FMC CorpMining Incidents in 2004

The hoistman checking overtravel shutoffs when the overtravel (at mine level) not reset. Overtravel on lilly controller still operable. Electrician went underground, reset the magntic overtravel switch by running magnet over the switch, it worked fine from then on. There was no damage, physical or electrical and the hoist was put back in regular operation at 5:00pm.

P-5512 was not pumping. Operator shut off pump using local start/stop station. He climbed down ladder & opened belt guard inspection door. He could not see very well because of poor lighting. He put his left hand on top of the drive belts. The pump was still turning which caused his left hand to be caught between the belt & pully & amputated the end of his left middle finger.

Employee was struck on the hard hat by a bar. Employee received a laceration to his scalp requiring sutures.

Employee was stepping backwards off the middle step of a 2' ladder. He stepped on a 13""x24""x7"" rock that was slanted causing him to twist and fall to the ground. Injury became recordable when he had surgery on 1/10/05, however FMC did not learn of this until 1/26/05. The left knee injury was a torn meniscus.

Mine employee suffered a crush injury to the abdomen. The investigation is still proceeding and we have not been able to talk to the employee at this time.

Employee ducked under some piping and stood up too soon and impacted pipe with hardhat, jarring his neck. Employee was returned to full duty immediately after the accident. After follow-up medical visits, the company received notice that the employee was not allowed to return to work. Medical notice given to the company on 8/23/04.

After shovling out a crusher feeder, employee moved the chain to the side and was installing conveyor flights. A flight missed being pinned to the chain and was too heavy to hold so the employee dropped it and felt a pain in his back immediately.

Employee was lifting heavy brackets for 36CF (CRUSHER/FEEDER) for two shifts prior to reporting any discomfort. Employee was referred out for medical treatment and became a LWCI (LOST WORKDAY CASE INCIDENT) on 7/30/04.

Employee was cleaning office area dn attempted to roll up a rug by kickig it. She felt discomfort in the knee when she kicked the rug. The employee had an MRI on 5/13/04, the results were read on 5/17/04 and she was removed from duty on 5/18/04. The accident did not become reportable until she missed her first shift on 5/18/04.

Employee was working on P-348; as he was walking aroung P-219 to get to P-348, he slipped on some ice and hit his left knee on the ground. This did not become a recordable until 3/16, when the employee went off to have surgical repairs to the knee.

Employee descending stairs, foot caught on the non-skid tape, causing the employee to twist ankle and break bone in foot.

A PUSH PLATE TIPPED OVER AND FELL ON THE EE'S FOOT, FRACTURING THE FOOT.

Threw the door at CR-15 open and was putting his hand down on the door frame to lean forward to see if chute was plugged and the door came back down on his hand. Jerked hand back out of the door which he felt caused most of the damage. This did not become recordable until he sought medical attention and had surgery on his hand 4/15/04.

The operator was doing his pre-shift area safety and equipment checks. As he entered TB-26 pump room, he noticed an ice buildup on the four inch metal strap that acts a a threshold for the door frame. As he entered the room, his prescription safety glasses fogged up, so he slid the glasses further down on his nose and could see better.

Employee was contacted by electric arc on left leg and received second and third degree burns.

Employee was closing lids on rail cars and felt a twinge in groin. employee was placed on restricted duty on 11/17/04 making this injury reportable.

Employee was in the process of unloading a bundle of 5 foot resin onto the front of the roof bolter. In the process of this he experinced pain in his lower back as he placed the resin in the resin tray. He was put on restrictred activity for 3 days with a follow up before returning to work.

While attempting to open bank 1 filter feed valve operator lost his balance when the feed valve gave. This caused him to loose his grip on the wrench and fall. The wrench then came off the valve striking him in the left hand. This contact by the wrench caused a fracture to the employee's left hand

Operator was unplugging the underflow on TB-24 clarifier-The air ram, lake water and air was shut off to the 2""line from the cone to the mud pot. There is a 2"" street elbow on the end of the line that was removed. The operator inserted a clean out rod into the line and when he pulled it out, hot mud shot out, splashing the operator's right arm and the right side of his neck.

EE WAS TRAMMING THE BOBCAT WHEN A FAULTY SAFETY SWITCH CAUSED THE HYDRAULICS TO LOCK UP WHICH SET THE BRAKES, CAUSING THE BOBCAT TO STOP IMMEDIATELY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. THE SUDDEN STOP CAUSED TH E OPERATOR TO HIS HIS HEAD INTO THE TOP OF THE CAB. NOTE: WE WERE NOT INFORMED THAT THIS EE WAS ON RESTRICTED DUTY UNTIL 2/2/4 EVEN THOUGHT THE RESTRICTIONS BEGAN ON 1/20/4.

Employee was grinding holes in cable spools using a die grinder with a tungsten burr. Employee had on safety glasses and faceshield. Foreign body entered the eye and had to be extracted. (This accident was previously submitted but does not show up on the database. This may be a duplicate report.)

Employee had a foreign body enter his eye, but it did not irritate the eye severe enough for the employee to seek medical attention for two days following. At this time the material had to be extracted from the eye. The company was not aware of the injury until 10/22/04.

REMOVING RUST IRON ROOF DECK GRINDING WELLS & RUST OFF OF BEAM. INSULATION & 50YRS OF DUST WITH A 20MPH WIND. SMALL PIECE OF RUST GOT INTO RIGHT EYE.

Employee had ben working on a mantrip and was putting away the tools. The employee had his left hand full of tools and picked up the puller with his right hand. The puller slipped out of his right hand and fell striking the end of the middle finger on the left hand causing a laceration that required sutures.

Employee received a laceration on his elbow when he struck it on a bolt while trying to remove a transmission. The laceration required sutures.

The rib popped, a slab 40""x24""x4"" from the bottom of the rib and hit employee on the left knee. We did not become aware of a doctors visit and the prescription to go to physical therapy until September 23, 2004. As of now the injury appears to be only pain.

Employee was opening a door and felt something contact his right eye. The employee did not feel any discomfort and ended his shift. 2 days later the employee had the eye checked and a piece of foreign material was still in the eye and the epithelium had grown over it. The material was removed with a needle and a swab.

The employee was installing ceiling light fixtures. The employee was setting a light fixture down, the fixture slipped out of his grasp and a sharp edge on the fixture cut his left thumb and middle finger. The lacerations required sutures.

The employe was on top of the tailgate drive cleaning off rocks. He started to get down, reached for a hose to hold on to, his toe hung up causing him to loose his balance miss the hose, falling head first into the pontoon on the shield. The tailgate drive is about 4 feet off the grouond. He required 8 stitches above his right eye and fractured the tip of his left thumb.

Mechanic was pulling on pry bar to align pipe union when bar slipped and pinched the ring finger of his left hand between the bar and the receiver tank.

OPERATOR WAS CLEANING OUT THE M-1 CALCINER FEED BIN: AS HE WAS STANDING ONT HE EAST SIDE OF THE BIN SHUTTING OFF THE AIR TO THE THUMPER, THE AIR LINE BROKE OFF STRIKING HIM ON THE RIGHT SIDE O F THE UPPER LIP.

THE INJURED WAS CUTTING WOOD WITH A SKILL SAW. THE WOOD SLIPPED & TURNED CAUSING THE BLADE TO CONTACT THE INJURED'S LEFT MIDDLE FINGER. THE BLADE CAUSED A 1-INCH LONG LACERATION WHICH REQUIRED 6 SUTURES TO CLOSE.

WHILE PUSHING A VLAVE UNDER 6"" LINE TO SET OLD VALVE ON PICKER, EE PINCHED FINGER BETWEEN VALVE AND A WASHOUT.

WHILE MECHANIC WAS PUSHING A SET OF O2 BOTTLES INTO THE SOUTH END MANLIFT, THE SMALL WHEELS OF THE CART FELL INTO A GAP BETWEEN THE GRATING OF THE DECK AND THE THRESHOLD OF THE DOOR. THIS CAUSED THE CART TO TIP BACK AND THE HANDLE OF THE O2 BOTTLE TO STRIKE THE MECHANIC ON THE UPPER LIP.

Water from drilling contacted employee's skin causing a rash.

EE WAS TIGHTENING A 9/16 BOLT, NOT USING EXCESSIVE FORCE, AND FELT PAIN IN HIS RIGHT HAND. PLACED ON RESTRICTED DUTY ON 8/31/04. FURTHER MEDICAL TESTING AND DIAGNOSIS HAS REVEALED A CUMULATIVE TRAUMA DISORDER (CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME) IN THE WRIST.

Operator cut into a steam line that was improperly isolated and when the line was opened, the steam purged out of the line onto his abdomen causing first and second degree burns.

Employee was clearing material from a drainage ditch. Employee slipped in the mud next to the ditch and her left leg went into the ditch, breaching the dam that was holding back the hot water. Employee received 1st and 2nd degree burns to her left ankle from hot water running over her work boots. Employee received prescriptive burn cream to the affected area.

OPERATOR WAS WALKING DOWN STAIRS AND SLIPPED ON ICE, FALLING DOWN SEVERAL. HE LANDED ON HIS BACK AND HIT HIS HEAD AND KNEE ON THE WAY DOWN. HE WAS USING HANDRAILS AT THE TIME.