All MSHA-reportable accidents at Holcim US Inc operations in 2015. Fatalities appear first.
Fire was first spotted by an ee, and then water was used to extinguish the fire. Inspection of the bin revealed a hole approximately 1 ½ in diameter. Hole would have allowed outside damp air to come into contact with the powdered coal which resulted in oxidation followed by the fire. This hole was repaired prior to putting the system back into service.
Coal mill bag house smolder no illness or injury bag house was completely re-bagged
Employee was sliding a roller frame along the handrail of floating conveyor when the roller frame began to slide toward water. Employee tried to keep the frame from falling and hit his leg, below the knee, on the mid-rail of the conveyor. Fractured left tibial plateau.
Employee was on the 5th floor of the Pre-Heater tower conducting a visual walk around inspection when hot gases and hot material escaped unexpectedly near the tipping valve of the 4B vessel. Employee sustained burns to his head (nose, eyes, left ear, face and forehead), neck, forearms and left elbow.
An employee was passing a can of spray adhesive to another employee and the can was dropped and pierced and adhesive sprayed out and caused a 1-2 second flash fire.
Employee pickup debris from work area. He picked up a piece of expanded metal and it cut/punctured his middle finger on right hand through his gloves. Until 4/15/15 this injury was first aid only, no lost time until rechecked by doctor and it was determined it needed additional treatment.
An employee was passing a can of spray adhesive to another employee and the can was dropped and pierced and adhesive sprayed out and caused a 1-2 second flash fire.
While employee was walking on a product barge, he lost his footing and fell to a maintenance barge below resulting in a fractured right clavicle.
Maintenance man injured right thumb attaching trailer for welder to hitch of pickup truck. Miner taken to ER for initial treatment and returned to work Dec. 11. On Dec. 14, for first available evaluation, orthopedist issued restrictions and confirmed distal tip fracture. Restrictions are being accommodated, no lost time expected, and full recovery expected in 8-weeks.
Employee was holding up a flange and fitting a pipe through the flange. The flange slipped and fell smashing fingers on the employee's left hand
EE had Synfuel splash in his eyes that got beyond his safety glasses while unhooking a hose with pressure on it from a tanker truck.
Employee was helping another employee remove a 6 foot long piece of channel steel from a crate. When the other employee set his end on the ground, the channel on the injured employee's end got caught on the crate. As the employee attempted to dislodge the steel, it broke free and mashed the employee's left ring finger causing a laceration requiring nine stitches.
Employee was using a prybar to strip concrete forms following a concrete pour and strained his right shoulder by over exertion from pushing and pulling on the prybar.
Employee was on a stepladder when the ladder shifted causing the employee to strain his left shoulder. On 7/9/15 he was diagnosed with a left shoulder rotator cuff tear.
Employee was using hand drill when drill bit grabbed causing the drill to twist in the employee's right hand. This resulted in a fracture to right hand.
Pan conveyor fell after air tugger was pulled from its anchors.
Employee stepped off of a ladder stepped on a rock and sprained his ankle.
Sample tube capsule holder pinched left hand middle finger resulting in fracture.
Employee was skinning 4/0 THHN wire with pocket knife and the knife slipped from the insulation and cut his left thigh. Employee has approximate 1"" cut on left thigh.
Employee was welding shims into an expansion joint, after welding three into place he removed his welding gloves, turned, and bumped his right forearm on an exposed shim causing a 4 cm laceration on his right wrist.
Employee stated that he was stacking bricks. He stacked a brick onto his hand. He says it was his own fault. He hurt his left pinky fingernail.
Employee was trouble shooting a pan conveyor. Employee rested his hand on the rail for balance when a roller came by it pinched the end of his finger
Employee was in equipment trailer and cut hand on opened box knife while reaching up onto shelf. The knife blade had been improperly installed causing the blade to remain exposed approx. 3/8"" even when closed position.
Employee was pulling on a cable when the cable broke causing a laceration to his left hand. employee received 3 stitches
Employee was at the tenth section of staves on the silo. An existing structure did not allow the employee full access to the scaffolding. While the employee was installing bolts on the chime, he overshot his swing causing him to lose his balance and fall forward. When retracting back, he caught his arm on the corner of the stave lacerating his left forearm.
EE was in process of removing a follow plate from a slurry pump when the plate slipped smashing his right index finger between the plate and the pump housing resulting in a cut. The cut required five (5) sutures to close.
employee was taking a cement sample from a cement tanker truck. The employee went to dump the sample into a five gallon bucket when the material splashed up and hit the employee in the left eye
Pinch finger tip between materials while handling
Employee was removing existing sheet metal flashing from arc flash duct opening. When he pulled on the sheet metal, it broke loose and a razor-like shard of sheet metal struck the employee in the forearm causing a laceration. He received 8 stitches and returned to work the same day on full duty.
Pan conveyor fell when air tugger was pulled from its anchors
Employee was installing an electrical motor on 1/6/2016 when the employee was taken to workers comp Dr. Dr stated strained muscle no restrictions injury did not improve MRI Completed and surgery for shoulder arthroscopic. Surgery completed on 5/29/2015. Date the injury became reportable 5/29/2015
The ee was using a 4-inch flat bar on a conveyor belt as a straight edge for cutting. He started cutting the belt away from his body using a utility knife. While maintaining a grip on the knife, The force of pushing the knife and angle of the blade made the knife come of the cut, glance off of the 4 inch flat bar and made a 3.5cm laceration on the left index finger.
While jackhammering in discharge end of Finish Mill #5 employee bumped his left elbow on the water spray pipe on Jan. 7. Reported to management on Jan. 12. Received medical attention on Jan. 13, 16, & 23 with no restrictions and fully released on Jan. 23. Left elbow issue continued. Received orthopedic exam on Feb. 9 resulting in work restrictions, which are being accommodated.
EE was found in the smoking area in front of the main office building. When he was found he was cool to the touch and no pulse. CPR was started by the plant first responders. The Florence EMS group was called and took over. The EMS group contacted St. Thomas More hospital and efforts were stopped. The Fremont county corner arrived and pronounced the pt deceased
*3rd-Party Consultant* held flange with left hand to stabilize. Mine Operator Plant Electrician used reciprocating saw to cut rusted, seized bolts from flange. Saw jumped and its blade cut into the glove of the left thumb of the *3rd-Party Consultant*. On Sep. 11, *3rd-Party Consultant* was examined by orthopedist and told surgery is needed to repair left thumb's extensor tendon.
Third-party truck driver alleges he strained his lower back after he dismounted from the cab of his truck. He alleges his left foot stepped into a hole on the ground and he twisted his left ankle resulting in him almost falling. The treating physician issued work restrictions and pain medication. The truck driver was unable to return to work and lost four scheduled work days.
Injured employee was cleaning at Main Office downstairs women's bathroom and backed her left elbow into a sharp, broken door latch. The latch lacerated her left elbow. She received medical attention requiring 3 stitches and returned to work resuming her normal work duties.