Cargill SaltMining Incidents in 2004

Production hoist rope slip-tach failed during production hoisting. Repairs made to slip-tach coupling. This is located on the deflection wheel on surface. Operational at 2:45pm.

The S1 brake caliper had a bad seal in the piston of the lower cylinder (actuator). The brake shoe was dragging and chattering on the disc. The midnight crew was held out of the mine while the brake cylinder was replaced and tested. Mine was vacant at the time, MSHA recording notification 1:15am. Hoist functional at 2:00am.

At approximately 6am the #3 hoist kicked out at the 1900' level. The back-up generator was started and the miner's were lowered the rest of the way to the bottom. Upon investigation it wa determined the the drive unit failed because 2 SCR's and the firing controllers they plug into, failed. Replaced - functional.

Brake pad on the production hoist brake caliper came loose and a portion of the pad broke loose. To make repairs the production hoist was taken out of service and the mine was evacuted. Hoist was tested and returned to sevice at 2:45 AM No injuries.

Failure of ARCNET communication card on the #2 hoist drive of the production hoist. Mine was evacuated. Card was replaced and hoist was tested and back in service by 7:50am. No injuries.

At approximately 1:30pm the production hoist stopped due to a problem with the computer control network. Informational network isolated problem, reset and running at 2:10pm. The mine was evacuated by 2:30pm.

An air conditiioner contractor was working on the AC unit in the production hoist control room. When contractor re-energized the AC unit, several fuses in the production hoist control panel blew, causing the hoist to stop. The mine was evacuated. The fuses were replaced and the hoist was operational again at 5:20pm.

(2 EMPLOYEES INJURED IN THIS ACCIDENT.) TWO EMPLOYEES WERE HANGING BRATTICE FROM A LIFT TRUCK. A FITTING BROKE ON THE BASKET LEVELING VALVE CAUSING THE BASKET TO TIP FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS EE FELL 8' TO THE GROUND. (THE COWORKER HUNG IN BASKET, THEN DROPPED TO GROUND.)

Employee was attempting to lift a new pump stand to turn over to paint. Used small hoist. As he lifted the stand off the table, the chains came off the end of the stand and pinched his right hand between table and stand. Right index finger: three stitches, right middle finger: 2 stitches. Restricted duty 10 days.

Before the crew could move the mine office platform, the employee pushed the brattice back in order to prevent the platform from contacting it. Loose salt fell from the rib behind the brattice, pushing the employee into the platform. The rib scale was not visible due to the brattice. The employee was released to work with restrictions.

(2 EMPLOYEES INJURED IN THIS ACCIDENT.) TWO EMPLOYEES WERE HANGING BRATTICE FROM A LIFT TRUCK. A FITTING BROKE ON THE BASKET LEVELING VALVE CAUSING THE BASKET TO TIP FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS EE HUNG IN BASKET, THEN DROPPED TO GROUND. (THE COWORKER FELL 8' TO THE GROUND.)

employee was re-palletizing 80# bags of salt. She crossed the warehouse carrying a bag and slipped on a moist floor that had some salt spillage on it. This caused her to strain her lower back.

Employee was cutting plastic bands on a pallet of stretch wrap using a locking blade knife. As he cut one of the straps, his motion carried the knife toward him and the knife struck his left leg just below the knee. Employee received 2 stitches.

Employee noticed scrapers/shovels lying on the ground near the water cooler. He intended to pick them up after filling the water cooler. After he filled the water cooler, he turned and stepped on the blade of a scraper causing the handle to rise up immediately, striking him in the mouth. Employee received six stitches and was released to work the same day.

EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO CUT OUT A TRIANGLE PIECE OF A CONVEYOR BELT. HE CUT THE FIRST TWO SIDES OF THE TRIANGLE AND PULLED THAT PIECE BACK SO THE THIRD SIDE WOULD BE EASIER TO CUT. AS HE CUT TOWA RDS HIMSELF WITH A UTILITY KNIFE, HE WAS UNABLE THE BLADE BEFORE IT CUT HIS ABDOMEN. HE RECEIVED THREE STITCHES ON THE SAME DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, MARCH 4, 2004.

ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON 2/2/04 AND EMPLOYEE CHOSE NOT TO GO TO DOCTOR AT THAT TIME. HE DID CHOOSE TO GO TO THE DOCTOR ON 2/11/2004 AND IT BACAME REPORTABLE AT THAT TIME. EMPLOYEE WAS OPENING A BI N GATE AND HIS FINGER GOT PINCHED BETWEEN THE GATE AND THE GATE FRAME WHEN IT OPENED. THIS HIT LEFT INDEX FINGER HARD ENOUGH TO BREAK THE BONE AT THE TOP OF HIS FINGER.

EE WAS TRYING TO DRILL A HOLE IN A PIECE OF PIPE WITH A 1/2"" CHUCK ELECTRIC DRILL. HE HELD THE PIPE WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND AS HE WAS DRILLING, THE BIT CAUGHT CAUSING THE DRILL TO RAPIDLY TWIST HIS RIGHT HAND. WHICH BROKE A BONE IN HIS RIGHT HAND.