Holcim US IncMining Incidents in 2024

Alternative fuels material storage began self heating. Result was a fire involving saw dust and plastic alternative fuels. No property damage or injuries.

Fire occurred on 8/30/2024 at approx 3:30am but was contained quickly(approx 25 minutes). Our local MSHA Office recommended we report the incident via 7000-1. Buildup of hot material in the Clinker Cooler resulted in the hydraulic seal to the equipment melting and hot material caused a hydraulic oil fire in a small piston compartment on the South side.

Employee was reinstalling a port cover to an access port on the 565-SC1 screw conveyor (which was locked out), and the employee reported that the cover sucked in quickly, pinching EE's finger between the port cover and the port opening.

Raw Mill extension chute broke and fell, landing near to and injuring the employee. Employee was taken to hospital for evaluation.

Raw Mill extension chute broke and fell, landing near to and injuring an employee. Employee was taken to hospital for evaluation.

While vertically hoisting a mill brow liner, employee did not follow direction and unclipped cable hoist to maneuver liner. Liner moved and pinched finger between another liner.

For reasons still unknown, the employee opened an energized 4160v cabinet and it appears that the employee used a 600v meter to test for voltage. This resulted in an arc flash, severely burning the employee and causing catastrophic damage to the electrical switchgear.

The employee disconnected the air hose from the lance to inspect the ball valve. While attempting to inspect the ball of the ball valve the air compressed air in the lance gave way then air and debris shot under their safety glasses and into their eye.

Employee was walking and tripped, fell onto their left side and injured their left shoulder.

Employee was cleaning a warehouse. During this time EE was moving a piece of ""C"" channel steel that slipped and fell on EE's right thumb. When EE removed EE's glove EE found that EE's thumb was split open and bleeding.

Employee was shoveling and felt pop/pressure in abdomen. Employee diagnosed with hernia. Doctor restricted employee to limited lifting until follow-up.

Maintenance employee was lifting a piece of shaft stock with the help of another technician.

EE suffered a bicep strain while descending down a fixed ladder

The employee was moving oil drums and noticed a bulge starting (At this time EE didn't inform the mine operator) After 13 days EE went to a doctor where EE was diagnosed with a hernia that needed surgery. The mine operator was informed about the need for surgery on 05/13/2024.

Employees were tempting to install expansion joint and place the chains to rig it while employee was tidying it up it came lose and caught employee's hand.

On 2/27/24 EE was taking 2"" valve loose from water line pipe wrenches. In process of loosening the valve, the employee felt their left shoulder pop. This was a First aid until 3/12/23 when seen by Dr, given meds/physical therapy.

Employee dropped roller on gloved hand fracturing middle finger and causing bleeding.

While retrieving the blend silo #2 sample, there was a strong draft that caused the tech who was holding a 4ft sampling stick to be pulled against the air slide. Diagnosed with shoulder strain and provided prescription meds/light duty.

Employee tripped over a wheel chock rope and shattered their knee cap.

Employee was loading a tire on a monorail hook and felt a pop above their belly button.

Employee was installing idler pulley when the pulley slipped, cutting their index finger.

Employee was actively building scaffold in the mill when EE came into contact with an unidentified live wire. Employee received a shock which caused EE to lose balance and fall approximately 2'. Employee's harness caught EE, EE got self off the catwalk and went for medical treatment. Received scratches to left arm and was taken out of work by doctor until 8/23/24

The crew was installing an axial blower using two manual chain hoists. While lifting the filter housing, a gasket came loose underneath the suspended part. As an employee tried to adjust the gasket with their hands, one of the chains moved and the blower fell and crushed the employee's left index finger, causing an injury.

Employee received a diagnosis of a bicep tear on July 18th, related to loading an empty gas cylinder on a cart.

Employee was working on a flapper of a pneumatic pump, and reported feeling a strained muscle in shoulder. Employee continued normal shift work, after reporting the incident to employee's supervisor. On 8/9 employee was placed on modified duty resulting in reportable incident.

Employee was trying to remove a dust collector bag/cage from a locked out screw conveyor and they leaned their torso against the metal frame of the equipment, when they felt a pop in their ribs. Employee didn't feel any pain but finally reported the incident at 7:00 am on 7/1/2024

EE states they were using a poke bar in a silo to break up chunks of material. EE had shoulder pain and was treated as first aid until 07/01/2024 until they were diagnosed with a collar bone fracture.

The storekeeper was moving idlers in the storage area. One piece of equipment moved suddenly and pinched the storekeeper's fingers.

The worker was transporting buckets with wet clinker and suffered superficial chemical burns due to the contact with the caustic material.

Employee was poking through a poke hole clearing limestone plug, a hinged door was open above poke holes. another employee was hitting on side of chute at same time. The hinged door fell down pinching the employees right pinky between door and bar. this cause a laceration and the nail to be partially removed requiring stitches to be repaired.

Injured employee was working in a small group, removing bags/cages from a dust collector compartment for 3 days. The employee felt sore in EE's left shoulder at the end of day 1 but was feeling increasing pain and discomfort in EE's left shoulder. The employee decided to seek doctor evaluation on 5/16 and did not report to EE's Supervisor that EE was hurt until 7am on 5/16.

A Production Support was cleaning the rail scales and stepped on the railroad track rolling an ankle causing a sprain of the Left ankle unspecified ligament.

While moving pallets a fork came off the forklift. While trying to put the fork back on the EE got their ring finger (right hand) pinched between the fork and the mast.

On April 5, 2024 at approximately 2:15PM the tank 7 agitator shaft was being moved into position to be installed when one of the wheels on the dollies used to move the shaft caught a weld point on the floor, spinning the dolly, causing the shaft to roll off of the cart and onto the top of the employee's right foot. Resulting in a fractured foot.

Worker felt pain in right elbow while lifting a piece of scaffold from ground level.

While accessing the loader, the employee lost their grip on the door handle and strained their back.

Employee was bent down and kneeling for a long period of time. When they stood up, they felt a pop in their right knee.

Employee was walking when they sprained their ankle.

The employee was walking in the plant to perform tank level reading when employee slipped on the uneven muddy ground (caused by weather conditions) lost footing and twisted an ankle. Medical advice was given for cold therapy and elevation. The next day employee felt some pain and was referred for more exams when employee was diagnosed with a Left fibula fracture.

Employee was working outside during a windy, dry day and got dust in the eye. They didn't notice an issue until the next day when there was some irritation. They eye doctor prescribed antibiotic eyedrops for precaution.

Worker was installing transformer on a wall and it fell and hit EE's left hand causing laceration.

A Norrell Construction elevator technician fell while climbing preheater tower elevator car ladder. In an attempt to not fall, the technician grabbed the ledge above the ladder, resulting in lacerations to several fingers and 2 fractured finger bones.

On September 17, a technician was working on the HT.211.VF1 vibrating feeder. While grinding the employee stated that a piece of metal entered the left eye through their safety glasses. The employee was then sent to the eye doctor where a piece of metal was removed and the healthcare provider prescribed a prescription eyedrop.

Employee sustained a laceration to their left forearm from a dial pen that protruded further than the gate valve it was affixed to.

Using a hole saw, the spring popped the cut piece of metal out striking the finger and causing a laceration.

Pulling up on a bag house bag, when it broke loose the employee hit their face with their hand chipping a tooth.

Employee walked through material and stepped on something under the material. Their reaction led to a soft tissue strain in their back that has progressively increased in pain over time.

Employee cut their left ear on a piece of metal while cleaning in the area, resulting in 7 stitches.

Employee was moving a drum and the drum cut the left thumb.

Technicians were assigned to cut plate and weld it to repair the drum wheel on the magnetic separator. The tech had used brake cleaner to remove the grease and dirt from the face of the drum. When the arc struck fire burned the employee's hand.

EE was coming out of the scrubber when EE's lanyard hook struck EE in the front tooth.

Employee was removing the lid of the level 6 tipping valve, as lid was tensioned using a come along the lid dislodged and swung into employee's left shin causing a laceration requiring 10 stitches. Assessment of risk was not fully completed for line of fire hazards. The employee returned to work for next scheduled shift.

Employee was working to clear a fly ash blockage when dust came out of the hatch and getting in the eye. The eye was flushed and antibiotic drops were prescribed.

EE was using a bar to clear blockage, a large chunk of material fell from within the silo striking the bar. Bar struck EE in the face, causing laceration in mouth. Prescription antibiotic given at ER, no sutures.

Two employees were moving an electric motor in the warehouse by sliding a bar through an eyebolt in the top of the motor. As they were setting the motor on the floor, the motor slid on the bar, pinching one employee's finger, causing an injury.

Falling debris in side of cyclone

Employee had surgery for a degenerative shoulder issue. EE will be on temporary modified work duty until released.

Employee was cleaning in the plant and realized that they had stopped sweating and felt ill.

Employee reported to work and began complaining of chest pains. Employee was diagnosed with esophageal spasms, not work related. Spoke to Norman, OK Field office supervisor who advised to complete 7000-1.

3rd party driver was delivering copper slag to the plant. They had dumped a load of copper slag and was parked. Driver was standing near the rear of the truck and flagged down another driver for help complaining of chest pains. EMS was called, and driver was transported by emergency services to a local hospital where they passed away.

Employee was welding bars inside the trommel, using 2x6 boards and 3/4"" plywood to sit on while welding. As the employee attempted to stand up, one of the 2x6 boards broke causing imbalance and resulting in a strained hamstring, and was giving an anti-inflammatory prescription. Employee was returned to full duty.