All MSHA-reportable accidents at J M Huber Corporation operations in 2007. Fatalities appear first.
Loader operator was mucking out a heading that was shot the previous shift. He scooped up a bucket of material, raised his bucket approx. 3 feet and started backing up when (apparently) an unexploded stick of dynamite detonated. All miners were evacuated from the mine. There were no injuries or property damage. MSHA was immediately notified.
Employee was cleaning out lumps of clay from a rotary valve; the employee stuck his hand in the rotary valve, while it was running, and lost the very tip of his third finger on his right hand.
Maintenance employee had completed greasing of Bird Centrifuge and when he turned to step down to the floor, his foot slipped and he fell backwards. The ledge that he stepped on was wet from wash-up, causing him to slip.
While cleaning and servicing a Great Western Screen, the employee put his hand down the discharge sock (17"") and his finger impacted an airlock. The employee lost the fleshy front tip of his middle finger. The employee was taken to the hospital and treated for the wound. The employee failed to follow the documented company policy for Lock-Out/Tag-Out and was terminated.
Electrician with 2 yrs mining experience was injured while laying internet cable above ground. Incident was not reported until 3/12/07 when the employee reported the injury and was put on a no work status until 3/28/07. Because employee did not report incident in a timely fashion and physicians were not free in giving medical information, investigation was delayed.
12/19/07 - Maintenance employee was walking up an inclined travelway when he stepped on a small stone (1"") and felt a ""Pop"" in his knee. Employee did not believe it was anything and did not want a medical evaluation. Later, 1/3/08, the employee reported lingering discomfort in the knee; doctor evaluated and prescribed Celebrex and it became reportable at that time.
Gasket failed and hot water spewed onto employee, causing burns to side of face, neck, and abdomen. Employee had skin grafted to small area on abdomen and some area of abdomen scraped.
He had one hand on handrail and the other hand had tools in it. When he reached the bottom step his ankle gave way. He used the handrail to lower his body to the ground. His supervisor then helped him to the breakroom and called safety to look and report. She asked him did he need medical treatment and he replied no. He was driven home and later seen at the local ER.
At approximately 4:30 pm, a maintenance employee was stepping onto a piece of pipe that was approximately 2 ft off the ground and inadvertently fell onto the concrete flooring, hitting his head.
Truck driver was outside his truck walking and tripped and fell to his elbows while on loose rocks and gravel and bruised his elbows and right hand. He did not seek medical treatment at the time as he felt it was just a bruise. On 3-1-07 he still felt pain and went to doctor and X-rays revealed Navicular fracture R hand/wrist and elbow contusion. Driver now on restricted duty.
While employee was bagging 50 # bags of material at bagging station he strain stomach muscle.
A production employee was going to switch pumps at the sulfuric acid system. He put his chemical gloves on, but did not put his chemical suit and face shield on. When he switched to the backup pump, acid sprayed from a weakened connection on the pump and caused several small burns to his back. He was prescribed an antibiotic to ward off infection.
An operator cut his right ear on a pneumatic fitting while trying to remove a busted bag from a conveyor. Operator was moving from the backside of the bagger between the bagger spouts to remove the busted bag. Operator did not shut the conveyor off to remove the bag, therefore he was moving through the area quickly in an attempt to remove the busted bag from the conveyor.
Employee was doing pre-shift inspection on the Road Grader. The employee climbed backward down (normal routine) off the Grader, placed his right foot first on the ground, turned to place his left foot down and twisted the ankle on the right foot.The Grader was parked on level ground, but the ground surface was somewhat uneven. No lost time from work.
Employee was installing the ductwork and was tightening down a nut when his ratchet slipped off of the nut. The employee lost his balance and fell backwards. The employee impacted a handrail support that tore through two layers of clothing and left two deep wounds in his upper right thigh.