All MSHA-reportable accidents at J M Huber Corporation operations in 2004. Fatalities appear first.
Employee was loading bulk trailer when driver removed chocks and stop sign. Employee jumped so he would not get crushed by ramp and hit the safety rail on trailer, causing a puncture wound to his right temple area and right thigh area. Employee received 3 to 4 stitches on each wound.
Employee was working underground operating the scaler when he got out of the scaler to grease the boom rollers on the equipment. Employee lost his footing and fell approximately 4 feet to the ground which was muddy and rocky surface.
EE was opening hatches on bulk trailer when he felt burning in right knee. EE was determined to have a torn meniscus on 12-21-04. Surgery performed on 1-5-05.
EE PRESSURE TESTED A TANK CAR & FOUND A FAULTY DISC ASSEMBLY; HE REMOVED THE OLD ASSEMBLY, BUT FAILED TO BLEED PRESSURE OFF THE CAR; THE RUPTURE DISC ASSEMBLY BLEW OFF, STRIKING HIM IN THE FACE.
Employee was bagging product on bagger machine when a bag burst and spewed kaolin clay upward onto employee. The force of the material covered the employee's upper body resulting in some of the clay getting into his left eye. First aid was provided, but the eye became irritated the next day & medical treatment was needed.
EE WAS INSTALLING STAINLESS STEEL BANDING ON PIPE. EE WAS GOING TO CUT OFF EXCESS WITH SIDE CUTTERS WHEN THE SIDE CUTTERS SLIPPED, CAUSING EE TO STRIKE HIS RIGHT FOREARM ON THE STAINLESS STEEL BAND - 1 1/2"" LACERATION TO THE RIGHT FOREARM.
Two employees were in the process of setting the tension. The other was holding tension on spring with spanner wrench. EE was preparing to put a locking pin which holds spring in place, began to place the pin; wrench broke allowing the spring to release tension. Bolt cut through his glove causing a laceration on right hand in the fleshy area below the thumb. 8 sutures.
While employee was performing a maintenance activity at a height of approx 8 ft, the ee used a retractable tape measure as a pointing device. While pointing at a damaged roller, the tape became entangled resulting in laceration of right index finger, requiring six sutures.
TRUCK DRIVER WAS UNLOADING MATERIAL, BACKING DOWN RAMP, WHEN GOT TO BOTTOM TRIPPED AND FELL OVER MATERIAL ALREADY UNLOADED AND LAYING ON THE GROUND CAUSING HIM TO STRIKE HIS LEFT.
AT SHIFT CHANGE, THE ON-COMING AND OFF-GOING OPERATORS WERE DISCUSSING SHIFT CHANGE INFORMATION WHILE STANDING OUTSIDE. DURING THIS TIME, THE EEFELT SOMETHING BLOW INTO HIS LEFT EYE. THE EE F LUSHED THE EYE TWICE DURING THE NIGHT WITH EYE WASH AND USED VISINE...REPORTED IT TO SAFETY COORD. ON HIS WAY HOME...AT 4:30 PM EE WENT TO LOCAL ER TO HAVE HIS EYE LOOKED, WAS HURTING.
EE EXPERIENCED NUMBNESS IN HER RIGHT HAND AND EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT IT MIGHT BE WORK RELATED. EE ENTERS DATA INTO A COMPUTER AND TYPICALLY WORKS LONG HOURS WITH INFREQUENT BREAKS. REVIEW OF THE WORK STATION REVEALED THAT IT WAS NOT ERGONOMICALLY SOUND.