CalPortland, Co.Mining Incidents in 2007

Coal mill got choked up and the residual heat was drafted into the main dust collector and began smoldering. Shortly after that an explosion occurred at the main dust collector.

While changing out the burner pipe on the discharge of the kiln, an ignition of coal in the preheat tower causing an explosion in the preheat tower. Dust blew out the burner pipe opening.

hot coal or spark ignited pulverized coal in dust collector bin, explosion occured on 4th floor, area is off limits and locked at all times. Safety features worked as designed and intended, rupture discs blew out, dust collector bags and cages, and tube sheet were damaged.

Received burns from working in a bag house. He received the burns from lime dust in the bags. According to the employee the burns turned into a fungal infection. Claim is in doubt. (reported 11/19/07)

Employee claims to have received a small puncture wound while cutting belt material with a razor knife. Employee did not care properly for the wound. Employee did not report the incident or seek medical treatment until 7 days later. The result was a staph infection.

Employee was working under a chinker material drop box when the air cannons went off causing hot material to fall from 10 - 12 feet landing on him and causing 3rd degree burns to his arms.

Strained back (upper) and shoulder while tightening bolts on a cooler.

Employee states that while he was holding onto a piece of conduit, while cutting with his other hand he felt pain in his left shoulder. He did not report this until 05/01/07 and went to the doctor on 06/07/07. Employee started losing time due to surgery on 10/16/07.

Walking down steps, tripped and fell hitting right shoulder and left elbow. Placed on modified duty.

Foremen was opening a crate when the plywood came apart. Foremen strained left shoulder.

Employee was unplugging a chute and while he was hitting the chute he had his hand resting on the air ram for the diverter gate and when the plug broke free the diverter gate opened causing the air ram to to pinch his right hand. He factured his middle finger and has a small laceration that required sutures and abrasion.

EE caught his right ring finger between two steel tubes on 10/4/07. On 10/10/07, the EE saw an industrial doctor and was diagnosed with a fracture on the tip of his right ring finger. Placed on modified duty.

Employee was preparing to change belt at tailpulley. After locking out belt employee removed guard. The guard became wedged between the wall and the belt conveyoor framework. The employee tried to free up guard; once the guard broke loose it mashed his finger between the guard and wall causing a laceration and fracture to the employee's left index finger.

Employee standing on a step ladder, inside locking brace bent/broke, employee fell to the floor, causing contusion to ribs, contusion to right thigh and a laceration to right elbow. Placed on modified duty.

Employee was walking between 2 railroad tracks & twisted his left ankle. Ground is level but he said the rocks were loose. He reported this injury on 5/5/07, taken to see a doctor, placed on modified duty, and diagnonsed with a sprain.

EE was operating a forklift traveling westbound in plant. Service vehicle traveling eastbound in plant was temporarily blinded by sun and dirt on windshield. Resulted in head on collision. Service truck operator no injuries, and forklift operator slight whiplash. Sore in leftside neck and back.

Employee was removing a thin layer of cement build up from a trunion adjustment screw. The improvised scraper slipped and jammed against the trunion support. The edge of scraper cut the employee through his gloves. Stitches were required to close the wound.

While employee was talking to two other employees, he said he felt dizzy and then he fainted and fell to the floor face first. He received a broken nose and some loose teeth from the fall. He was taken to the hospital for testing and observation to find out what happened. After all the test it is still unknown what caused the fainting, possible seizure. Testing ongoing.

Employee was using a hydraulic jack to spread open a drive link for a pan feeder. A spacer slipped out from the jack hitting employee on the upper lip causing a laceration that required 4 sutures.

Employee was working under a chinker material drop box when the air cannons went off causing hot material to fall from 10 - 12 feet landing on the employee and causing 2nd degree burns to his left forearm.

On 6/5/07, EE claims that while he was working on the Bucket Elevator, torching off huck pins, his foot rolled over some of the pins on the floor and twisted his right knee. EE did not report incident until the next day. Refused medical treatment as well as filling out injury form. EE stated he wanted to go see his Dr and get a cortisone shot, continued to work rest of week.

Employees were removing brick liner of pre-heat tower - stage 4 vessel riser duct - using chipping guns and jackhammers, when second stage scaffolding collapsed causing employees to fall to tower floor - est 14 to 20 feet. There were no serious injuries. Employee fell against the face and slid to bottom.

Employees were removing brick liner of pre-heat tower - stage 4 vessel riser duct - using chipping guns and jackhammers, when second stage scaffolding collapsed causing employees to fall to tower floor - est 14 to 20 feet. There were no serious injuries. Employee fell against the face and slid to bottom.

Employees were removing brick liner of pre-heat tower - stage 4 vessel riser duct - using chipping guns and jackhammers, when second stage scaffolding collapsed causing employees to fall to tower floor - est 14 to 20 feet. There were no serious injuries. Employee fell against the face and slid to bottom.

Employees were removing brick liner of pre-heat tower - stage 4 vessel riser duct - using chipping guns and jackhammers, when second stage scaffolding collapsed causing employees to fall to tower floor - est 14 to 20 feet. There were no serious injuries. Employee fell against the face and slid to bottom.

Employee states that a contract employee hit him with a bolt in the testicles that bruised them and he became very upset and his blood pressure went high and he was told to see his doctor. His doctor took him off work for 2 days. I did not receive a report until 1/31/07. No witnesses to the bolt event.

The victim cut through two chain linked fences and made entry into a Southern California Edison electrical substation, in attempt to extract copper. The victim climbed a 20ft 12kv tower in attempt to cut more copper ground wires. An arc occurred striking the victim in the top left part of his head. The victim was found deceased.