All MSHA-reportable accidents at Cargill Salt operations in 2012. Fatalities appear first.
9:15p #3 brakes wouldn't release. 9:40p mine evac started, MSHA notified.10:45p evac complete, MSHA notified, PLC reset, test trips performed; issue resolved. 3:35a #3 brakes would not release, mine evac started again.3:40a MSHA notified. 4:50a evac complete,and MSHA notified. Oil and filter housing changed,test trips performed and hoist operational by 7:40a,MSHA notified at 7:45a.
At 4:45 pm a ground fault arrestor in the surface substation blew causing a power outage to the west side of the mine. At this time both #1 and #3 hoists were still operational. 4:52 pm the call was made to send crews home rather than have them sit idle. 4:53 pm MSHA notified of power outage. 6:30 pm all crews out of mine. 6:50 pm power restored to mine.
11:04 pm the mine lost power due to a blown lightning arrestor in the surface substation. 11:15 pm the call was made to evacuate the mine. 11:16 pm MSHA was notified. #3 and #2 hoist were used on generator power to hoist personnel from the mine. All employees were evacuated by 1:16 am. MSHA was made aware at 1:19 am. Power was restored to the mine by 4:30 am.
At 1:57 pm power was lost due to a blown lightning resistor in the surface substation. 2:05pm the decision was made to evacuate the mine, 2:08 pm MSHA was notified. #3 hoist was used on generator power to hoist employees out of the mine. All employees out by 3:35 pm. 4:14 pm power was restored to the mine.
The Prod hoist tripped and could not be reset. Upon investigation It was determined that an H strand on the SW guide rope of the west skip had separated from the rope and had coiled up between the shoeboxes for the entire length of the rope. The coiled H strand contacted and damaged the first limit switch as the skip reached the head frame.
Hydraulic brake system for the production hoist was overheating and was unable to be reset. The problem was evaluated and correcting by replacing hydraulic brake system control valve.
On the afternoon of Wednesday March 28th while drilling a twenty foot test hole at the mouth of unit 15 we struck a gas bleeder. Gas readings were taken and found to be in excess of .25% CH4. State of Ohio and MSHA were immediately notified at this point. MSHA inspector and Tech Services were dispatched to help evaluate the event.
At 2:15 pm the #3 hoist went down due to a broken wear plate. During a test trip, the hoist operator brought the skip into overtravel and a wear plate caught on a guide splice, tearing it off. At 2:30 pm the official notice to evacuate the mine was given and MSHA was notified. The wear plate was replaced, a test trip was performed, and the #3 hoist was fully operational by 4:30 pm.
At 11:05 am the #3 went down due to the drum brakes not releasing. At 11:17 am the official notice to evacuate the mine was given and MSHA was notified. At 11:25 am the breakers were reset and the system then functioned properly. A test trip was completed and the #3 hoist was fully operational by 11:34 am. At this time the evacuation was called off.
Employee was descending a service loader with a filter assembly. The assembly got stuck on the steps and the employees right middle and ring finger tips were snipped off by a pinch point created between the handle and the housing.
An employee was removing a sling from a fork while standing adjacent to a undercutter bar. The outrigger for the material handler that was holding the bar on a set of blocks was raised. The bar slid off of the blocks landing on the left foot of the employee.
The employee was attempting to close the width of the forks on a 4 wheel drive Gradall Material Handler. He placed his left hand into the pinch point behind the fork and his right hand slipped off the fork. His left middle finger tip was crushed in between the fork and the mast.
TWO MECHANICS AND A SUPERVISOR WERE ATTEMPTING TO RAISE THE TRIPPER BRIDGE TO MAKE AN UPGRADE. WHILE THE SUPERVISOR WAS ASSISTING THE TWO MECHANICS BY OPERATING THE MANUAL JACK, MOVEMENT IN THE JACK ARRANGEMENT OCCURRED CAUSING THE MATERIAL USED AS AN EXTENT ION BETWEEN THE JACK AND THE TRIPPER BRIDGE TO BE THROWN OUT. THE EXTENSION STEEL STRUCK THE SUPERVISOR IN THE HEAD.
While 2 EEs were riding work deck below chippy, a hose blew on hoist & it began to unreel. Hoist operator hit E-Stop. 1 EE on chippy work deck lost his balance & struck a divider injuring back. He was taken to a hospital to be checked out, given shot for pain, & released to full work duty. Hose blew @ 5PM, @ 5:22 evac called, @ 5:25 MSHA called, @ 6:00 all EEs out of mine.
Employee was using a 2"" ball valve to try and drive out a pin to change out forks on a Gradall Material Handler. The employee missed his target and sliced his left pinky finger open requiring 3 stitches.
employee has developed tendonitis in both wrists due to cumulative trauma. He has been a shaft worker for 16+ years and operated high impact tools, chipping hammers, jack-legs, air impact wrenches.