All MSHA-reportable accidents at CalPortland, Co. operations in 2022. Fatalities appear first.
Due to arc flash incident (loss of power) in T2-3-1, Central Control was unable to complete the H46-B1 emptying procedures. This allowed pulverized coal to sit in the bottom of the coal surge bin. The coal then caught fire.
Four employees were stowing the jib on a Link-Belt RTC 8090 crane and were on the platform of the crane. The jib was not adequately stowed correctly; the crane operator telescoped the boom out, and the fly-tip head sheave was pushed towards and bent the front fly storage bracket. This caused the jib to swing out violently, striking two of the four employees.
Four employees were stowing the jib on a Link-Belt RTC 8090 crane and were on the platform of the crane. The jib was not adequately stowed correctly; the crane operator telescoped the boom out, and the fly-tip head sheave was pushed towards and bent the front fly storage bracket. This caused the jib to swing out violently, striking two of the four employees.
EE was racking in a 4160v disconnect to power a system fan. As EE closed the circuit, the Limit amp shorted causing an arc flash. EE sustained burns to hands and face.
The loader operator was loading a haul truck. The loader operator had loaded the last load and blasted the horn, haul truck operator started to drive forward when a loud and hard impact was felt on the driver side of the haul truck. The loader bucket hit the haul truck on top of the bed. This impact whiplashed the haul truck operator, causing a neck strain.
As the employee was sliding onto the seat of a parked pickup truck, EE struck the floor board of the truck with their left knee. In doing so EE felt left knee pop resulting in immediate pain.
Employee 1 was working with employee 2 pulling wire through new conduit. The two employees took turns between pulling and feeding wire. Employee 1 eventually wrapped the mule tape around a piece of conduit to gain better leverage. After the work had been completed employee 1 told employee 2 that employee 1 believed employee 1 had tweaked back.
While going up the stairs to the coal mill, the employee was carrying a bag of gypsum with both hands, and lost EE's balance and fell. The employee stated that carrying the bag, prevented EE from catching the handrail. EE's left ankle was twisted from the fall.
The crew was installing new parts in the clinker cooler. When EE felt sharp pain in my lower back. The following night shift there was tightness/tingling in Right leg and hip. After no improvement on night shift on 2/12/2022, EE reported it to safety at 5:30am, 2/13/2022. The object the employee was carrying was approximately 18 lbs.
Opening fine coal bin, closed the bin. The explosion door blew open and flames came out burning the employees.
Employee was shoveling material from under belt while Bobcat operator was moving in and out of building. The employee had positioned self by a wall and behind piece of equipment. As equipment was turning, a rock dislodge from under tire and struck employee below knee.
Driving on a Taylor Dunn cart to a freight elevator onsite. Starting to feel pain while walking the stairs.
I was on bench #3 explaining to another employee where I wanted EE to come up and pull material from (EE was on our loadout level). EE said could not see me very well so I told EE hold on a second while I repositioned myself so that EE could see me. When I moved to another spot, I slipped in some wet material causing me to fall very quickly and landed on my shoulder.
As a miner was walking to their vehicle after exiting equipment at the end of the shift, they stepped on uneven ground and injured their right ankle.
EE was loading front loader cutting edges into loader bucket. EE turned to place edge in bucket and felt pain in back and leg.
A member of the maintenance team was installing a metal pin in the pan feeder chain. After striking the pin with a sledgehammer a small sliver of the metal pin broke off. The metal entered the miners upper right chest area.
Investigating how to open the coal bin to clean it out. The explosion door was open then closed. Hot gases came out and burned the employee.
The employee was walking under the under-screen conveyor without a hard hat. When the conveyor started to move, approximately a three-inch rock struck the employee on the head, causing a laceration.
The employee used a pallet jack to push pallets to get them closer to the edge of a trailer, where a forklift would pick them up and transfer them to another location.
A chunk of clinker became stuck in the bottom chute of a rail car. EE reached into the opening to free the clinker. When the clinker chunk came free and fell, it lacerated the middle finger on EE's left hand.
The employee states was diagnosed with a hernia from performing various tasks. The employee cannot determine a specific task from job responsibilities.
The employee was removing the filter housing, to change the fuel CNG filter on a truck while standing on the first step of the stepladder. As EE put force on the pry bar, it caused the socket to slip off the nut, causing EE to fall from the ladder. EE landed on EE's left leg, where EE thought EE pulled a muscle.
WHILE WALKING AWAY FROM A CONVEYOR, A ROCK FELL FROM A CONVEYOR ABOVE WHILE RUNNING EMPTY STRIKING THE LEFT FOOT OF THE EMPLOYEE ON THE UPPER SIDE OF THE THE BIG TOE. THE EMPLOYEE WAS WEARING PROTECTIVE BOOTS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.
EE was hoisting roll 3 at the D4 Mill for a hydro spring change out. Chain come along broke causing EE to lose balance and bump left elbow on the D4 structure. EE initially reported to supervisor for documentation purposes. On 6/1/2022 EE requested to be seen by a physician.
While repositioning hole cover EE stepped into the cross over duct hole and twisted leg. EE is off work until re-evaluation on 5/4/22
Stepped on angle flange 2-3 feet up and hand/footing slipped. Fell backwards, leg locked up on landing injuring right knee
EE tripped and fell while walking through the submarine in the reclaimer (dome).
EE was walking into the hydraulic carrying a 1"" screw pipe. As the walking into the hydraulic room EE's foot slipped on an oily area of the concrete floor. The EE twisted EE's knee in the process of falling to the ground.
EE was operating a 988 loader, working on a road towards the east corner of the plug shot. EE was removing material, creating a pathway to connect to an existing ramp, for haul truck access. As EE pushed, material from the ramp on the front right side of the tire, succumbed to the weight of the loader and rollover. EE scrapped material at an angle from the ramp.
Employee was cleaning sprayers on a downcomer and when putting in the long sprayer it slipped and crushed employees left pinky.
EE reported was cleaning the diverter gate that allows the raw mill feed to go into B1 or B2. EE was chipping away the material in order to replace an air hose because EE heard a leak. EE had the air turned off to the valve and while EE was working on it, the valve actuated and smashed EE's finger.
EE was pushing a barrel on a roller cart when one of the wheels got caught on a rock/debris on the shop floor. This caused the barrel to begin to tip. EE reached out and caught it and in doing so deeply lacerated the tip of a finger on right hand on the underside of the barrel lip. EE needed five stitches and returned to duty the next day.
Removing screen mounts from top of screen, felt pop in right shoulder.
Picked up an LN25 wire feed welder and heard a pop in EE's abdomen. Employee is off work until further notice. Referred to higher level care for further evaluation. Follow up in clinic 5/3/22
EE stated that EE was feeling some pain and discomfort in left shoulder from cleaning material from the finish silo chutes.
The employee was using a grinder, to cut the head of a bolt that was placed on a vise. The grinder kicked back and cut the left index finger.