Lehigh Northeast Cement CompanyMining Incidents in 2002

THE EMPLOYEE WAS LIFTING A HELIUM TANK ONTO THE TANK CARRIER, WHEN HE ALLEGEDLY STRAINED HIS BACK.

THE EE WAS HELPING TO CLEAR A PLUGGED FASTVAC LINE IN THE FINISH MILL BUILDING. THE EE'S PARTNER DROPPED A 3 1/2"" STEEL BALL THROUGH THE PIPE TO CLEAR THE BLOCKAGE. WHEN THE STEEL BALL DISCHAR GED THE LOWER END OF THE PIPE, IT HIT EE IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HEAD.

EE WAS WORKING NEAR HATCH COVER WHEN MERCHANT VESSEL CREW MEMBER CLOSED HATCH CAUSING THE EE TO BE TRAPPED THEN FORCING HIM INTO GETTING KNOCKED INTO HOLD.

THE EMPLOYEE WAS CLOSING THE GATE ON THE CEMENT BIN. CEMENT IN THE BIN CAVED IN AND SHOT DOWN THE CHUTE WITH FORCE, ALLOWING CEMENT TO SQUIRT OUT ALL SEAMS, AND SOME DUST GOT INTO EMPLOYEE'S LEFT EYE.

THE EE WAS ALLEGEDLY USING A JACKHAMMER TO CLEAN UNDER THE GRATES ONT HE COOLER ROOF. THE JACKHAMMER ALLEGEDLY GOT STUCK AND WHEN THE EE ALLEGEDLY PULLED THE JACKHAMMER BACK, HE ALLEGEDLY FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS BACK.

ELECTRICIAN WAS CUTTING RIGID CONDUIT W/BANDSAW,WAS WEARING GLOVES & EYE PROTECTION. AS CUT WAS ALMOST DONE THE CONDUIT BENT OVER. CONDUIT LENGTH BEING CUT OFF WAS 4"" LONG. WHILE THE SAW WAS S TILL ON, ELECTRICIAN GRABBED STUBBED PIECE UNDER THE SAW. GLOVE GOT CAUGHT & CUT BACKSIDE OF LEFT HAND REQUIRING 4 STITCHES.

THE EE WAS WALKING DOWN THE COAL CRUSHER STAIRWAY WITH A TOOLBOX OVER HIS SHOULDER. THE EE ALLEGEDLY TURNED JUST RIGHT & STATED THAT ""HIS BACK WENT OUT ON HIM"", ALLEGEDLY AGGRAVATING AN ONGOIN G BACK PROBLEM.

WHILE THE EMPLOYEE WAS SHOVELING INTO THE 1104 DRAGLINE, THE TIPPING VALVES OPENED UP, BLOWING DUST OUT OF THE INSPECTION COVER, HITTING EMPLOYEE IN THE EYES, CAUSING A CORNEAL ABRASION TO THE LEFT EYE.

WHILE THE EMPLOYEE WASHOVELING INTO THE 1104 DRAGLINE, THE TIPPING VALVES OPENED UP, BLOWING DUST OUT OF THE INSPECTION COVER HITTING THE EMPLOYEE IN THE EYES, CAUSING AN ABRASION TO BOTH EYES.

THE EE'S LEFT MIDDLE FINGER BECAME PINCHED BETWEEN THE HEEL OF THE FORK & THE BACK REST ON THE FORKLIFT.

THE EE WAS TRYING TO REMOVE BEARING HOUSING FROM THE FINISH MILL 2 FK PUMP WITH HYD. PULLER. THE PULLER WAS SUSPENDED WITH A NYLON SLING FROM THE FORKLIFT. FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE PULLER VIA ELECTRIC PUMP. THE HOUSING FRACTURED & THE PULLER BROKE LOOSE UNDER TENSION. THE RELEASE OF PRESSURE CAUSED THE PULLER TO FLY IN AN ARCH, STRIKING THE EE IN THE RIGHT SHIN (TIBIA).

THE EE WAS USING A 6 LB SLEDGE HAMMER TO POUND A COUPLING ON THE COMPRESSOR TO LOOSEN IT. THE EE MISSED THE BRASS SHAFT AND HIT THE SECOND KNUCKLE OF HIS MIDDLE FINGER ON THE LEFT HAND, CAUSING A CUT.

THE EMPLOYEE WAS MOVING THE TENSIONING SPRING OF THE CLINKER CRANE TROLLEY BRAKE. WHILE MOVING THE TENSIONING SPRING OF THE CLINKER CRANE TROLLEY BRAKE, EE FAILED TO UNLOAD SPRING TENSION PRIO R TO REMOVING CRANE BRAKE SHOE. EMPLOYEE MOVED THE TENSION BAR, THE SPRING RELEASED AND CAUGHT EE'S RIGHT FOURTH FINGER BETWEEN THE SPRING AND THE ADJUSTING NUT, CAUSING U SHAPED LACERATION.

THE HOPPER FROM THE DUST COLLECTOR TO THE ROTARY AIR LOCK WAS PLUGGED. THE EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLEAR THE PLUG BY PUSHING THE MATERIAL THROUGH. THE MATERIAL GAVE, LOOSENED AND WENT THROU GH, AS WELL AS THE EMPLOYEE'S FINGER, WHICH WAS STRUCK BY THE BLADE OF THE ROTARY FAN. THE DATE OF THIS REPORT IS THE FIRST EMPLOYER WAS ADVISEDOF THIS INJURY.

THE EE ALLEGES CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME IN THE RIGHT WRIST, ALLEGEDLY DUE TO DRIVING A LOADER FOR 10-15 YEARS IN HIS EE. SURGERY ON 3-20-02 PUT EE OUT OF WORK FOR INCIDENT DATE OF 10-31-02.