All MSHA-reportable accidents at Lafarge North America, Inc. operations in 2008. Fatalities appear first.
The natural gas boiler fired incorrectly resulting in a carbon monoxide (CO) emission in the main office. It was discovered by the presence of an odor. Immediately upon discovery all personnel were evacuated resulting in no illness or injury. Local fire department personnel assist in ventilation and source investigation.
Empl. turned ankle when stepping on mill ball. Reported that ball was not covered but just didn't see it. Incident reported as first aid because Empl. indicated he was fine and did not seek medical attention. On 8/31/08 employee was walking down a staircase and felt pain in ankle. EE went to doctor on 9/2/08 and was told not to return to work until diagnostic tests came back.
EE was a ladder for the purpose of adjusting the tracking of the belt on the feed conveyor. The belt needed to be adjust. He was leaning against a pipe and held onto the machine to reposition himself when his glove got caught an the return roller and pulled his arm into the conveyor. The other man on the floor hit the emergency stop button. The bar prevented accessibility beyond
On 8/14/08 Employee reported a strained back which he linked to work he was doing on 8/12/08 when he was working on tail pulley on additive belt, using a pipe wrench to free belt so belt would track. This was an 8 hour job.
Employee was removing liner plates from ball mill and hit a plate with hammer and slipped and it splintered and a piece of steel went into his left leg about 3"" deep about the size of a 22 shot close to an artery. He had another little piece in his right thigh.
EE was leaning into a 52"" tall box, to remove a remaining scrap of material. the sideflap was standing straight up and there were 2 boxes directly in front of the box. The forklift driver put the forks into the skid and upon lifting it, shifted the box next to it, shifting the box. Because of the flap, the driver did not see EE in the box. He jumped and fell against railing.
While working around briquetter, pulled guard up but did not secure prior to working beneath it. Guard fell, striking him on his hard hat (head).
A length of pipe 116"" fell from a 30"" high pipe stand and landed on the workers right foot.
Employee was on ladder watch when he ascended ladder to assist work partner with tarp. The ladder slipped and he fell from the 3rd rung.
EE and other were fixing a probe on the drive end of 406 Drag. They realized they would need a bigger tool to complete the job. other went to the electric shop to get a bigger pipewrench and he proceeded to work on union with 12"" pipe wrench. He pulled on the wrench and went down on one knee and claimed he pulled something in his back. Note: Injury not reported until 9/5/08
Employee was cleaning the tower when a chunk of cement came loose and fell striking the bar that he was using to clean. The bar then swung around and hit him in the side of the head. He is complaining of headaches and strained muscles and sought treatment at OHS on 11/17/08. He is on 10 lb lifting restrictions and sees the doctor again on 11/20/08.
Replacing a return roller on C-45 conveyor. Attempting to put the return roller into its holder. Bending & stretching while lifting caused pain in lower back. **Medical with restrictions.**
Employee was walking along frame of rock crusher, slipped off and fell to ground causing elbow injury.
Stepping down ladder of T-8 haul truck, bolt broke holding a rung on, EE held on with his left hand but fell down a couple of rungs to radiator shroud.
Employee came to control room complaining of lower back pain and thought he had kidney stones. He was taken to OHS Clinic where diagnosis was lower back strain.
Employee was walking, stepped on a clinker ball, nearly fell and twisted back.
Employee was breaking up bridged material in cone; rock flew up and struck him finger causing a fracture.
While pulling a conveyor belt (c-45) down with a come-along, the come-along released by itself, this allowed the belt & roller to push EE's hand upward, traping it between the roller & bracket.
Step down from piece of equipment (manlift), proper PPE employed, twisted right foot/ankle when stepping onto Wet Mill Screen catwalk. No lost time - light duty assigned - prescription given.
On 3/27 shift employee was cleaning cement dust. He saw his personal physician on 4/1 due to coughing, wheezing, and spitting up and was sent by Lafarge to the Occupational Health clinic on 4/2. He was referred to pulmonologist on 4/7 and released to full duty. Company managers and 3rd party administrator, Health Bridge, determined case a medical incident and reportable on 5/2.
Driving haul truck, hit a bump and jarred his back.
Three EE's splashed with drain cleaner.
Three EE's splashed with drain cleaner.
Employee was attempting to pull a pallet jack that had a full load and felt a sudden popping and pain in his right wrist. Pain persisted and employee sought treatment on 1/2/08 and was diagnosed with wrist strain. Employee was given rigid splint and placed on restrictions of no right hand gripping.
Ee was inspecting screw conveyor. As ee was putting the lid back on the screw, the lid slipped out of his hand, he lost his balance, and put his hand into hot dust. Some of the hot dust got inside his glove. Thus, the ee was burned.
At the wet mill doing a belt splice on conveyor 33, repetitively climbing on and off the belt during the repair and twisted his right knee.
Employee was turning valve in water line, valve came loose from fitting causing laceration to his left index finger.
Ee walked past the shed at River and slipped on gravel. Became MSHA reportable when employee went for follow up visit and was prescribed drugs on 10/21/08.
Employee was using the shop plasma cutter. Laid the plasma handle on his left thigh as he bent down to move the angle iron. The plasma gun has a yellow safety switch caught on a piece of clothing and pushed it forward, then the red main trigger was depressed while he was moving. With both of these activated, the plasma cutter turned on and burned him in two areas.
Employee was removing dump cylinder from haul truck, while removing the cylinder, it swung forward and pinched his hand between fuel tank and cylinder. (misc mail 8/7/08 #2- He received medical attention and 5 stitches.)
Employee was assisting in installing a belt idler and his thumb was pinched between the conveyor and the frame causing a laceration.
EE was driving mill liner out of finish mill. He struck liner with hammer & felt something twinge just below his knee on inside of left leg.He noticed a sliver was gone from liner, looked down,& saw that the sliver had gone through his pant leg & sliced skin just below knee.Medical treatment requiring 3 stitches.
While pulling a clump of polymer out of a clogged chemical mixing tank. Clump was solid on outside, center was powder and it blew into employees face and eyes.
While pulling work boat to tie off and secure the rope broke sending employee off balance backwards and fell on digger ladder platform hurting left rib cage.
Employee was removing liner plates from ball mill. He was welding and a hot piece of metal fell onto his right foot causing a burn.
Employee was using cutting torch when wind shifted and a spark flew up into his left ear, causing burn. At that time, employee shut off cutting torch and flushed ear with water. Incident reported to supervisor 4/28/08 when employee sought medical treatment. Referred to specialist in May for treatment.
Employee was holding a wedge while another employee swung a hammer, a sliver of metal hit employee in forearm causing a laceration.
Employee operating loader, inadvertantly loader bucket struck rock debris pile, causing loader to abruptly stop. Operator was gripping steering wheel with both hands, causing a slight impact affecting wrists of operator; wearing seatbelt. Operator remained in full duty work as per doctor. As of early April, employee received minor physical therapy for wrist discomfort.
Three EE's splashed with drain cleaner.
Inspecting iron ore tank, removed door of discharge chute. Placed door back on brackets, then reached down to retrieve keeper bar. Not aware door was not fully hooked on upper framework. Door came loose and fell approx 2 ft and struck right hand. Second finger, one stitch; third finger end bone broken, five stitches.
An employee was attempting to push a glass tube through a hole in a rubber stopper (tube has a 90 degree bend in it). When pressure was applied to the tube, the tube broke at the bend. The employee's hand slid down and was cut on the broken glass tube that was sticking out of the stopper.
In February 2009, employee claimed carpal tunnel syndrome due to repetitive nature of her job. Investigation was taking place to determine if damage was work related. Employee filed claim with the State of MO on 4/20/09. Company determined on 5/21/09 that injury will be workers comp case. Therefore 7000-1 now being filed. Employee had surgery and is on light duty.
Employee suffered heat exhaustion and was taken to ER at Centerpoint Hospital in Independence, MO at 3:00 AM on 8/3/08. RW followed up with the company clinic, OHS, on 8/4/08 and was released to full duty.
EE had received a hearing test that resulted with finding that the test results discovered a MSHA Record-able. In his right he has no response for 6000 Hz and 8000 Hz.