary, emp released to full duty.

EE WAS TRYING TO PRY THE HEAD UP TO RELEASE THE CHAIN HOOK THAT GOT CAUGHT IN THE COM-A-LONG. THE PRY BAR SLIPPED CAUSING HIM TO LOOSE HIS FOOTING. HE FELL AND HIT THE RIB WITH HIS RIGHT ARM AND ELBOW.

Emp closing a tailings dam discharge line valve, felt sharp pain in rt.forearm. A 2 in. long piece of wire had entered forearm, when emp pulled back, wire came out leaving a laceration to rt. forearm. Laceration required sutures and a tetanus shot.

HE WAS LOWERING A HQ TUBE INTO THE HOLE. HE WAS GUIDING IT INTO THE HOLE WITH THE OVERSHOT WHEN HE CUT HIS LEFT HAND ON A BURR ON THE OVERSHOT.

Emp was driving lube truck underground. A wire was sticking out from the rib, and the emp hit his forehead above the right eye on the wire. It caused a puncture wound which was cleaned at the emergency room. A drain was placed in the wound and the emp will follow-up before his next scheduled shift.

Emp was cutting w/band saw on 06/23/05, eye felt irritated when emp got off bus after work. Got progressively worse overnight, and EMT found foreign body in eye on 06/24/05 when emp arrived at work. The metal sliver was removed with a needle by ER physician when flushing failed to dislodge it.

Employee was fitting exhaust flex pipe to turbo. Flex pipe rotated and lacerated the top of left index finger. Employee was given a full return to duty release.

Employee was dismounting dozer. He slipped and fell, landing on his face and head. He was taken to NNRH ER where he received a stitch on his nose and a splint for his left ring finger as there was a torn tendon in the finger. He was released to full duty.

EE WAS CARRYING BRICK TO SAW WHEN SHE HIT HER ELBOW ON AN I BEAM. EE CONTINUED WORKING. SUPERVISOR ASKED EE IF SHE WANTED TO SEE A DOCTOR, BUT EE DECLINED. WHEN SHE GOT UP THE NEXT DAY, EE WAS IN A LOT OF PAIN AND WENT TO THE ER. DOCTOR PRESCRIBED ANTI-INFLAMMATORY MED. EE NEVER RETURNED TO JOBSITE, BUT COULD HAVE WORKED 2 MORE DAYS BEFORE JOB WAS COMPLETE.

Was moving oxygen cylinders to a cylinder rack in the underground shop when a cylinder fell over and he tried to stop the fall and pinched his finger between the cylinder and the rack. Cut finger received 7 sutures.

He was cleaning a mutt-tool (knife) with a rag; rag caught on knife and cut his right index finger (3 stitches).

EE KNELT DOWN TO HELP SET UP A DRILL, EE GOT MINE WATER AND DRILL FLUID IN BOOT, IT WENT UP LEG AND CAUSED A RASH, IT WAS HOT IN THE MINE AND THE WORKER WAS WEARING LEVIS AND RAIN SLICKER.

Employee has worked in maintenance for BGMI for 17 yrs. Began feeling some pain and discomfort in November 2004, which has gradually gotten worse. Right hand is painful radiating to index, middle and ring fingers; middle finger locks up as in a case of trigger finger. Received cortizon shot on 03/25/05 in which this became reportable.

(NOT ON MINE PROPERTY - OCCURRED IN PRIVATE PARKING LOT APPROX. 45 MILES FROM MINE; PARKING LOT HAD NO AFFILIATION WITH THE MINE.) Employee pinched his finger between a fork and wheel while moving a pallet jack.