Carmeuse Lime and Stone, Inc.Mining Incidents in 2010

The limit switch on the elevator door was not working properly. This allowed the elevator to be inoperable for a period of time.

The elevator has been recently upgraded. An employee attempted to complete a PM of the elevator in the normal manner. With the recent upgrades this method did not work (the installer of the upgrades did not notice this issue). When he did the normal procedure, the elevator became inoperable.

The elevator, which is the main entrance to the mine was not working due to a faulty connection of electrical wires.

Fuses blew on the transformer that powers the slope hoist. This caused the slope car to be inoperable from 9:30 PM to 2:00 AM.

Regular maintenance was being performed on elevator. While changing magnetic switch, it was found to be a stonger field than original. Replaced with correct switch, which took longer than expected. Returned to full service at 5:30pm.

While operating a face drill, the operator noticed flames behind her in the articulation area of the truck. The operator deployed the fire suppression system, which did not completely extingush the fire. Operator called for help.

Main Hoist went down at approx. 11:45pm due to a breaker failure. Repairs were made and back in operation at approx. 4:55pm July 6, 2010.

Cleaning had been conducted on top and bottom of slope, it is believed that debris became lodged in the pulley of the elevator ropes. This allowed the ropes to become entangled and made the elevator inoperable.

The elevator door was not properly shut, which made elavator door sensor to read on and then off multiple times. This tripped the breaker on the elavator, which caused it to stop.

Emergency hoist became inoperable during shaft hoist repairs.

Mine emergency hoist became inoperable during shaft hoist maintenance.

Mine emergency hoist became inoperable during shaft hoist maintenance.

EE cleaned top of chute with short scraper, change to long scraper for bottom. Scraper contacted rotary feeder, ee right hand pull against steel grated on chute. EE transported to ER, exam revealed fracture to right hand and lower RT arm. Partial amputation right little finger end.

Employee strained his back while putting on a harness style seat belt.

Employee was attempting to clear a chute plugged with lime. Using a rod to clear the plug he struck a pocket of hot lime which blew back into the employees face entering his eyes behind the safety glasses he was wearing resulting in the use of antibiotic medication.

Employee was climbing the permanent ladder from the kiln 4 cooler pit and felt a sharp pain in his right hip. No other contributing factors other than climbing a ladder. Went to the doctor on 2/2/10 after no improvement of condition.

Employee was in process of removing shims from a jaw crusher. A hydraulic cylinder is used to push the jaw forward to allow clearance for removal. As pressure was being applied to the cylinder, the backing plate broke.

Employee was stepping over a spray bar at the M&M wash plant when he felt pain in his right knee.

Employee was walking down LS-4 catwalk, when the catwalk broke through causing the employee to fall approximately 20 ft. to the ground below.

While attempting to retrieve a tie-off line on a barge, a seperate haul line came free and smashed his left thumb between the line and a permanent structure. This incident resulted in a fractured right thumb along with several stitches.

Employee was attempting to remove a pipe to the suction/holder when the pipet broke and lodged in his right pointer and middle finger. Per ee, the pipe was stuck in the holder and he had to use extra force to remove the pipe. The pipe broke, and the section that remained in the holder struck his fingers.

Employee was inspecting and cleaning the ice from the rollers on K4 stone belt when he stepped on a pry-bar on the catwalk. He was using a sledge hammer to beat the ice from the rollers. The bar slipped out from under him and he fell. As he fell His right hand became lodged in between a return roller and the belt. He was able to pull the e-stop and call for help.

Injured was striking 1A tank with a hammer to attempt to get material to flow. When injured struck tank, lime dust fell onto him from above, entering into his right eye past his goggles.

Injured was attempting to rotate the #1 turnhead to the coal silo position. As he started rotating the turnhead, it unexpectedly moved quickly causing injured to feel a ""pull"" in his back. Injured did not request medical treatment initially. Injured was given work restrictions on 2/14/2011 when the condition did not improve.

Crawling through hand rail to get into manlift, when employee put his leg into manlift, he twisted his right knee.

Employee was stepping over a shaft approximately 3ft. off the ground. While doing so his foot got caught, which caused him to fall forward onto his right arm.

Employee claims that his neck has been hurting because of driving a haul truck on the quarry roads. There was nothing specific noted for the cause. The pain has gradually gotten worse over the past few weeks. This was initially reported on 2/8/10 and employee asked to see a dr on 3/4/10.

Injured was walking up stairs to J-North sizer when he felt a pop in his knee.

Employee reported that he had been refueling the fuel truck and dropped the lid to the tank, when diesel fuel splashed on his face and under his safety glasses. He removed his safety glasses and rubbed his face with the back of his glove to remove the fuel from his face and his glove contacted his eye.

While removing an air filter from a powder truck, the employee cut his right palm on a frayed piece of metal.

Employee was moving feeder chute with a cart. The employee had hand on stationary handrail, when the cart shifted, catching left thumb between feeder chute and handrail. This caused a laceration requiring 2 stitches.

Employee was separating a jack hammer bit from a piece of conduit. As bit came loose, it struck employee on left upper lip, causing a laceration requiring stitches.

Employee reported Carpal Tunnel Syndrome case on 9/21/10. Claim was filed with Workers Compensation Carrier and after investigating it was determined work related on 2/10/2011.