Morton Salt Div/Morton International IncMining Incidents in 2000

LOST GENERATED POWER TO #2 HOIST AT 10:20 AM EVACUATION COMPLETED @ 10:30 A.M. POWER WAS RESTORED AND MEN RE ENTERED THE MINE AT 11:40 AM.

LOST SWEPCO POWER SOURCE AT 9:05 AM DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER. SWITCHED TO CO-GENERATED POWER SOURCE. EVACUATION COMPLETE AT 9:18 AM SWEPCO POWER WAS RESTORED AT 7:20 PM MINERS RE-ENTERED THE MINE AT 11:00 PM.

LOST SWEPCO AT 6:15 AM DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER (ICE STORM). SWITCHED TO ALTERNATE POWER SOURCE AND EVACUATED MINE IMMEDIATELY. POWER RESTORED AT 6:45 AM. DAY SHIFT RE-ENTERED MINE AT 7:OO AM.

AN ELECTRICAL WIRE ON THE #1 HOIST STARTER CONTACTOR FAILED. THE MINE WAS EVACUATED THE WIRE REPARIED AND THE HOIST TESTED. THE HOIST WAS RESTORED TO SERVICE 5:30AM

ELECTRICIANS AT SHAFT COLLAR PREPARING END OF CONTROL CABLE WHICH FED DOWN SHAFT. FREE END OF CABLE VERY LONG AND A LOOP OF IT, UNKNOWN TO ELECTRICIANS, SLIPPED INTO SHAFT. CAGE DESCENDED AND CABLE CAUGHT ONE OF CAGE'S LOWER WHEEL BRACKETS WHICH BROKE AND BECAME MISALIGNED, IMPINGING ON GUIDE.

THE #2 HOIST STOP SWITCH FAILED. THE MINE WAS EVACUATED 1:10 PM, THE SWITCH REPLACED, THE HOIST TESTED AND RESTORED TO SERVICE AT 3:40 PM.

AT END OF IDLE HOLIDAY PERIOD, A MAINTENANCE FOREMAN & ELECTRICIAN ENETERED MINE TO START MAIN FAN. SMOKE WAS OBSERVED IN SHOP AREA AND THEY EVACUATED MINE. MINE RESCUE TEAM ENTERED MINE AND F OUND REMAINS OF GOLF CART WITH A FEW SMOLDERING EMBERS. AREA WAS MADE SECURE. NOT KNOWN WHEN CART BURNT OF LENGTH OF TIME. AREA MADE SECURE. FELT SALT CAUSED CORRODED WIRING, LEADING TO FIRE.

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE RIDING A NEW LOWERING FRAME IN THE PRODUCTION SHAFT FOR INSPECTION PURPOSES. AT ABOUT 250 FT DOWN, ELECTRICAL POWER WENT OFF DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE PUBLIC SUPPLIER. POWER WAS OFF UNTIL ABOUT 9:20 AM.

DURING A REGULAR INSPECITON, THE STOP SWITCH AT THE INTERMEDIATE LEVEL OF THE #2 HOIST WAS FOUND OT BE DEFECTIVE. THE MINE WAS EVACUATED, THE SWITCH REPLACED AN DTHE HOIST TESTED. THE H OIST WAS RESTORED TO SERVICE AT 11:00 AM.

THE #1 HOIST WAS DOWN FOR 40 MINUTES DUE TO A BROKEN WIRE ON A HOISTING CONTACTOR. THE MINE WAS EVACUATED BY 2:20 PM THE BROKEN WIRE WAS REPAIRED AND THE HOIST RESTORED TO SERVICE.

THE #1 HOIST SERVICE BRAKE FAILED TO LOCK IN CAGE LOWER MODE AND TRAVELED THROUGH THE LIMIT SWITCH. PARK BRAKE ENGAGED AND STOPPED THE HOIST AT THE BOTTOM. THE HYDRAULIC CYLINDER WAS LEAKING A ND HAD FOREIGN MATERIAL BETWEEN THE PISTON & CYLINDER WALL. MINE EVACUATED, THE CONDITION REPAIRED AND THE HOIST WAS TESTED FOR PROPER OPERATION. THE MINE WAS RE-ENTERED ON 2/4/00 AT 10:45 AM

THE #2 HOIST EXPERIENCED A DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE HOIST SLOW DOWN SWITCH TO BECOME STUCK IN THE SLOW MODE. THE MINE WAS EVACUATED AND THE SLOW DOWN SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE HOIST WAS TESTED FO R PROPER OPERATION AND THE MINE WAS RE-ENTERED AT 2:15 P.M.

A CAPSTAN WINCH WAS USED TO POSITION AND TIE-OFF BARGES UNDER A FIXED LOADING SPOUT. THE INJURES EE COULD NOT UNTIE THE MOORING ROPE FROM THE D3E-ENERGIZED CAPSTAN WHEN HE NEEDED TO REPOSITION A BARGE BECAUSE OF HIGH ROPE TENSION. THE EE USED AN UNAUTHORIZED PROCEDURE: HE STARTED THE CAPSTAN & KICKED ROPE WITH RIGHT FOOT. IT BECAME CAUGHT. ENTIRE LEG INJURED, AMPUTATED LOWER LEG.

THIS INCIDENT WAS REPORTED ON 8-29-00. CONDITION BEGAN ON 8-19-00 AS EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING ON THE TUBE BELT IN CANLINE. HE EXPERIENCED FATIGUE AND CRAMPS. HE RESTED AND CONTINUED TO WORK. CONDI TION CONTINUED TO DEVELOP OVER SEVERAL DAYS. DOCTOR DETERMINED HEAT STRESS.

WHILE OPERATING A FORK TRUCK, EMPLOYEE CONTACTEDAN EXPANSION GAP IN THE WAREHOUSE FLOOR THAT CAUSED A JARRING MOTION THAT CAUSED PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT IN LOWER BACK AND LEGS.

EMPLOYEE STATES HE EXPERIENCED LOWER BACK AND HIP DISCOMFORT WHILE ENGAGED IN CLEANING THE #1 COARSE SALT BIN.

A LOCK RING BECAME DISENGEGED FROM THE WHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN DID NOT FOLLOW THE BEST PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES OF COMMERCIAL TIRE. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RECREATE THE ACCIDENT; HOWEVER THE TECH NICIAN IS UNABLE TO RECALL ALL EVENTS.

EMPLOYEE WAS ASSISTING IN PULLING A BULKHEAD DOOR IN A RAILCAR IN PREPARATION FOR LOADING. WHILEPULLING ON THE DOOR, HER RIGHT FOOT SLIPPED AND BECAME CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BOTTOM OF THE BULKHEAD DOOR AND RAILCAR FLOOR.

WORKERS WERE SHOVELING & MOVING STOCKPILED SALT WORKERS WERE WORKING TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER. THE FOREMAN WAS INSTRUCTING WORKERS IN THE PROPER USE OF A PICK & SHOVEL, THE FOREMAN RAISED HIS P ICK OVER HIS SHOULDER & STRUCK INJ WORKER ON THEARM. CONTUSION TO R ELBOW & FOREARM

EMPLOYEE STATES HE WAS POURING BAGS OF POPCORN SALT INTO THE SALTER TANK WHEN THE LID ABOVE THE SILO VIBRATED LOOSE AND FELL STRIKING HIS HARD HAT AND LEFT HAND. EMPLOYEE LATER COMPLAINED OF P AIN TO RIGHT SHOULDER.

THE INJURED EE WAS CONNECTING THE FLIGHT CHAIN TOGETHER ON THE LONG AIRDOX. HE WAS HOLDING A 4 LB. HAMMER WHILE ANOTHER EE WAS HITTING IT WITH A 16 LB. HAMMER. A PIECE OF THE 4 LB. HAMMER BROK E OFF AND LODGED IN THE EE'S RIGHT ARM.

EMPLOYEE WAS RUSHING TO THE WAREHOUSE TO AVOID BEING LATE FOR WORK. AS HE WAS CROSSING THE RAILROAD TRACK THE HEEL OF HIS SHOE SLIPPED OFF THE TOP EDGE OF THE RAIL DOWNWARD CAUSING THE INJURY

WHILE OPERATING A FORK TRUCK, EMPLOYEE STATES REAR WHEELS STRUCK LOADING RAMP CAUSING HIM TO STRIKE HIS HEAD ON THE FOPS STRUCTURE. EMPLOYEE RECEIVED MEDICAL TREATMENT ON 11-8-00.

EE WAS WALKING DOWN A SLIGHT GRADE AND LOST FOOTING ON THE SLICK MINE FLOOR WHICH CAUSED HER TO FALL. THIS INJURY IS BEING REPORTED AS RESTRICTED DUTY CASE.

EE & COWORKER WERE CHANGING PISTON & SEALS ON WATER SOFTENER. WATER WAS TURNED OFF VALVE (FEED WATER) DID NOT COMPLETE SEAL OFF RESULTING IN PRESSURE BUILDUP IN SOFTENER HEAD. FACE PLATE WAS TAKEN OFF LAST BOLT HOLDING IT BROKE, PRESSURE FORCED FACE PLATE TO BLOW OFF STRICKING EE IN FACE. IT HIT HIS SAFETY GLASSES, BUT WHEN PLATE HIT GLASSES, IT CUT HIS NOSE

EMPLOYEE HAD NOTICED EYE DISCOMFORT AT THE STARTOF HIS SHIFT. AT AROUND 4:00 AM IT BEGAN TO GET REALLY BAD. EMPLOYEE USED EYE WASH BUT FELT AS IF HE HAD SOMETHING IN HIS EYE. A PIECE OF STEEL WAS REMPVED BY DOCTOR ON 8-31-00. INCIDENT THAT CAUSED IT IS STILL UNKNOWN.

EE WAS INJURED WHILE TAKING NEW HOIST ROPE FROM SPOOL. THE END OF THE CABLE WAS UNDER TENSION AND NOT SECURELY CLAMPED. AS THE CABLE CAME OFF THE REEL, THE LOOSE END FLIPPED, HIT THE GROUND, T HEN STRUCK THE EMPLOYEE.

EMPLOYEE WAS USING A LOCK BLADE POCKET KNIFE TO NOTCH OUT A DOOR LATCH HOLE WHEN UNCONTROLLED MOVEMENT OF THE KNIFE RESULTED IN HIS LEFT HAND BEING LACERATED.

EMPLOYEE WAS INJURED WHILE ASSISTING REPLACEMENTOF WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER IN UNDERGROUND SCREEN PLANT OFFICE. UNIT WAS NOT RAISED HIGH ENOUGH AND ASUNIT WAS PUSHED TOWARD ITS POSITION, SHARP M ETAL SNAGGED EMPLOYEE'S FINGER.

EE WAS WAITING TO PUNCH OUT AT THE END OF HIS SHIFT WHEN HE REACHED UP TO SCRATCH HIS FACE AND THE EDGE OF HIS TIMECARD APPARENTLY SCRATCHED HIS LEFT EYE. HE WAS WEARING HIS STREET GLASSES.

THE EE FEELS THAT THE REPETITIVE NATURE OF HER JOB CAUSED THE INJURY. HER JOB DUTIES CONSISTED OF 12 YRS OF DATA ENTRY FOR PAYROLL AS WELL AS OTHER PROJECTS. THE PAIN STARTED IN 8/00 AND HAS B EEN PRESENT ON A DAILY BASIS SINCE THAT TIME

ON THE MORNING OF 1/27/00 AS THE EE WAS PLACING 80# BAGS OF SALT ON A PALLET HE BEGAN TO FEEL DISCOMFORT IN HIS LEFT WRIST. AS THE DAY PROGRESSED THE DISCOMFORT CONTINUED & HIS WRIST BEGAN TO SWELL. THE EE INFORMED HIS SUPERVISOR OF THE CONDITION LATE IN THE AFTERNOON. HE WAS SENT TO THE DR THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND DIAGNOSED WITH TENDONITIS. EE WAS GIVEN WRIST SUPPORT, INSTRUCTION

WE ARE SUBMITTING A REPORT FRO THRESHOLD SHIFT FOR THIS EMPLOYEE OF 25DB. THIS IS NOT AN ADMISSION OF WORK RELATEDNESS: NO WORKER'S COMP CLAIM WAS FILED OR AWARDED.

ON THIS DATE INJURED EE AND ANOTHER EE WERE CHANGING A 25HP MOTOR ON THE CLEAR BRINE PUMP LOCATED IN THE EVAP PLANT PUMP PIT. THE MOTOR WAS REMOVED FROM THE PIT USING A CHAIN BLOCK. AFTER OPER ATING THE CHAIN BLOCK THE INJURE EE FELT A SORENESS IN HSI LEFT SHOULDER. HE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY SORENESS AGAIN UNTIL AFTER HE WENT HOME AFTER SHICH THE SORENESS PERSISTED. THE FOLLOWING D