Cargill SaltMining Incidents in 2000

DURING A THUNDERSTORM, LIGHTNING STRUCK ON OR NEAR OUR SUBSTATION. THIS KNOCKED OUT BOTH HOIST CONTROL SYSTEMS. MINE WAS EVACUATED, COMPUTER SYSTEMS WERE RESTORED BY 0810 ON 8-10-00.

THE LINER INSIDE THE NORTH SKIP ON THE #1 PRODUCTION HOIST, PULLED THROUGH THE FASTENERS RESULTING IN SALT WEDGED BETWEEN THE LINER AND THE SKIP DOOR, AND IN TURN WOULD NOT ALLOW THE SKIP DOOR TO FULLY CLOSE. AFTER THE HOIST BEGAN TO MOVE THE SKIP BECAME WEDGE IN THE SCROLLPLATES, RESULTING IN SLACK CABLE ON THE PRODUCTION HOIST. THE HOIST WAS DETERMINED TO BE DOWN AT 0920 AND MSHA

EE WAS WALKING FROM OFFICE TO LOCKER ROOM, SLIPPED ON ICY PATCH IN DRIVEWAY, FELL DOWN ONTO BACK. DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION UNTIL 12-19-00, 4:00 PM EE TAKEN TO CAYUGA MEDICAL CENTER, EXAM INED AND RELEASED TOLD NOT TO LIFT MORE THAN 10 LBS. UNTIL 12-28-00.

EE WAS PULLING TROUGHING ROLLER OFF OF A PALLET ON A TRAILER. AS HE PULLED OFF A ROLLER, A SECOND ROLLER FELL STRIKING EE ON LEFT THUMB. EE DID NOT WANT MEDICAL ATTENTION AT TIME OF ACCIDENT. EE REPORTED DISCOMFORT 12-19-00. TAKEN TO CAYUGA MEDICAL CENTER, EXAMINED AND RELEASED-NO EXCESSIVE GRIPPING OR REPETITIVE MOVEMENT UNTIL 12-25-00.

EMPLOYEE OPENED DUST PIT DOOR TO ALLOW SCOOPTRAM THROUGH; WHEN PUSHING DOOR CLOSED, HE STRAINED MUSCLE IN BACK. ALL X-RAYS AND TESTS NEGATIVE; RESTRICTED DUTY (1) ONE DAY.

EMPLOYEE WAS TRAMMING LUBE TRUCK FROM LUBE ROOM TO MAIN SHOP. AS HE TURNED RIGHT ONTO MAIN TRAMWAY, THE TRUCK HIT A HIGH CUT, JAMMING HIS HEAD UP INTO THE CANOPY. INCIDENT OCCURRED ON 8-5-00 NO MEDICAL AID WANTED OR NEEDED. EMPLOYEE REQUESTED VISIT TO DR ON 8-8-00.

TWO EE'S WERE INSTALLING A BELTLINE DRIVE AND TAKE-UP UNITS. THEY WERE TRYING TO LINE UP THE 2 FLANGES OF THE DRIVE AND TAKE-UP. AFTER PRYING UNITS TOGETHER, INJURED EE TRIED TO INSTALL BOLT. THE BOLT WOULD NOT FIT. HE SAID TO STOP PRYING SO HE COULD CHECK THE ALIGNMENT. HE THEN CHECKED TO ALIGNMENT WITH HIS FINGER. THE OTHER EE NEVER HEARD STOP ORDER, CONTINUED PRYING. 8 STITCHES

SCOOPTRAM OPERATOR STOCKPILING SALT IN PANEL RELIEVER. AS HE WAS BACKING OUT AFTER DUMPING BUCKET, CYLINDER GUARD ON BUCKET CAUGHT ROOF BOLT. SNAPPED OFF STRIKING OPERATOR IN UPPER LIP. REQUIR ED SEVEN STITCHES.

EE WAS CLOSING TOPS OF RR CARS. HE WAS CONNECTED TO THE FALL PROTECTION SYSTEM. AFTER STEPPING ONTO THE CROSSOVER DECK OF THE LAST CAR, HE TURNED TO UNHOOK HIS LANYARD AND STEPPED OFF THE CROS SOVER DECK. LACERATION 7 STITCHES-NO RESTRICTIONS.

EMPLOYEE WAS USING A HAMMER TO DRIVE A CONNECTING PIN OUT OF AN UNDERCUTTER CUTTING CHAIN. THE HEAD FLEW OFF STRIKING THE EMPLOYEE'S LEFT HAND, CAUSING A LACERATION TO THE MIDDLE FINGER. REQUI RED 5 STITCHES. HAMMER WAS DEFECTIVE. HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED WITH A MAKE-SHIFT WEDGE.