All MSHA-reportable accidents at Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company operations in 2023. Fatalities appear first.
A maintenance mechanic was removing an access panel from the side of a 992G Caterpillar Front End Loader (FEL) to repair a panel securing bolt. After removing the panel bolts, the mechanic then pulled outward on the panel, lost balance and fell ~ 6ft to ground level.
A contractor truck driver was leaving the site after picking up a load when they reached down to pick up a water bottle and veered off of the main road out of the plant down a road bank into a rock berm and overturned the trailer causing a neck strain.
An employee was walking to their car at the Quarry after clocking out. As the employee was checking the garage doors on their way out, they slipped on a rock and twisted their ankle.
The EE stated their knee was sore to the supervisor but never mentioned it as work related or gave a reason for the soreness. After further investigation the employee stated climbing up and down the stairs caused the soreness.
The employee was removing a rotex screen from the screen rack on the 3rd floor and felt discomfort/pain in the left shoulder.
Employee walking through a doorway carrying two buckets of tools. Tripped and fell on shoulder. Initially got better then pain did not go away. Went to doctor months later and found tear requiring surgery.
Employee was carrying 33 gallon garbage bag to throw in Dumpster and when EE lifted to get in dumpster felt a pop or crumble in right shoulder. Went to doctor and received restrictions and physical therapy.
A miner was carrying their tool bag when they slipped on a wet, muddy cement pad. The miner was able to catch their fall, but strained their back. The miner was seen at an occupational clinic where they received work restrictions.
Employee injured right wrist while pushing a wheelbarrow.
New employee was carrying lime bags up the stairwell to the blowdown tank. After completing the task the employee stated they felt muscle tightness and soreness.
Two employees were positioning finished mineral separator screens on a mobile lift table to freight elevator. The current process requires an employee on each side of the screen, working in unison to position the screen(s) horizontally on the mobile lift table. While doing so, one employee felt pain/soreness in EE's right shoulder area of EE's upper back.
Operator used a pipe to bang feed gate slide chute to close on #33 Rotex. Operator returned to work the next day & reported to supervisor that they woke up with their right shoulder hurting & aching.
A miner was shoveling a granule spill from underneath a conveyor head box when they felt their back tighten up. The miner reported the injury to their supervisor and received first aid. The miner's injury did not improve over the course of 2 weeks, so they were sent to a clinic. The miner received prescription medication and restrictions on 10/5/23.
While stepping over a hose a miner tripped and fell to the ground. While falling to the ground they attempted to catch themself with their left hand and struck it on a handle to an electrical box. The handle caused a laceration to their left ring finger requiring 5 stitches.
Employee changing screens on megatex. The top latch for the north door sprung open and pinched middle finger on right hand.
EE was walking up the stairs to the employee parking lot to their car to leave work and felt a pop in their left knee.
Maintenance Mechanic was disassembling the tapered bearing assembly from the Roll Crusher. EE was removing the last half of the split threaded collar off of the center assembly when the inner bearing shifted pinching EE's left hand between the bearing and the shaft.
An employee stated that they felt a snapping pain in the left knee while closing the top doors of a railcar. Employee went to the clinic. No medication was provided, but employee was placed on modified work duty.
EE was using a hoist to lift the copper bags at #2 mixer. The injured EE tried to reposition the chain using the lifting straps when the hoist stop lifting. When the chain cleared the hoist housing and proceeded to lift the straps tightened up on the EE pinky finger.
Employee smashed a finger using a hammer to remove a bag house bag from the metal cage.
Employee said was getting the wheel barrel out from line 1 cooler to go dump it and felt their left-hand slip.
Miner strained their neck pulling shipping chute chains to close a flop gate. Miner was seen at a clinic and received job restrictions.
Miner was cleaning out a spill containment pallet and placing material into a 5-gallon bucket to be lifted into a 55-gallon drum. The miner overloaded the 5-gallon bucket to approximately 80 lbs. and when lifting it strained their back. The miner was not seen at a clinic until 3/17/23 where they were prescribed medication and restrictions.
EE was training on coloring line #1 as a mixer operator.The EE was maneuvering 50lb chemical bags in position for chemical weigh up per the formulation.The EE was picking up the bags from a chemical pallet that was positioned on the floor and not at waist level. The EE reported lower back pain to OHN.The OHN recommended the employee be seen by the clinic for further evaluation.
Employee felt discomfort and noted that the soreness may have resulted at work while mixing pigments (lift/empty 50lb pigment bags into the mixing pot) 12 days prior. Employee informed employer of potential job related discomfort on 2/27 and was seen by the facility nurse, then sent to the clinic. Restrictions are being accommodated and employee returns to the clinic on 3/13.
Miner twisted knee while shoveling rock dust from under a conveyor resulting in a strain and work restrictions.
A miner was holding a section of conveyor belt while another miner used an angle grinder with cut-off wheel to cut screws from a splice. The angle grinder kicked and made contact with the miner holding the conveyor belts left forearm resulting in a laceration. The miner received 5 stitches to treat the injury.
During clean up activities on Line 2 mixing unit, an EE had slurry splash from the top mixing pot on EE's face/eye while utilizing a water hose to discharge water into the mixing pot.
While prepping a conveyor belt Splice employee cut left thumb with a skiving tool. 9 stitches.
On 2/24 employee was removing a filter & strainer with their right hand and felt a slight pull in their right shoulder blade. Employee went on and finished the work day and went home. The next day, Saturday the 25th, employee woke up with noticed discomfort. Employee went to the plant nurse on Monday, the 27th, to report the issue.
Miner suffered hearing STS in both ears and average shift of > 25 dB in their left ear.