All MSHA-reportable accidents at Carmeuse Lime and Stone, Inc. operations in 2023. Fatalities appear first.
Operator was having Kiln 5 baghouse challenges so they slowed down kiln system to assist. When kiln system was slowed down, the cooler fan kicked out which ultimately resulted in hot material being fed directly onto the belt.
At 1:50 pm on 6/23/2023 the primary escapeway elevator was taken out of service. It was determined an encoder had lost the position of the elevator during a weekly inspection. MSHA was notified, underground production was stopped, and all miners were evacuated to the surface using the secondary escapeway. MSHA was notified that the elevator was back in service on 6/22/2023.
At 2:45 pm on 5/17/2023 the primary escapeway elevator was taken out of service. It was determined a hydraulic valve had failed causing the brake to lock. MSHA was notified, underground production was stopped, and all miners were evacuated to the surface using the secondary escapeway. MSHA was notified that the elevator was back in service on 5/18/2023.
Management was made aware at approximately 9:10 a.m. on 4/12/2023 that there was coal on fire in # 3 storage silo. MSHA was notified at 9:39 a.m. The fire was determined to be out on 4/13/2023 and the K Order was modified by the MSHA inspector. An update was given to the 800 number on 4/13/2023 @ 1:45 p.m.
At 5:05 a.m. management was notified the secondary emergency escape hoist was out of service due to a belt being burnt off the motor's alternator. MSHA was notified around 5:34 a.m. No miners were in the mine at this time. Repairs were made and the hoist was put back in service at approximately 6 a.m. MSHA was notified hoist back in service shortly after 6 a.m.
Management was made aware at 11:30 am that the telehandler been used to clean in the slope would not start and was blocking the slope car. It was located about 600 feet from the slope bottom. MSHA was notified at 11:40 a.m. There was room to walk around the telehandler to ride the slope car to surface. At 1:16 p.m. slope was cleared and MSHA was notified.
At approximately 8:15 p.m. the main slope hoist stopped working due to an electrical issue. MSHA was notified at 8:40 p.m. No miners were in the mine during the time hoist was out of service. Repairs were made and the hoist was back in service at 1:45 a.m.
At 8:45 a.m. management was notified the secondary emergency escape hoist was out of service due to electrical issues. MSHA was notified around 9:15 p.m. and the mine was evacuated using the primary escapeway. Repairs were made and the secondary emergency hoist was put back in service at approximately 4 p.m. MSHA was notified hoist back in service shortly after 4 p.m.
EE reported pain in upper back after lifting a chain hoist. The hoist had been placed in a five-gallon bucket for transport and weight approximately 45 lb. As the EE lifted the bucket, EE states the pain in their back started.
After an employee exited a Kawasaki side by side, EE rotated on EE's left foot to reach EE's lunch box in the back. When EE turned back, EE felt a pop in EE's left calf muscle.
Employee went to catch a slamming door at the breakroom while coming in to clock for EE's shift, when EE's index finger was caught between the door and door jaw from a gust of wind. Employee suffered a fractured finger.
A mechanic states while assisting during the changing of screens at the Wash Plant EE rolled right ankle. As EE was handling screens weighing less than 5 pounds and approximately 12"" x 12"" in size, EE's right ankle turned after stepping on a rock.
EE was unloading tools from work truck and while carrying a bucket tripped. This injury was the result of a trip over a piece of scrap conveyor belt with EE's left foot. EE states EE twisted and buckled right knee. EE also scraped right forearm on truck bumper during the fall.
EE reported an injury to left ankle after descending step at the wash plant. As the mechanic approached one of the stairs landings, they turned right putting pressure on left foot already on the landing. This step and turn resulted in pain to their left ankle.
As the employee removed the last bolt in the flange coupling the unsecured pipe riser started to fall. In an attempt to keep the approximate 100 lb. pipe valve assembly from striking the concrete floor EE tried to catch it. Due to the fall and weight EE's two middle fingers were fractured between a guard and the assembly.
The EE was installing a drive line on a Caterpillar 980M front end loader in the shop area when left middle finger became pinched. Seven stitches were required to close the open wound.
An employee received an eye injury after getting lime in left eye. After using the vac system to remove material from the screen floor employee started cutting corrugated 4-inch vac hose into manageable sections to be removed from the job site. As employee cut a section of pipe it flipped lime in employee's left eye.
A mechanic received lime burns on both upper extremities while working in the product bins. The burns were located on the anterior region in the crease where the arm and forearm join. Medication was prescribed for this injury on 8/26/2023.
Employee was working in the Kiln 3 screen room, cleaning under a screw conveyor using the vacuum truck when some lime went under EE's safety glasses. EE flushed eyes then and reported the incident the next day. EE was seen by a doctor, eyes washed, given prescription drops, and released to work.
Injured Person stated while picking up tools for shift end, IP felt a nick on hand and during the next shift the right hand swelled. IP reported the incident to supervisor on 5-6-2023 at 7:00 am and went to the local ER for further observation. IP was treated for a minor lime irritation to an open wound. IP was treated and released back to work without any restrictions.
An employee was injured while attempting to make repairs to an underground slurry line. As the last of four bolts was being removed stored pressure sprayed lime slurry on the EE injuring right eye.
Reportable hearing loss as a result of audiometric testing.
On Monday 11/13/2023 management was made aware that an employee had been put on restricted duties. This employee had been previously released with no restrictions back to full duty on 1/10/2023. No new incident was reported to management to support this claim. Employee stated on 11/13/ 2023 scaling causes pain in their back.