Freeport-McMoRan Morenci Inc.Mining Incidents in 2020

Smoke was observed at the 23/25 barge pump area southwest of SX. The pump's water level was low and ran dry causing the pump to overheat and catch fire. The fire department was contacted to extinguish the fire.

Mechanic was replacing a ripper guard on the 58 Dozer. They tightened the guard down & it didn't seat correctly. They then backed it out and tried to clear some debris away with a finger & inadvertently engaged the pneumatic impact wrench, smashing the tip of left index finger.

The operator of the 25 Rubber Tire Dozer was responding to a rock spill at the bottom of the 801 haul road. As they approached the spill the dozer hit a pot hole/soft spot in the haul road causing the operator to get jostled. They operator struck their head on the right ROP inside the cab causing injury.

Operator of the #40 shovel was about to load HT611 on a dipper spot when the dipper tripped and the muck landed on the dove tail of the HT causing the bed to raise.

Employee was shoveling material from under the extension side #4 rougher when they tried to climb over a pipe, slipped and fell backwards landing on a wrist.

Employee was opening a man van door and felt a pull in their shoulder. Employee reported injury late, and incident has been under investigation.

An employee was attempting to empty a hopper, the handle jerked closed, and the employee fractured their left thumb on the rubber stopper mounted on the hopper bowl.

An Electrical Employee was performing clean up outside the electrical shop when EE went to lift a bag of trash from a trash can. The employee felt a pain/discomfort in the lower abdominal region.

While working on the Centerline, a Tailings Operations Trainee knelt down on the platform to spray out a cyclone and felt a sharp pain in their right knee.

An employee was reaching up and attempted to remove a hose from the power steering tank, when they felt a pop in their right shoulder.

A tire repair employee was stepping on a hydraulic cylinder on a tire machine and slipped backward hitting their head on the concrete floor. The employee was wearing a hard hat at the time.

A security specialist was walking around a parking ditch, when they slipped in the gravel and fell striking both knees and right hand.

585HT was assigned to the 40 Shovel in Western Copper. Operator backed up to receive first dipper. Shovel operator went to load HT with first dipper which contained boulders that caused truck to rock. The Haul Truck operator called the 402 tower to report a rough load and that EE had neck pain.

Employee was removing a bolt for a brake cooling filter hose. They pulled the wrench towards their body and felt a pop in their shoulder.

Employee was descending a ladder at 379 on the Tailings Centerline when they felt their right knee pop.

Employee was pulling driplines when the line felt like it broke off of the reel machine. Employee tried to stop their momentum, but they ended up falling on their hands and injuring their right wrist.

Employee was using a jib on the bucket truck to guide wire into a vise. The wire needed a little more help, and employee went to push on the wire when employee felt a burning sensation in left shoulder.

While pulling a water hose, the employee had to walk through mud to get to the head of the hose. The employees boot stuck in the mud, and while trying to wiggle the boot out of the mud, the employee felt their hip pop.

An employee was straightening a hose to roll up after washing some pumps down. While the employee was walking, they stepped into a hole in the walk way and felt a pop in the knee.

Haul truck driver and trainee stopped at the HSC (stockpile) to use the bathroom and switch drivers. As the trainee was walking to the bathroom, they tripped on a level surface landing on the left wrist.

A shovel mechanic was removing a pin from the snubber of a dipper at the shovel shop. While using tools (sledge hammer & pin punch) a piece of metal broke off striking the employees in the right leg.

While tech was dumping waste oil off lube truck the container EE was dumping in overfilled. Tech ran to stop pump and heard/felt a pop in R/knee. At that same time sharp pain.

While walking down from the third floor, the employee's right foot stuck causing the employee to slip, and the reaction was to reach back with the left hand to catch the rail. The employee felt a tear on arm.

Employee was swinging a 20lb sledgehammer with a wooden handle to remove a pillow block from an idler pin on the 40 shovel.

Operator of HT#4 was headed down hill on the Ponderosa Ramp when the truck lost control and hit the berm coming to a stop perpendicular in the roadway. HT#504 was headed downhill on the Ponderosa Ramp behind the #4 truck. As the #504 proceeded downhill, driver indicates applied brakes and began to lose control turning sideways and striking the # 4 truck, sending it downhill.

An employee was walking on a slope to the east side centerline dam and began to sink up to their knees. As employee pulled themselves up, they felt pain in their left hip.

Operator of HT 597 stated they received a rough load at the 40 shovel causing back pain.

Haul truck driver took a break at the Dispatch Q-Point. As employee walked in front of cab, the panel access door opened causing employee to trip. Employee grabbed the rail with their left arm to try and keep from falling. Employee heard a 'pop' in their shoulder and fell downward onto their wrist.

Shift mechanic was using a Dead Blow Hammer with two hands while trying to put pins back in the torque limiter on Ball Mill #1 at Metcalf Concentrator. While doing so the mechanic's right hand was struck between the pin and hammer causing a minor laceration and extreme pain in the right thumb. The employee fractured their thumb.

Employee lost their radio on the stockpile and was walking back from finding it, when they tripped and twisted their right knee.

A mechanic apprentice was carrying a belt tensioner pulley and felt a twinge in their back when adjusting the weight to their other arm.

A diesel repair employee was doing a pre-pm on the 637 haul truck (bay 18 HDTS), when coming down the boarding ladder to prime the fuel filter, the employee misstepped injuring left ankle.

Maintenance Mechanic with the Moly/Filter department was working on Pump 4411 at the Con Thickeners. The mechanic was rolling the v-belts back on by pulling on the belts and the sheave. While in the process of doing this the mechanic felt a pop and had pain in their left shoulder.

Employee was walking out to the dump, when their coveralls got caught on a drip single causing them to fall forward and land on their right wrist.

While opening the truck hood, felt a sharp pain in the shoulder.

A Diagnostic Diesel Employee was standing on a ladder attempting to cut a zip tie from above the engine oil filter manifold on the 528 Haul Truck. The employee slipped, lost their balance, and attempted to catch self. As EE was falling forward, EE's right index finger made contact with the razor knife EE was using and sliced EE's finger open.

Spool Piece was to be installed on pump. It was rigged with a sling and a shackle, going around the pipe once. The Spool Piece was lifted into place, the flanges were an 18"" on one end and a 10"" flange on the other, the weight shifted on the load pinning one of the crew members right hand between the sling and the 10"" flange.

Lost footing coming off trailer ladder after loading. Fell and landed on feet. Felt short electric pains in back.

Employee was cleaning the band saw under the table, when they were replacing the table they pinched their right 5th digit fracturing it.

A line crew employee was standing on a 4 foot pile of loose material aligning pole for a power line extension. While climbing down the employee felt discomfort and a pop in their knee.

Employee was shoveling grease around a shorthead crusher when they twisted to the left and felt pain in their lower back. They continued working until a couple hours later when the pain got significantly worse while descending stairs.

The dipper of #39 shovel struck the truck bed of HT633 while in the process of being loaded. The employee stated they had neck pain.

On 11/03/2020 a Utility Crew laborer was moving a wheelbarrow with material in it when they stepped on a rock they didn't see, and their leg slipped causing the wheelbarrow to pull them forward. The job was completed, and the employee left for the day. The employee woke up on 11/04/2020 with more pain in their lower back and reported it to a supervisor who took them to the clinic.

A haulage trainee stated they were injured while on a ride along on 10/28/2020. Employee didn't report injury at the time. They waited two shifts and were seen at the clinic on 11/4/2020. Employee states the HT operator pressed on the brakes hard and they felt pain in their neck.

Employee was going to reach under a large bag of filter sand to cut the bag open, the bag was held up by a forklift using the bag handles and the forks. The bag's handles failed causing the bag to drop on the employees right arm pulling and trapping the arm against the hopper.

Employee was moving an extendable ladder from one filter to another with a coworker, when the ladder was set into the filter the extended portion of the ladder came down smashing the employee's thumb.

An employee was changing an idler, and the idler rolled off and fell a few inches on the thigh of the employee.

Employee was removing a 793 transmission with the knuckle boom truck. The transmission got hung up for a second and then came loose popping out of the differential and pinching employees right foot against the differential housing.

Employee was assembling 4 inch yellow mine pipe, the injured employee was holding the pipe up to put it in a coupling, while another employee pushed it in. The pipe pinched the left 5th digit but did not fracture it.

A haulage operator reported their truck having stiff steering in tight turns early during night shift. After dumping the load the employee reported pain in the shoulder.

While employee was performing maintenance on the P11, they were removing the splitter bar. While doing so, one end of the bar slipped and the employee tried to grab it. As a result, employee smashed their thumb between splitter bar and return frame. Employee was wearing gloves.

While hanging a door on the 402 vessel, employee was sliding a gasket in place when material fell into their eye. Employee was wearing safety glasses at the time. Employee flushed their eye for 15 minutes and reported the event to their supervisor with no issues noted at the time. Later in the evening, employee's eye became irritated and was directed to go to GHR for evaluation.

Employee was removing fuel hose off haul truck 547, while twisting their left hand they felt a pop in their wrist. The employee's wrist and lower forearm began to hurt.

Employee was carrying metal liner up the stairs and on the 2nd level of the stair platform EE went to put down the liner to take a break. When EE was lowering the liner, it slipped from EE's grip and the corner of the liner hit EE's right foot just above the steel toe part of the boot. The liner is estimated to be close to 100 pounds.

After checking the fuel counter at Silver Basin fuel dock employee was walking back to the haul truck when they caught a foot on a hydraulic hose that was on the metal platform. Right foot hit the ground and ankle rolled causing them to fall to the ground. Employee heard the ankle pop and felt a sharp pain. Employee called supervisor and sat on the platform.

Employee was walking outside bay #11 at the HDTS, when they stepped on a rock and lost balance causing employee to fall striking both knees on the ground. Employee received 7 sutures on the right knee and 4 sutures on the left knee.

The employee was stepping out of a work van and stepped on a small rock ( 2"" round in size) twisting the left ankle to the out side of the foot.

After cutting samples the employee was pouring the sample into the tube, the employee felt an object enter the right eye.

Employee was removing a fitting on the 4 inch pipe using an extractor bit on a handheld drill. The bit caught and twisted the drill and twisted the employee's left wrist.

Employee was unloading a box with a ball valve inside it from the bed of the pickup truck, went to place it on the ground and twisted EE's back.

Haul truck operator explained that they had issues backing up and dumping (lever getting stuck) the HT585B when the bed came down unexpectedly at the Molinar Leach dump.

Employee was working on the drip crew and attached the splicer to the drip to reinstall it onto the ATV. As the employee pulled on the line, the splicer came apart causing the employee to stumble and injure lower back.

Employee smelled fumes in the cab of HT642. They proceeded to run the haul truck for two hours causing the driver to have irritation in their throat, nose, and eyes.

Employee was operating an ATV on the PCR 6470 stockpile, while doing a dry run in rough terrain employee went over a rock, bounced, and made contact with the handlebars injuring their right shoulder.

Employee was cleaning buildup around the B9 conveyor belt. When employee went to take a break, employee believes the rake may have caught on the grating or their foot causing employee to be off balance. As the employee stepped back there was a stair case which the employee tripped and went down two or three steps. The employee indicated their right leg twisted.

Employee was turning the 4"" pipe with a 3ft pipe wrench, when the wrench slipped causing the employee to fall backwards, and injure their right knee.

Employee was connecting drip line to the ""Y"" on the 4"" header, when they stood up their left knee popped.

An employee was dumping a wheel barrel of muck. As the employee was backing up, they slipped and landed on HDEP pipe, hurting their tail bone.

A support equipment operator stepped off the 84 dozer for fuel and rolled their ankle on uneven ground.

Two employee's were transporting a wheelbarrow to the top floor of the crusher building. One employee missed a step and began having muscle spasms in their back.

Employee was climbing into the crusher bowl, didn't see a pry bar, slipped, and landed on their side.

While helping to hook up the anode strong back, employee fractured their finger in between the hook and the loop of the strong back.

Employee was cleaning under the P10 conveyor using a digging hoe. The Employee experienced a pop in the right elbow.

Employee was walking up the ramp at the security office, noticed other employees were at smoking area. Employee took a step back when left foot was on half of the concrete and asphalt, left ankle twisted as they went to their knees. Employee heard the ankle crack at least 4 times.

While walking to a light vehicle an employee took a step off a platform onto the ground and twisted their ankle.

584HT was waiting at 39 shovel when 541HT made contact with them from the rear at approximately 2.5 mph.

Employee was in the process of cleaning the rim of a haul truck tire laid out on the concrete floor at the tire shop. When the employee put EE's left foot on the tire, the employee slipped and the left shin made impact with the edge of the tire. This caused pain and a swollen left shin.

Operator of LV721B Van was traveling down HHH LVA when they missed the turn for the haul road and ran into the tire wall.

Employee was air chipping on Classifier down below the grading. The affected employee was under the grading spraying with the water hose. The affected employee that was spraying reached over to where the other employee was chipping to move a rock. The employee had started to use the small air chipper and did not see IE. The air chipper caught IE's hand and cut the right hand.

An EW operator was trying to clear stuck copper from the stripping machine when a component of the machine moved causing the pry bar to make contact with the employee's finger against a handrail.

Operator was dismounting a rubber tire dozer and missed the last step causing them to fall to the ground and injure their ankle.

Employee was operating a dozer on a busy dump and back began to hurt.

Employees were working on changing the MFL 16 Belt Morenci Mine. They were removing the Belt Clamp with an Employee on Both sides of Belt. One side of Belt clamp was removed. Other side the employee hand Right hand between the wench and clamp it closed tight pinching Employees two fingers when the other side clamp was removed. Causing the clamp to pinch fingers.

Employee tripped over level ground and twisted ankle.

At around 10:30 am haul truck operator of the HT-537 parked at the 6240 Cup bathroom tie down to use the bathroom. The employee explained while dismounting the haul truck on the last step their ankle popped.

Employee stepped off backwards from a forklift, and the platform wasn't lowered all the way to the ground. They lost their footing and fell to the floor causing them to injure their left hip.

Employee was getting loaded at shovel 17. They received the first bucket of material, and on the second dipper, a boulder fell from the bucket of the shovel making contact with the dove tail on the haul truck causing the operator to be rough loaded.

Employee was taking parts upstairs and pivoted around a dust collector pipe and felt a burning sensation in their right knee.

While dumping out, the hoist cylinder failed on a haul truck causing the bed to come down jostling the operator.

Employee was stretching inflatables to make more room, put a strap underneath the inflatable and pulled, and then the employee felt some pain in their back.

Operator of HT619 was getting loaded at the 16 shovel when they were rough loaded. Operator felt discomfort in lower back but continued operating the haul truck. Employee waited until next shift to be evaluated.

Employee was standing track up using a claw tool, when the tool slipped and a rail bounced striking the employee in the face.

Employee was standing at the man van, with their hand in the door frame when another employee slid the door closed catching the employee's finger causing them to need sutures.

While adjusting the height of the pulley the employee stepped back and their knee rested on a air line, due to severe corrosion the line broke causing air and debris to hit the employee in the face causing eye irritation.

Employee was working on a sump pump by the supervisor's office by west repair bays, EE was trying to make a gap between the fitting and pump tank. Employee could not get pry bar in the space and decided to use a pocket knife to wedge in there to help make the space for the pry bar. EE's right hand slipped forward, EE cut right thumb that required stitches.

An employee was going to pry off a pre-stripe cathode, the employee dropped the pry bar and while bent over to pick it up the copper cathode came loose and hit the employee's left shoulder. The left shoulder received two lacerations.

Employees were tasked with fixing broken singles (drip line fitting). As employee A was standing up the cutters slipped out of EE's hand striking and cutting injured employee on the right middle finger. The injured employee received 2 sutures.

Employee was operating the 40 RTD performing their last clean up for day shift around the 40 shovel, when they were headed up the ramp to park for shift change the front end of the RTD fell into a ditch. This caused the employee to pitch forward hitting their head on the ROPS causing a laceration and breaking the right side window.

Employee was repairing the Downender on the #1 stripping machine at Central EW tank house, when the cable broke and the arm came down hitting the employee's left ear.

A haul truck driver smelled a noxious smell in the cab of their haul truck and began to vomit after a couple of loads from western copper up to the PCR dumps.

Employee was performing road access duties when a fuel trucks rear tires blew. The employee was approximately five feet away and experienced ringing in their ears.

Employee was operating the 45 rubber tire in Western Copper, traveling down the haul road, when they hit a bump causing the rubber tire to bounce. The employee hit the left side of their head on the coat hook causing a 2-3 inch laceration.

During a lunch break, employee was cutting on a piece of excess drip line with a personal pocket knife, when the knife slipped and cut employee's right index finger.

While rigging up the counterweight for the 600 ton crane. The employee got up on the weight box to string up a strap and move the next one over when they slipped. That employee slipped on the cable roller and fell hitting their head. This caused a laceration on their head requiring seven staples.

HT517 was being loaded at the 43 Shovel when the bank became undercut and a large rock or dirt clot fell from the bank and landed in the bed of the haul truck causing the operator to be jolted very hard.

Employee was trying to place a paper towel between the cab and the passenger door to reduce a rattle. In the process of trying to shut the towel in the door, employee smashed fingers in the door resulting in a broken tip of the ring finger and three stitches in same finger along with bruising of middle finger.

Employee was trying to remove the seal from a can of Seal Tight with a knife, and the knife closed on their thumb causing a cut.

Operator of HT533 was walking in front of the cab and made contact with a small door causing a laceration on their right knee.

While harvesting the #11 cell, one of the anodes had two pieces of copper stuck to it. As the employee was attempting to dislodge the second piece of copper, the anode tipped over knocking the employee to the floor. As a result, the anode contacted the right arm of the employee causing a second degree burn.

While installing scaffold over pipe at Lower Stargo, employee knelt down to put wood screws in the underside of the scaffold planks. As EE knelt down the employee felt a pop and instantly felt pain in the right knee.

A tank house employee developed a rash around both ankles.

A line crew employee was working on 78-c power line extension in Western Copper above the 39 shovel, when started to experience ""nausea, headache and cramping"".

A haulage operator rode in a van that had no air conditioning for approximately 45 minutes while waiting for a truck to operate. Then got onto a haul truck for the shift that also had no air conditioning. The driver began to feel sick and experienced heat exhaustion by the time they had gotten to the heavy duty truck shop for A/C repairs.

Over the last several months employee has felt itching and irritation on neck while working in the tank house.

Employee stated that their respirator was burning and irritating their face where it touched the skin.

Driver of the 575 HT initiated a mayday call while parked at the 11 shovel tie down. Employee's hard hat had fallen off, and they hit their head causing a small bump on the forehead.

An employee was found sleeping, and snoring, in the operator's shack. A co-worker attempted to wake them up. The co-worker left and returned with another co-worker and found the employee unresponsive. After attempts to perform CPR, the employee was unable to be resuscitated. There were no indications of an accident or trauma. Details surrounding the event are unknown at this time.

Employee was leaving in the man van after night shift and stated they were bounced around considerably causing pain in lower back, hips, knee, and neck.

Employee was performing a pre-shift inspection on LV814B when they turned and twisted their right ankle.

EE strained lower back while pushing and pulling on inner tube while extracting core sample.

The operator was adding DE (Diatomaceous Earth) to the tank. The operator had removed two bags, and on the third bag, the operator reached up to slide the bag off the stack, and the employee caught the bag with their left arm, felt a pop, and lost strength.

While working inside cab compartment, EE had to work in a kneeling/squat position. After moving seat they stood up outside cab and heard a knee pop/noise. Sharp pain occurred. EE tried to work through. After 2 hrs pain still in knee. Contacted supervisor.