Barrick Goldstrike Mines, IncMining Incidents in 2007

Bringing cage up from 4100 level; hoist stopped. Reset hoist, brought to collar with no issues. Hoist down approx 10 seconds. Hoist brought back into service after several test runs, at approx 9:00 a.m.

5:30 PM Monday Sept 3 Rodeo hoist went down. An electrician had been called out for repairs. Doesn't run in auto or manual. MSHA notified at 6:00 PM and told that it was not an emergency, only a reportable. Diane from district called at 6:13 PM to verify that it was not an emergency. Rodeo hoist back up at 2:10 AM Tuesday Sept 4. MSHA notified at 2:11 AM hoist was operational.

Brush fire behind the Bazza Dump. No equipment or personnel were in the area when fire began. Fire was contained and completely extinquished at 14:00. No property damage; no injuries.

An employee was filling the grease reservoir on shovel MA182. The technician and the shovel operator were within 15 to 18 feet of an uninitiated booster when it exploded. There was no immediately identifiable cause for the detonation of the booster, but a full investigation was initiated on the day of the incident.

At approximately 1807 a miner was in process of installing ground support when approximately 15-20 ton of unconsolidated material ran from the unsupported back.

Ground fall occurred at 3750-AX200 heading, the fall occurred in the back of a drift that was being prepped to be jammed. A front end loader was cleaning the area when he noticed the ground starting to dribble. He pulled out of the area and called for the lead miner.

Employees were backfilling a lining overlay. SOS employees were waiting to complete their backfilling when the wind from a passing thunderstorm picked up and began to move the liner. Our employees ran across the liner to help and were thrown 50 feet into the air by the liner. Two SOS employees were injured.

EE was using a pry bar to dislodge a piece of scrap steel. When it would not come loose, he started to walk around to the other side to pry on it again, when the steel broke free and landed on his left foot. EE was wearing steel toed boots.

Employee was helping to lift a pipe and he lost his grip on it and a metal ring on the pipe hit his knee. He was seen at the ER, placed in a knee immobilizer and released to restricted duty.

While air arcing flange, it shifted approx. 12"" and employee stepped backwards. At that time his foot went off the scaffolding and under the midrail. The employee then topped over the midrail and fell to the floor 8' down. Employee broke his left femur.

Employee was getting into a truck and felt a pop in his back. He was seen at the ER and placed off work to attend physical therapy.

Employee was working on a rock breaker and a foreign body got in his eye. He was seen by an opthamologist and placed off work for 4 days.

Employee was moving an empty oxygen cylinder. He pulled and tore his bicep muscle. The muscle was surgically repaired and the employee was placed off work.

Employee was closing door on loader and smashed his thumb. Open fracture of thumb. Thumb was cleaned and sutured and employee was placed off work.

Inadequate illumination, improper footing on uneven ground, ground may have been slick, steep grade

Employee was repainting a tire flange when it fell off the hangar striking his right ankle. He was seen at the ER and referred to a foot and ankle specialist. He will be having surgery to repair the fracture on 07/18/07.

Employee was pulling himself up and over the framework of a conveyor belt and pulled a muscle in his low back. He was seen at the clinic and released to restricted duty. Further follow-up resulted in teh employee being put off work and given physical therapy for the injury.

Employee stepped off of a piece of equipment onto a snow covered rock, twisting his ankle. He was seen at the ER, diagnosed with a severe sprain and referred for follow-up. He was released to restricted duty.

Employee was using a loader to clean highwall. Portion of highwall came down into the extended loader bucket causing the loader to tip forward then rebound back, jarring the employee in the cab. He was seen at the ER, diagnosed with a cervical strain and possible compression fracture. Was given restricted duty on 12/17/07.

Employee installing bushings on 11/23/07, didn't feel pain until after arriving home. Worked all weekend, had more pain morning of 11/26/07. Saw Dr and was diagnosed with muscle strain. Further follow-up on 11/29/07 resulted in a restricted duty return to work.

Employee was drilling into steel with a 1/2"" drill when the drill torqued out of his right hand causing twisting motion and injury to his right hand in the form of a fractured metacarpal bone.

Employee was working overhead using an impact gun, lifting and pulling heavy items. He finished his shift, went home, ate and slept. Got up for work the next evening and was unable to use right arm. He is scheduled for MRI on right shoulder and has been placed on restricted duty as of 11/05/07.

Employee was stepping off lube truck and placed his right foot in muddy ground. Right ankle twisted and employee felt immediate pain. Diagnosed with a strain and released to two days of restricted duty.

Employee was backing up while pulling on a fire hose, stepped in a ditch, and fell to the ground, hitting his head and right elbow on the concrete. Diagnosed with a hairline fracture to the right radius. Released to full duty.

Employee was lifting a 3/4 inch cable overhead and felt pain in her left shoulder. It continued to be painful and she became unable to lift anything with her left arm. Diagnostic testing (MRI) confirmed on 09/26/07 there was a small tendon tear. Employee released to sedentary duty.

Employee stepped out of skid steer loader and twisted knee.

Employee was walking upstairs, when he turned the corner, his foot did not turn and he wrenched his left knee. He was seen by an orthopedist on 09/06/07, referred for an MRI and released to restricted duty.

Lifting large timbers. Lower back strain.

Fueling small pump engine. Gasoline spilled on hot exhaust, flaring up and burning employee. Blistered hands, reddened neck and face. Eyes okay, wearing safety glasses.

Employee was sitting on a platform loosening lug nuts, when he turned to stand up, he felt pain in his lower back. He was placed on restricted duty and diagnosed with a low back strain.

Employee slipped getting off a piece of equipment, fell on left hand, and fractured his left wrist. The bone was immobilized and the wrist was cast, and the employee was released to restricted duty.

Employee was operating a water truck and hit his head on the radio box. Laceration required 4 stitches.

Employee hit her head on a table when she bent over to pick something up. Laceration required stitches.

Lost control of service truck and jumped from truck.

Employee was cleaning a geho strainer when he took a lid off and hot slurry splashed him on the left side of the face and left arm. He was seen at the ER, diagnosed with 1st and 2nd degree burns, debrided, the burns were dressed and the employee was released to full duty. He was required to follow up at the ER for dressing changes.

Operating Hytorc to remove bolts, operator hit retract button and mechanic holding torque wrench wasn't ready. Wrench fell on his left hand index finger, smashing it.

While pulling a pallet and box off truck, box moved and hit employee's right thumb. Diagnosed with a fracture, placed in a rigid splint and referred to an orthopedist. Will follow up on August 28th with ortho to determine extent of healing and possibility of surgical repair.

Employees were backfilling a lining overlay. SOS employees were waiting to complete their backfilling when the wind from a passing thunderstorm picked up and began to move the liner. Our employees ran across the liner to help and were thrown 50 feet into the air by the liner. Two SOS employees were injured.

Employee was removing chips from a lathe and the chip stringer caught on the barrel causing a cut to the finger. Cut closed with stitches and the employee was released to full duty.

Bolt didn't seat into cutting edge, causing it to spin & cut through glove into middle & ring finger on L hand.

Jammed pipe fitting and 2 36"" pipe wrenches, pipe would not turn. Employee slipped, hardhat came off in the fall and pipe wrench came free and hit employee in the head.

Employee using a chain wrench to remove an oil filter. The wrench broke through the filter causing the employee's hands to move forward, striking the right hand on the oil pan. He was seen at the ER and the laceration between the 3rd and 4th fingers was closed with 5 stitches. Released to full duty.

Mechanic and mechanic helper were removing a plate used to seal the bottom hole of the center gudgeon. Mechanic attempted to support plate with one hand while using a screwdriver to pry loose the plate. The plate came loose, slipped off his hand and struck the mechanic's right hand as he was exiting the carbody.

Scraping sill with loader when the corner of the bucket caught and the employee hit his face on a bar in cab.

Employee was walking the batch plant, slipped on the mud and caught himself, straining his back. He was released to full duty, but required to attend physical therapy for two visits.

Employee made claim on 10/10/06 for silicosis due to work exposures. Claim denied by workers' comp carrier. Results of a medical eval by a board certified pulmonologist 08/06/07 confirmed the diagnosis and it's relation to the employee's work. Employer received report on 09/26/07 and verified that this will be accepted as work related by workers' comp carrier.

Employee began feeling tingling, pain, discomfort in hand at beginning of 2007. Saw doctor and was referred to specialist for evaluation. Determined to have carpal tunnel syndrome on May 11, 2007. Scheduled for carpal tunnel release on June 14, 2007. Able to work full duty until after surgery.