Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing CompanyMining Incidents in 2003

ROCK GRANULES WERE OVERHEATED AND THEN EXPOSED TO SLATE OIL IN THE BASEMENT OF THE FACILITY. THE IGNITED OIL AND ROCK WAS THEN CARRIED BY BUCKET ELEVATOR UP TO THE FACILITY'S 5TH FLOOR WHERE D UST PARTICLES WERE IGNITED CAUSING DAMAGE TO ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS.

WHILE EE WAS MOVING A PIECE OF METAL CHUTE CONNECTED TO AN ELECTRIC HOIST HE INJURED HIS LOWER BACK.

Individual was working on a 10 foot tall, single section scaffold while positioning, cutting and welding metal wear plates in crusher discharge surge bin. Individual stepped off scaffold and fell 10 feet to the ground. Individual was not wearing his provided fall protection nor was there a handrail section installed on the scaffold.

EMPLOYEE WAS USING A PRY BAR ON A FLATBED TRUCK WHEN THE PRY BAR SLIPPED CAUSING HIM TO HIT HIS ELBOW ON METAL TRUCK FRAME.

WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MOVING RAILCARS, LOCATED WEST OF 25 LOAD STATION, WHEN STEPPED WRONG ON UNEVEN GROUND AND TWISTED ANKLE.

ALONG WITH ANOTHER EMPLOYEE, HE WAS CLEANING OUT IMPACTED DIRT BUILDUP FROM THE INSIDE OF THE HOPPER. AS HE WAS CHIPPING AWAY WITH A PNEUMATIC CHIPPER TO CLEAR BUILDUP INSIDE THE HOPPER, A LARGE PIECE BROKE LOOSE AND PUSHED HIM BACK. IT HIT THE BACK OF HIS HEAD. HE FELL BACKWARDS AND WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS. REGAINING CONSCIOUSNESS, HE WAS DISORIENTED. X-RAYS NEGATIVE.

EE WAS WALKING THRU TUNNEL WHEN ALERTED TO SHUT DOWN CONVEYOR. MADE A QUICK PIVOT MOTION TO RT. LEG, FOOT WAS IN A PILE OF GRANUAL. HE STATES THAT HE FELT A POP AND BURNING SENSATION BUT DID NOT PRECEIVE IT AS ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. HE REPORTED IT TO HIS SUPERVISOR, BUT DENIED NEED FOR MEDICAL ATTN. PAIN INCREASED OVER THE WEEK, TRANSPORTED TO CVIC FOR DX OF RT. KNEE STRAIN.

WAS CARRYING 5 GAL. BOTTLE OF WATER ON ROADWAY WHEN HE STEPPED ON A SMALL BURM AND TRIPPED SUSTAINING A CONTUSION TO HIS RT. KNEE. RESTRICTIONS COULD NOT BE ACCOMMODATED.

EMPLOYEE (1) WAS INSIDE A VEHICLE THAT WOULD NOT START. ANOTHER EE (2) ATTEMPTED TO TOW THE VEHICLE BACKWARDS TO THE SHOP FOR THE REPAIR. EE (1)HAD HIS HAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE FACING BACKWARDS TO SEE WHERE HE WAS GOING WHEN THE VEHICLE CROSSED A DITCH JOLTING THE STEERING WHEEL AND INJURING HIS ARM AND SHOULDER.

WHILE SHOVELING OUT #3 ROLL CRUSHER GUTTERS, EMPLOYEE FELT PAIN IN HER LOWER BACK. SHE WAS PUT ON RESTRICTIONS THEN COULD NOT REPORT TO WORK ON 4/8/03 (LOST TIME).

WHILE MOVING A ROTER SCREEN THE EE'S FOOT WAS CAUGHT UNDER THE EDGE OF THE SCREEN WHEN IT WAS PLACED ON THE FLOOR. IT PINCHED THE EE'S FOOT ON THE LEFT SIDE BEHIND HIS PROTECTIVE TOE CAP

WAS CLEANING OUT NORTH BASEMENT. DURING THE PROCESS OF SHOVELING GRANUAL FROM BENEATH ELEVATOR 9, SUSTAINED LOW BACK STRAIN. INITIAL EFFORTS OF COMFORT MEASURES PROVIDED MARKED RELEIF, HOWEVER , ON 3/15 EXPERIENCED EXACERBATION OF PAIN AND WAS SENT TO CLINIC FOR EVALUATION.

EE WAS STEPPING OFF OF 992G LOADER WHEN HIS RIGHT FOOT SLIPPED SLIGHTLY CAUSING HIM TO TWIST HIS RIGHT KNEE. EE WAS TAKEN OFF WORK AND WILL UNDER GO KNEE SURGERY.

WHILE IN HTE PROCESS OF DUMPING HOPPERS, WIND CAME UP AND BLEW GRANULE. EE WAS IN A POSITION WHERE GRANULE WAS ABLE TO PASS AROUND HIS SAFETY GLASSES. HEE SUSTAINED A CORNEAL ABRASION. CONSERV ATIVE TREATMENT WAS CONSIDERED FIRST AID. HOWEVER, THIS EVENT AGGRAVATED A PRE-EXITING COPNDITION AND FOLLOW UP WITH OPTHALMOLOGY DETERMINE THAT HE SHOULD BE OFF ONE DAY.

SEVERAL MEN WERE HOISTING A BELT TO PERFORM A BELT SPLICE. ONE END OF THE BELT HAD BEEN PULLED UP. THEY WERE TRYING TO RAISE THE OTHER SIDE USING A COME-ALONG & ELECTRIC HOIST ALTERNATELY. THE INJURED WAS USING THE COME-ALONG. HIS LEFT HANDWAS RESTING ON THE HEAD PULLEY ADJUSTMENT NUT. HOOK SLIPPED OFF THE HEAD PULLEY, CATCHING HIS FINGERTIPS BETWEEN ADJUSTMENT NUT & FRAME.

EE STATES THAT ON 6/28 HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO FREE A FEED BOOT THAT HAD BECOME CAUGHT IN #33 ROTEX. STATES HE PEFORMED A FORCEFUL JERK MOTION AND FELT SOME PAIN IN HIS BACK AREA INDICATED PROXIM AL LEFT TRAPEZIUS STATES FURTHER THAT THE PAIN UWAS NOT REAL BAD, HE FELT THAT HE COULD CARE FOR IT HIMSELF AND DID NOT REPORT IT AT THAT TIME. THE PAIN HAS PROGRESSED TO THE POINT THAT HE CA

HELPING ANOTHER EE PUT BLOCKS BETWEEN TRACKS OF EXCAVATOR. HEARD BACK POP (BLOCKS WEIGHT 10# EACH HANDLED ABOUT 6 BLOCKS ONE AT A TIME). TRYING TO PUT TRACK BACK ON EXCAVATOR THOUGHT JUST PULL ED MUSCLE. KEEP WORKING UNTIL 2:20PM DROVE DOZIER TO QUARRY OFFICE TRAILER. HURT GETTING OUT OF DOZER & WALKING TO OFFICE TRAILER.

BOTTOM DOOR ON A LOADED RAPID DISCHARGE AIR DUMP RAILCAR WAS STUCK IN CLOSED POSITION. THE EE INSPECTING THE CONDITION OF THE DISCHARGE PISTON PLACED HIS RIGHT-HAND ON THE END OF THE PISTON SH AFT. THE DOOR INADVERTENTLY OPENED WITH SUFFICIENT FORCE BREAKING ONE BONE OF THE RIGHT-HAND BELOW THE LITTLE FINGER NEAR THE WRIST.

AFTER REMOVING AND CUTTING SEVERAL BAGHOUSE DUST COLLECTION BAGS EE COMPLAINED OF HAVING SORE WRISTS. HE WAS DIAGNOSED HAS HAVING POSSIBLE CARPAL TUNNEL IN BOTH WRISTS AND WAS PUT ON RESTRICTE D DUTY.

EMPLOYEE WAS WALKING FROM THE MAINTENANCE AREA TO SHOWER TRAILER AND STEPPED ON A ROCK, TWISTING HIS ANKLE.

DURING THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE TAILPULLY IN 30 ELEVTOR, THE TAILPULLY SNAPPED QUICKLY INTO PLACE, ONCE PAST THE CASING, PINNING HIS LEFT HAND. SEVERE CONTUSION WAS SUTAINED AT THE METACAR POPHANLANGEAL JOINTS OF THE 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH PHALANGE, ANTERIOR ASPECT WITH SUPERFICIAL LACEATIONS TO THE PROXIMAL PHALANX AREA OF THE 2ND, 3RD, AND 4TH PHALANGE. NEGATIVE FOR FRACTURE.

EE TRIPPED ON EDGE OF CARDBOARD WHICH WAS ON THEFLOOR. EE ATTEMPTED TO CATCH HIMSELF AND AS HE FELL HE STRUCK HIS RT.WRIST AGAINST ANOTHER PIECE OF EQUIPMENT (SET OF SCALES).

WHILE CHECKING WIRING ON ALTERNATOR, EE'S RIGHT HAND CAME IN CONTACT WITH COOLING FAN. FAN WAS OPERATING IN ORDER TO ENERGIZE ALTERNATOR. EE SUSTAINED COMPLEX LACERATION TO RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER . CLOSED WITH SUTURES AND SPLINTED. MODIFIED DUTY REQUIRED.

USING 8 LB SLEDGE HAMMER, TRYING TO REMOVE NAIL STAKE HIT STAKE LOW, NAIL STAKE KICKED BACK AND HIT PINKY FINGER POSSIBLE FRACTURE.

EE WAS POUNDING ON A BEARING HOUSING WITH AN 8 LB SLEDGE HAMMER TO REMOVE THE BEARING FROM THE SHAFT, AFTER ABOUT THE FIFTH TIME HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS LOWER BACK.

WHILE ADDING A 25 LB BAG OF CHEMICAL TO SLURRY POT. FELT A SHARP PAIN IN RIGHT BICEPT. DX OF SMALL TEAR IN BICEP.

WHILE OPERATING A GARDEN TRACTOR, THE EMPLOYEE STRUCK A HOLE WHICH CAUSED THE EMPLOYEE'S ARM TO BE JERKED BACKWARDS AND STRIKE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER THAT WAS MOUNTED ON THE INSIDE OF THE TRACTOR S ROLL BAR.

THE EE'S HAND WAS PINCHED BETWEEN A ROTARY DRUM & THE CLEANING INSTRUMENT THAT WAS BEING USE

MINER, WHILE WORKING AROUND 19 ELEVATOR STATES LEFT EYE STARTED BOTHERING HIM. POSSIBLY DEBRIS FELL INTO EYE AROUND SAFETY GLASSES.

WHILE CARRYING A 37 LB BOX THE EMPLOYEE STRAINEDHIS RIGHT SHOULDER.

EMPLOYEE WAS CLEANING TANK AND HAD LIFTED METAL LID TO REACH IN TANK WHEN LID FELL SHUT ON EMPLOYEE'S TOP OF LEFT HAND.

EE REPORTED FEELING A STRAIN IN HIS BACK WHILE LIFTING PIGMENT BAGS.

WHILE CONDUCTING A ROUTINE ROTEX SCREEN CHANGE, THE EMPLOYEE TURNED WHILE MANUEVERING THE SCREEN AND FELT PAIN WITHIN HIS LEFT KNEE.

WAS WALKING FAST, AWAY FROM MIXER STATION, AND STEPPED IN A HOLE IN THE CEMENT. EXPERIENCED TENDERNESS IN 2-4 DIGITS ALONG DORSUM OF LEFT FOOT. TREATED WITH RX MED AND MODIFIED DUTY. REQUIRED STUTURES.

THE EE SCOOPS PIGMENT POWDER WITH HAND SCOOP FROM 40 LB BAG AND DEPOSITS THE SAME INTO BUCKET. EE IS EXPERIENCING RIGHT HAND AND RIGHT WRIST PAIN.

DRIVER WAS DRIVING ACROSS RAILROAD TRACKS, HIT A ""CHUCK HOLE"" AND STEERING WHEEL TURNED INTO HIS LEFT THUMB JAMMING IT. HE SOUGHT TREATMENT ON 3-5-03 AND WAS FITTED WITH A WRIST SUPPORT TO IMM OBILIZE HIS HAND AND WAS PUT ON RESTRICTIONS, I.E. NO DRIVING OF TRUCK.

WHILE SECURING AN ACETLENE BOTTLE ON A TRUCK THE EMPLOYEE PINCHED HIS FINGER BETWEEN THE BOTTLE AND THE SECURING CLAMP.

WHILE MANUEVERING A ROTEX LID THE EE FELT A POPPING SENSATION IN HIS SHOULDER.

WHILE MOVING A HYDRAULIC TAKE UP ARM, THE MEPLOYEE'S FINGER WAS PINCHED BETWEEN TWO METAL PARTS.

EMPLOYEE WAS LIFTING A BAG OF PIGMENT AND TURNED TO GO TO THE SCALE AND FELT A PULL IN HIS LOWER BACK.

SHOVELING TAIL PULLY ON 13 CONVEYOR. STANDING ON PILE SHOVELING DOWN. WHEN HE STRAIGHTED UP AND HE FELT A PINCH.

EMPLOYEE SUSTAINED A 1"" LACERATION TO THE POSTERIOR ASPECT OF LEFT HAND WHEN IN THE ACT OF REACHING FOR SOMETHING HE CAUGHT THE BACK OF HIS HAND ON A METAL BARB THAT WAS ON SHEET METAL THAT HE WAS REACHING PAST. SUTURES WERE REQUIRED FOR CLOSURE.

WHILE DESCENDING A FIXED LADDER ON THE SIDE OF AN OPEN TOP HAUL TRAILER, THE EE SNAGGED HIS RING ON HIS RIGHT HAND ON A MOLDED RIDGE ON THE LAST LADDER RUNG WHICH CAUSED THE RING TO CUT INTO T HE FINGER AND TEAR TISSUE BETWEEN THE SECOND AND THIRD KNUCKLE.

MECHANIC WAS MOVING NEW MOTOR INTO PLACE USING A PRY BAR. BAR SLIPPED STRIKING EMPLOYEE IN THE CHIN CAUSING A LACERATION.

DURING THE PROCESS OF CHECKING THE WIRING ON TRIPPER #9, THE PROBE WAS PULLED IN BY CONVEYOR STRIKING THE POSTERIOR ASPECT OF THE LEFT HAND. THIS RESULTED IN A LACERATION THAT REQUIRED CLOSURE WITH 14 SUTURES.

EE WAS TRAVELING WEST ON THE CATWALK FROM THE MCC ROOMS TO C&S 3RD FLOOR. PRIOR TO ENTERING, A GUST OF WIND CAME UP & BLEW DUST FROM ROOF & IT MADE ITS WAY AROUND HIS SAFETY GLASSES. HE FELT T HE DUST ON HIS FACE & BRUSHED IT AWAY. IT WAS AT THIS POINT HE FELT SOMETHING IN HIS EYE. HE FLUSHED HIS EYE FOR 10 MINUTES & WENT HOME. CONTINUED IRRITAION, WAS RECHECKED 8/18, BUT 8/19 FORE

EE WAS CLEANING TANK WITH AIR HOSE WHEN SHE PULLED ON THE HOSE & PULLED IT ACROSS A CONVEYOR LINE, THE CONVEYOR RAN OUT OF LINE AND SHE CONTINUED TO PULL AND JERK THE AIR HOSE AND CAUSE PAIN IN HER RIGHT SHOULDER.

EE WAS INSPECTING CONVEYORS, WHEN DUST AND FINE GRANULE SPILLED FROM CONVEYOR ABOVE, BYPASSING SAFETY GLASSES AND CAME IN CONTACT WITH EYES. STATES RUBBED EYES PRIOR TO FLUSH AND RT EYE BECAME IRRITATED. RX MED PRESCRIBED FOR CORNEAL ABRASION.

WHILE DISASSEMBLING ROLL CRUSHER DUST SHIELDS WITH IMPACT WRENCH THE OPPOSITE END OF THE DUST SHIELDS BROKE FREE CAUSING THE IMPACT WRENCH TO PUSH FORWARD. HIS LEFT 5TH FINGER WAS MISPLACED ON THE WRENCH AND WAS CAUGHT IN BETWEEN THE WRENCH AND THE DUST SHIELD. HE RECEIVED A FRACTURED FINGER AND RECEIVED SEVEN STITCHES. NO RESTRICTIONS.

THE INJURED EMPLOYEE ASKED FOR A SUGAR COOKIE WHILE ON BREAK SO SOMEONE UNEXPECTEDLY THREW ONE TO HIM HITTING HIM IN THE LEFT EYE. HE RECEIVED A LACERATION TO HIS LEFT EYE LID AND A CONTUSION TO HIS LEFT PUPIL. THE CUT SKIN FROM THE EYE LID HAD TO BE REMOVED AND HE RECEIVED PRESCRIPTION OINTMENT FOR HIS EYE. NO RESTRICTIONS.

EE WAS COMING DOWN THE WEST STEPS BY THE 7"" CRUSHER. HE TRIPPED ON THE FIRST STEP & HIS FEET WENT OUT FROM UNDER HIM. HIS LEFT FOOT TOUCHED THE 3RD STEP & THEN HE WAS IN AIR FOR 3 OR 4 STEPS B EFORE HIS LEG, BUTT & FOOT TOUCHED THE STEPS AGAIN.

WHILE AIR ARCING ON A LOADER BUCKET A FOREIGN BODY ENTERED HIS LEFT EYE. HE RECEIVED CORNEAL ABRASION AND WAS GIVEN PRESCRIPTION EYE DROPS.

MINER STATES ""LIFTING A ROTEX SCREEN FOR #25 ROTEX WHEN HE FELT A POP IN HIS LEFT SHOULDER.

PARKING LOT HAD BEEN CLEARED SHORTLY BEFORE EE ARRIVED FOR WORK FOLLOWING A LARGE SNOWSTORM.AS HE WAS MAKING HIS WAY TO HIS BUILDING, HE LOST HIS FOOTING AND FELL. ALTHOUGH HE DOESN'T RECALL LANDING ON HIS KNEE, THE RIGHT KNEE BEGAN TO HURT AS TIME PROGRESSED.

FOREIGN OBJECT IN RIGHT EYE THAT CAUSED IRRITATION.

EMPLOYEE STATES THAT REQUIRED PUSHING & PULLING CAUSED REAGGRAVATION OF PREVIOUSLY INJURED (R) ARM. & C/O PAIN / NUMBNESS IN LEFT HAND.

SINCE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR HAS HAD TENDERNESS IN RT POSTERIOR FOREARM AT DISTAL ASPECT OF ELBOW THAT CAME & WENT. DUE TO OTHER CHRONIC MEDICAL CONDITION HE FELT THAT IT WAS NOT WORK RELATED. DURING THE PAST 2 WEEKS, TENDERNESS RETURNED & PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE. AOE/COE EXAM DETERMINED CONDITION RELATED TO ERGONOMICS. PLACED ON MODIFIED DUTY & RX MED.

EE WAS WALKING ACROSS ASPHALT AREA BETWEEN BLDG.& STEPPED ON A ROCK CAUSING HER TO FALL SHE SCRAPED HER LT. KNEE & TURNED HER RT. FOOT CAUSING SOME BRUISING BUT CONTINUED TO DO SOME WEIGHT BEARRING REFERRED TO DR. ON 6/11/03 FOR X-RAY EVALUATION: FX 5TH METATARSAL.

WHILE WALKING UP THE STAIRS TO CARLOADING STATION EE TOE CAUGHT A TREAD AND HE LOST HIS BALANCE,HE FELL FORWARD CAUGHT HIMSELF AND STRAINED HIS LEFT SHOULDER. EE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A LEFT SHOU LDER STRAIN AND WAS PUT ON LIFTING RESTRICTIONS.