Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing CompanyMining Incidents in 2005

INADEQUATELY SECURED EQUIPMENT ROLLED OUT OF STORAGE TRACK INTO PATH OF SHOVING MOVEMENT. EMPLOYEE JUMPED FROM THE RAIL CAR HE WAS RIDING PRIOR TO THE COLLISION.

EE was using a metal bar to force the bottom door of the rail car closed. While pushing the bar he felt his left shoulder pain and some arm numbness and pain in the left scapula. he was taken to urgent care.

moving a 55 gallon capacity drum of oil onto oiler's truck, drum raised to bed-level, and then oiler was trying to position the drum in it's proper location to secure it; while positioning drum, rolling it on one edge, oiler complained of lower back pain. placed on tempory total disability 12/30, 31, 1/1, 2; rtw mod duty 1/3

While tightening chain with OH crane to lift roll steel he got left middle finger caught in between the chain and the hook causing finger to be crushed/lacerated. Employee was taken off work for one day and was put on restrictions.

He was lifting concave plates at gyratory when he felt pain in his lower back. He did not seek medical treatment until 9-28-05 and was put on lost time.

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE MOVING A TRENCH COVER WHEN ONE DROPPED HIS END. THE INJURED EMPLOYEE WAS TRYING TO AVOID IT DROPPING ON HIS FOOT, HE MOVED QUICKLY AND TWISTED RIGHT KNEE/LEG

EMPLOYEE LIFTING JOB BOX TO BACKHOE BUCKET, TWISTED WRONG, INJURED LOWER BACK

The operator was moving supplies with the forklift and started having muscle spasms in his lower right side of his back. He had also been lifting bags of pigment earlier in the day. He did not report the pain until the next day when he began lifting bags of pigment again.

AN EMPLOYEE WAS CHECKING OUT THE BOX ON THE ROTEX. THE EMPLOYEE WAS LIFTING THE SKIRT OF THE ROTEX TO EXAMINE IT. THE EMPLOYEE DID NOT ALLOW THE ROTEX TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. DUE TO THIS ERROR OF JUDGEMENT, THE EMPLOYEE SMASHED HIS HAND BETWEEN THE BOX AND THE HOPPER WHILE LIFTING THE SKIRT.

Attempting to close rail car lids that were stuck together, pulled up w/ right hand/arm and felt a pinch in lower right side of back; lumbar spine sprain /strain.

Employee was using a hoist to remove 700lb bulk sack of chemical from pallet jack. Pallet jack raised on one end because of weight difference and then fell back to the floor striking the top of the employee's left foot.

EE changing the drive pulley for #7 crusher feed belt using pulley, the shaft/mounting block became missaligned and he attempted to realign (co-workers helping). The pulley adjusted from the opposite side employee, causing the pulley to drop approximately 1"", crushing the left index fingertip; wound sutured, nail sutured into place, tuft fracture fingertip.

Employee felt an instataneous pain in his upper right shoulder and arm while lifting pigment bags at mixing pot

Employee states that while handling 50lbs bags of powdered chemical the right shoulder was strained.

EE swatted a hornet that was near his right arm, when EE struck the hornet, the hornet stung the employee on the right forearm. EE right arm swelled, became firm, red, and he complained of numbness and tingling, was treated x 1, seen in f/u and discharged cured.

Employee was applying a cloth discharge boot/sock on the bottom of a material screener when the machine moved causing the employee's hand to be pinched between the rotex discharge chute and the stationary distribution box.

Employee was performing a screen change on 32 rotex; screen on the stack of screens came off balance and employee was trying to hold the weight of the screen, then complained of shoulder pain w/in 15 min or so.

EE walking toward 4 steps to descend, looked up, missed first step, slid down the steps striking left ankle on base of fire hood #2 and striking left shoulder on concrete floor.

Employee was exiting a freight elevator while another employee had already started closing the vertical doors. The employee exiting the elevator tripped over the bottom elevator door and fell on to her right hand. Employee was evaluated and x-ray was negative for fracture. Employee suffered contusion/bruises to right hand.

EE knelt down to clean out conveyor, he knelt on the lid and felt left knee pain, contusion, local swelling, limited walking and standing, can do sitting work Thurs, Friday, off Saturday and Sunday, see doctor Monday 5-2-05

EMPLOYEE WAS CONDUCTING PRE-SHIFT INSPECTION OF #6 CONVEYOR TUNNEL AREA. EE WALKED ON A SMALL PILE & PLACED HIS RT. ARM ON THE WALL TO BALANCE HIMSELF WHILE WALKING ON THE PILE. HE HAD A SUBJECTIVE COMPLAINT OF PAIN ""SNAP"" IN HIS NECK.

Employee was shoveling 4 inch rock and dirt spillage from conveyor and felt pain in his lower left side of back. Strained muscle

There was a counterweight (150 to 200 lb) tied off on a railing above deisker. Employee untied it so he could flip it over to clean. It slipped and fell on his left hand.

WALKING, TURNED TO LEFT AND FELT BACK PAIN. REPORTED 4/12/05

Employee was pushing a mobile welder while another maint. employee was pulling the welder. The welder wheels hit an uneven surface of the concrete floor causing the back of the welder being pushed to shift to the left, pinching the employee's left hand between the welder being pushed and a stationary welder they were moving past.

PUSHING UPON FEED CHUTE TO DISLODGE NEXT LOAD FOR #9 ELEVATOR TO #11 CONVEYOR, SHOOK CHUTE WITH ARM RAISED ABOVE HEAD, LATER FELT RIGHT ELBOW PAIN

Employee was salting an area by the railroad tracks due to a recent ice storm. Employee stated that while he was lifting a 40lb. bag of rock salt his right foot slipped slightly on the ice then he strained his lower back. He was put on restricted duty with a lower back strain.

Employee was attempting to cut end off of air hose that goes into tank to clean tank. Employee had air hose placed on the top of the tank to cut the hose when he cut through the hose the knife blade cut through his leather glove and into his left index finger.

Heated roofing granule made contact with standing water. This resulted in a steam cloud that made contact with the right side of the employee's face.

He was on ladder trying to position skirt plate when he felt pain in his lower back. Employee went to chiropractor on 9/16/05. No restrictions.

The conveyor #46 had plugged up. It was decided that the cover had to be removed. The bolt in the slip stick had been put in before with an impact wrench. The bolt head needed to be sheared off. A chisel and hammer was used. While swinging the hammer at the chisel, it slipped off and struck the left index finger of the employee causing a contusion.

EMPLOYEE OPERATING COME-A-LONG, LIFTING C-CHANNEL. C-CHANNEL WAS NOT CENTERED OR LEVEL AND TIPPED AND TOP END STRUCK HIS LEFT FOREARM CAUSING LACERATION

The employee was working with 3 other employees to insert a metal screen in a Rotex screener. While inserting the screen into position the employee pinched the tip of his right ring finger between the screen and the screen housing

I received an email from the Occupational Medicine MD in St. Paul that this employee had an STS that was found during the annual hearing surveillance program.

EE pulled self up on Rotex macine to unstick the lid that was supported by the straps, lid stuck near jack screws - lid shifted and pinched right middle finger causing contusion and abrasion. Wound cleansed, dressed, finger protection applied, given NSAID prescription strength.