Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing CompanyMining Incidents in 2002

EE STATED HE WAS TROUBLESHOOTING EQUIPMENT TO SEE WHY CHAIN DRIVE WASN'T MOVING WHEN ANOTHER EE INADVERTENTLY HIT POWER SWITCH CAUSING RIGHT THUMB TO GET SMASHED BETWEEN CHAIN AND SPROCKET.

EMPLOYEE REPORTED THAT WHILE POSITIONING A GRANULE SHOOT OVER A TRUCK, SHE ATTEMPTED TO PULL A SLIDE GATE OUT OF THE SHOOT TO ALLOW GRANULES TO FLOW. EMPLOYEE STRAINED HER RIGHT ARM.

EE REPORTED TO SUPERVISOR WITH GROSS SWELLING & REDNESS OF RIGHT LOWER LEG. STATED IT WAS FROM A SPIDER BITE. WAS TRANSPORTED TO E.R. ON 11/21 EE CONTACTED 3M STATING THAT IT WAS WORK COMP. SI NCE HE SUSTAINED THE SPIDER BITE AT WORK. SUBSEQUENTLY, A CLAIM WAS FILED, HOWEVER, HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN A REPORT TO SUPPORT CLAIM. AT THIS TIME UNABLE TO PROVE OR DISPROVE ALLEGATION

WHILE UNPLUGGING ROCK IN THE BOTTOM OF THE GYRATORY CRUSHER,ROCK BROKE FREE AND HIT EE ON THE LT. KNEE. EE IS USING CRUTCHES AND WAS GIVEN TIME OFF FOR HEALING.

WHILE PICKING UP A 50 LB BAG OF POWDERED CHEMICAL, THE EE FELT SOMETHING POP IN HIS WRIST.

WHILE LIFTING 50 LB BAGS OF POWDERED CHEMICAL EMPLOYEE FELT PULL/STRAIN IN GROIN AREA.

A STEEL BAR WAS BEING USED FOR LEVERAGE TO CLOSE THE DOOR ON THE BOTTOM OF A RAIL CAR HOPPED WHEN THE BAR SLIPPED AND THE FORCE CAUSED THE BAR TO STRIKE THE EE'S FOOT.

CHANGING SCREENS ON #5 ROTEX. EE ALONG WITH ANOTHER SLID OFF OF ROTES. LID SLIPPED AND PINNED HIM BETWEEN LID AND ROTEX. FELT TWEAK TO BACK, BUT NO PAIN. REFUSED TO BE SEEN BY CLINIC. CALLED O FF 24TH AND 25TH DUE TO STIFFNESS. EVAL THRU PMD, RTN WORK WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS.

WAS IN PROCESS OF A STEEL CHANGE. THE POSITION OF THE ROLL HEART WAS HINDERED AS A CRUSHER MAIN FRAME WAS TEMPORARILY STORED ALONG THE EASTSIDE OF THE CRANE FRAME. THIS PREVENTED THE ROLL HEAR T FROM BEING POSITIONED INTO THE NORMAL CURVE THAT'S PROVIDED FOR THIS PURPOSE. WHILE LEVELING FORKLIFT, IT ROCKED DOWNWARD & TOWARD EE CATCHING HIS HAND BETWEEN THE ROLL HEART & THE LID.

EE WAS WALKING DOWN STAIRS WHILE HOLDING A USED HUMMER SCREEN. MISSED STEP AND INVERTED LEFT ANKLE RESULTING IN A FX OF LT. LATERAL MALLEOUS.

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE MOVING A ROTEX SCREEN. ONE DROPPED HIS END CAUSING ALL THE WEIGHT TO SHIFT TO ONE END THUS PULLING THE OTHER'S SHOULDER WHEN HE TRIED TO CATCH THE SCREEN.

EE WAS DRIVING SE ON THE RIGHT TOWARDS EXTREME CENTER. ANOTHER EE DRIVING NW TO THE EXTREME RIGHT. COLLISION OCCURRED AT FRONT LEFT QUARTER PANEL. SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK STRAIN.

STATES THAT HE WAS LIFTING AND TWISTING TO UNLOAD AND DUMP 50LB COLOR BAGS. PAIN AND TIGHTNESS DEVELOPED IN LOWER BACK.

WHILE ASSISTING WITH A SCREEN CHANGE, AND USED A JERK MOTION. THIS CAUSED DISCOMFORT IN RT ELBOW, WHICH HAD RESOLVED BY 2:30 AM WHEN HE MENTIONED IT TO THE SUPERVISOR. DENIED OFFER OF MEDICAL EVALUATION. 5-28-02 AT 2200 REPORTED TO WORK AND STATED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DO ANY LIFTING DUE TO SORE ARM. CLAIM FILED AND TRANSPORTED FORMEDICAL EVAL.

WHILE OPENING THE BOTTOMS OF A RIALCAR EE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIW LOWER BACK. HE WAS DIOGNOSED WITH A BACK SPRAIN, WAS GIVEN A PREXRIPTION AND WAS PUT ON WORK RESTRICTIONS.

EE WAS ASSISTING TO INSTALL LADDER TO #4 ROLL CRUSHER ON THE MAIN FLOOR OF C&S DEPT. STATES THAT TURNED TO STEP AWAY AND FELT HIS KNEE POP. DENIES CATCHING FOOT ON EQUIPMENT. STATES THAT DISCO MFORT WAS NOT BAD AT THE TIME, HOWEVER OVER THE NEXT 24 HOURS HE HAD MARKED SWELLING AND INCREASED DISCOMFORT KNEE WAS TREATED WITH IMMOBILIZER. AND NWB

WHEN REMOVING ONE OF TWO TRAMP CYLINDERS FROM A PALLET, THE PALLET TIPPED CAUSING THE OTHER CYLINDER TO ROLL OFF ONTO EMPLOYEE'S LEFT FOOT. HE RECEIVED A FRACTURED TOE AND A LACERATION HE WAS WEARING STEEL TOE SHOES.

EE STATED HE WAS WRAPPING A CABLE AROUND OMNICONE BOWL WHEN HE FELT SOMETHING POP IN HIS LOWER BACK.

WAS ON 3RD FLOOR OF C&S REPAIRING VERTICAL DOORSON FREIGHT ELEVATOR. THE INNER AND OUTER DOORS WERE STUCK TOGETHER. APPLIED INCREASED EXERTION TO PRY BAR, WHICH CAUSED A VENTRAL HERNIA TO BE SUSTAINED ALONG WITH A TEAR IN RECTUS SARTORIUS MUSCLE OF RT. THIGH. NOTE: THIS WAS NOT A HERNIA, IT WAS A STRAIN.

EE STATED SHE WAS RETURNING TO SECOND FLOOR WHEN SHE TRIPPED ON A WELDING LEAD HITTING HER L KNEE ON FLOOR.

EE STRAINED HIS NECK WHILE CLEANING OUT THE GUZZLER MACHINE. HE WAS ON HIS SIDE SPRAYING WATER FROM FIRE HOSE INTO GUZZLER SYSTEM.

EE STATED SHE WAS REACHING ABOVE HER HEAD TO GATHER CHEMICAL BAG WHEN SHE WAS RELIEVING OPERATOR FOR LUNCH. FELT SHOULDER PULL.

WHILE DESCENDING THE STEPS TO A PUGMILL OPERATION, THE EMPLOYEE HIT HIS KNEE ON THE CORNER OF THE STAIRS RAIL SYSTEM.

EE SLIPPED & FELL IN MUD & FELT A ""POP"" IN RT KNEE & REPORTED FLEETING PAIN WHEN STEPPING DOWN FROM BOBCAT & WITH LONG STRIDES. EVALUATED AT CLINIC & TREATED WITH KNEE SUPPORT & ANTI-INFLAMMAT ORY MEDS. WAS RELEASED FROM FURTHER CARE ON 6/21. EE STATES THAT OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS THE PAIN CAME & WENT, PROGRESSING TO CONSTANT. REFERRED TO ORTHO FOR CONSULT 11/27. INFORMED OF NEED

AFTER SHOVELING CRUSHED ROCK FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS EMPLOYEE'S BACK WAS SORE. LATER THAT NIGHT AT HOME HE WAS PUT ON WORK RESTRICTIONS AND MEDICATION.

EMPLOYEE STRAINED HIS BACK WHILE PUTTING ON HIS SEAT BELT. THE ROAD SWEEPER HAS AN EXTERNAL CAB. NO SUBSTANDARD CONDITIONS FOUND.

EE WAS JAMMING A ROD UP A PLUGGED MATERIAL CHUTE WHEN MATERIAL BROKE LOOSE & HIT HIS HAND AGAINST THE CONCRETE FLOOR. HE RECEIVED A CONTUSION TO THE BACK OF HIS RIGHT HAND AND WAS GIVEN RESTRI CTIONS.

WHILE WELDING IN A DIESETER SCREEN WITH ANOTHER EE FOR MOST OF THE MORNING THE WELDER-MECHANIC RECEIVED FLASH BURNS TO BOTH EYES. THE EE DISCOVERED THIS ABOUT 11:30 PM AT HOME. HE STATED THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHEN HE INCURRED THE FLASH. HE WAS GIVEN PRESCRIPTION EYE DROPS AND WAS GIVEN PAIN MEDICATION AND RESTRICTIONS OF NO WELDING FOR TOW DAYS.

ON OR ABOUT 9-14-02 EE WAS DRIVING HER CAR AND FELT PAIN IN HER RIGHT HAND. SHE RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT ON 10-7-02 AND HER DR STATED THAT HE JOB OF SHOVELING, SWEEPING AND CHANGING SCEENS C AUSED HER TENDONITIS. SHE WAS PUT ON RESTRICTIONS AND WAS GIVEN A WRIST SUPPORT TO WEAR.

EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO MOUNT A BRACKET WALL.AN EXTENSION CORD WAS BEING UTILIZED FOR POWER TOOLS AND HAD DRAPED OVER BOTTOM STEP. EE STEPPED ON THE CORD AS HE WAS GOING UP STEPS AND SLIPPE D LANDING ON RIGHT KNEE TO GRATING SURFACE OF STEP. HE SUSTAINED 2 SMALL LACERATIONS THAT REQUIRED CLOSURE WITH SUTURES.

EE WAS USING HAMMER TO REMOVE AND PLACE PARTS ON LOADER BUCKET. METAL FRAGMENT FLEW OFF AND HIT HIM ON MID ANTERIOR THIGH. SUSTAINED LACERATION WITH RETAINED FORIEGN BODY. LACERATION WAS ENLAR GED FOR REMOVAL OF FB AND WOUND CLOSED WITH SUSTES.

EMPLOYEE'S BACK GOT SORE AFTER DRIVING FRONT END LOADER AND LIFTING PIECES OF STEEL USED TO RE-RAIL DERAILED RAILCAR. HE SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION ON 6-12-00 AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A STRAINED LOWER BACK. HE WAS PUT ON RESTRICTIONS.

USING A SLEDGE HAMMER TO CLEAR HOPPER. HAND STARTED TO HURT & FINGERS WENT NUMB & LOST GRIP OF HAMMER.

WAS ASSISTING WITH A SCREEN CHANGE AND FELT SOME SORENESS IN UPPER LEFT CHEST. THE NEXT DAY HE AGAIN ASSISTED WITH SCREEN CHANGE AND IT FELT A LITTLE WORSE. DX STRAIN OF CHEST WALL MUSCLE.

EE STATED HE WAS GOING UNDER CEMENT BEAM AND HITHIS HEAD.

EE WAS CLOSING THE DOORS TO THE MAN LIFT ELEVATOR IN C&S AND CAUGHT HIS HAND BETWEEN THE DOORS. HE SUSTAINED A CRUSH TYPE OF INJURY RESULTING IN A SEVERE CONTUSION ONLY. PREVIOUSLY THESE DOO RS HAD BEEN DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. THEY HAD JUST BEEN REPAIRED AND NO LONGER NEEDED THE FORCE THAT WAS USED TO CLOSE THEM.

WHILE THE EMPLOYEE WAS INSPECTING A CONVEYOR SYSTEM, HE SLIPPED ON LOOSE ROCK AT GROUND LEVEL. HE FORCED HIMSELF TO STABILIZE THE FALL BY REACHING OUT TO A GUARD WHICH HAD A PROTRUDING OBJECT STICKING OUT. HE SUSTAINED A LACERATION TO HIS RIGHT HAND RESULTING IN 3 STITCHES.

REMOVING CLUMPING PUMP FROM REAR OF TRUCK. SUSTAINED SPRAIN WHILE LIFTING TO LOWER BACK.

ON 4-1-02 EE RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR A SORE LOWER BACK ON 2-2-02 SHE PULLED ON A STEEL PLATE AND FELT PAIN IN HER LOWER BACK SHE WAS GIVEN WORK RESTRICTIONS AND PHYSICAL THERAPY.

DURING THE PROCESS OF MAKING PREHEATER ADJUSTMENTS, THE EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING DOWN AND UP STAIRS. DENIES ANY TRAUMA, STATING THAT FELT A PAIN IN LEFT KNEE WHILE RETURNING UP STAIRS. UPON INSPEC TION OF KNEE, DISCOVERED SWELLING 2 CM X 3CM ON LOWER MEDIAL ASPECT OF KNEE. NO DISCOMFORT STANDING OR WALKING, ONLY WHEN BENDING DX AS STRAIN.

WHILE WALKING THE EMPLOYEE STEPPED ON A ROCK WHICH CAUSED HIS LEFT ANKLE TO TWIST.

WHILE ASSISTING WITH CHANGING A SCREEN WITHIN A SCREENING DEVICE THE EMPLOYEE FELT SHE HURT HER BACK. SHE DID NOT NOTICE ANY PAIN UNTIL LATER IN THE MORNING WHILE PERFORMING OTHER DUTIES.

WHILE CLOSING THE DOOR OF A STREET SWEEPER, THE EMPLOYEE POSITIONED HIS HAND IN A PINCH POINT. THE DOOR CLOSED PINCHING HIS RIGHT THIRD FINGER. AN ACCUMULATION OF BLOOD UNDER THE NAIL WAS REM OVED BY A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.

EMPLOYEE WAS REMOVING SOME 14 GAUGE WIRE FROM THE WORKING AREA. THE EE PULLED THE WIRE WHICH SLIPPED IN HIS RIGHT HAND, CUT THROUGH HIS GLOVE AND LACERATED HIS FINGER.

EE WAS PUTTING AWAY PARTS, WHEN HE REACHED FOR A BEARING. THE BEARING ROLLED AND WENT UP OVER HIS LEFT MIDDLE FINGER. SUSTAINED SMALL LACERATION WHICH REQUIRED 2 SUTURES TO CLOSE.

EE WAS SHOVELING ROCK UP OFF THE FLOOR CREATED BY A ROCK SPILL OUT OF THE SCREENING OPERATION. HE EXPERIENCED INSTANTANEOUS PAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS UPPER BACK & NECK. HE REPORTED THE INCIDEN T TO THE SAFTEY DEPARTMENT ON 8/27 & ADVISED HE HAD VISITED HIS FAMILY DOCTOR ON 8/26. DOCTOR DID NOT PLACE HIM ON RESTRICTION BUT DID ISSUE TWO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FOR A STRAINED MUSCLE.

PERFORMING OVERHEAD INSTALLATION OF FIBER FAX MATERIAL TO A DRYER. MATERIAL TENDS TO FLAKE SAFETY GLASSES DID NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION. EE REQUIRED IRRIGATION OF HIS EYE AND PRESCRIPTIO N EYE DROPS WERE GIVEN AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE.

DRIVER STRAINED LEFT HAMSTRING WHILE TRYING TO SUPPORT HIMSELF WHILE DRIVING ON ROUGH ROAD. HE DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION UNTIL 7-25-02. PHYSICAL THERAPY WAS PRESCRIBED.

WHILE HAULING A LOAD OF WASTE WITH THE DUMP TRUCK THE SEAT BOTTOMED OUT WHEN THE TRUCK DROVE OVER A POT HOLE AND THE DRIVER STRAINED HIS BACK. THE DRIVER IS CURRENTLY RECEIVING PHYSICAL THERA PY BUT IS NOT ON RESTRICTIONS.

WHILE WALKING AROUND RAILCAR EMPLOYEE TWISTED HIS RIGHT KNEE ON SOME BLACKTOP THAT WAS UPHEAVED BY RAILROAD TRACKS. HE DID NOT SEE MEDICAL ATTENTION UNTIL 8/5/02 & WAS DIAGNOSED WITH RIGHT MIN ISCUS STRAIN OR TEAR. HE WAS GIVEN A PRESCRIPTION & PHYSICAL THERAPY.

MECHANIC WAS RE-INSTALLING A BOLT ON A RADIUS ARM. HE WAS HOLDING A LOCKING NUT WITH A WRENCH WHILE HE WAS TIGHTENING THE BOLT A STEEL SLIVER ENTERED HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER. THIS SLIVER HAD T O BE REMOVED BY A DOCTOR AFTER RECEIVING TWO SHOTS OF NOVICANE.

DRIVER WAS SHOVELING WASTE OFF OF THE TOP OF DUMPTRUCK WHEN A WOOD SLIVER FROM THE SHOVEL HANDLEENTERED HIS RIGHT THUMB. THE SLIVER HAD TO BE REMOVED BY A DOCTOR THE NEXT DAY BY MAKING AN INCISION.

EE WAS DEBURRING A WRENCH AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. ALTHOUGH THE WHEEL WAS GUARDED HE BRUSHED HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER AGAINST IT. HE HAD GLOVES ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOT WEARING THEM AT THE TIME. HE SUSTAINED A 2"" LACERATION TO THE ANTERIOR ASPECT OF THE DISTAL PORTION OF FINGER.

WHILE REMOVING A BEARING FROM A ROLL SHAFT BY HITTING IT WITH A HAMMER A STEEL SLIVER SHOT OFF AND INTO EE ABDOMEN. EE DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION UNTIL 4-29-02 WHERE HE WAS GIVEN A PRESCRI PTION FOR AN INFECTION.

EE WAS INSIDE THE CAB OF GRADER WHEN A WASP FLEW DOWN OFF THE ROOF INTO HIS GLOVE & STUNG HIM. EE HAD AN ALLERGIC REACTION & WAS SENT TO THE HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATION.

WHILE EE WAS PUTTING ON NUTS USED TO FASTEN DOWNA DIESTER, ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WAS TIGHTENING DOWN THE BOLTS WITH AN IMPACT WRENCH. AS EE WAS HOLDING THE NUT IN PLACE, IT SUDDNELY STARTED TWISTIN G. HIS GLOVE GOT CAUGHT IN THE TWISTING NUT, STRAINING HIS WRIST/ HAND.

WHILE GETTING DOWN FROM WORK AREA ON BLAST HOLE DRILL THE MECHANIC CUT HIS RIGHT HAND ON A HOSE CLAMP. THE LACERATION REQUIRED NINE STITCHES.

THIS CLAIM IS A CTD WITH AN INSIDIOUS ONSET. EE STATES HE STARTED NOTICING DISCOMFORT IN 4/02, HOWEVER IT PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. FOR THE PAST MONTH HAD BEEN DILIGENT IN FIRST LINE COMFORT MEASURES WITHOUT RESOLVE. OBJECTIVE FINDINGS SUPPORT CLAIM OF PAIN IN RT ELBOW EXACERBATED BY GRIPPING, LIFTING & MEDIAL ROTATION OF THAT JOINT. EVALUATION 9/16. DX RT LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS.

EE CLAIMS THAT REPETITIVE JERKING FROM CONTINUOUS LOADER OPERATIONS HAD CAUSED INJURY TO THE EE'S NECK.

WAS CLIMBING DOWN OUT OF A TRUCK AND WHEN STEPPED OFF THE LADDER TO THE GROUND HE FELT INCREASED DISCOMFORT IN RT KNEE. DX STRAIN OF RT KNEE.

INDEPENDENT TRUCK DRIVER WAS PICKING UP QP MATERIAL. AS DRIVER WAS GOING DOWN 3M SERVICE ROAD HE FAILED TO NEGOTIATE A CURVE TO THE LEFT & DROVE OFF THE ROAD WITH RIGHT FRONT AND REAR WHEELS. AS HE TRIED TO GET BACK ONTO THE PAVEMENT, HIS TRUCK TIPPED OVER. LOCAL POLICE FOUND TRUCK DRIVER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL.