Mosaic Potash Carlsbad IncMining Incidents in 2010

Roof fall occured in the inactive workings that extended over an active conveyor sytem. Falling material directly over the conveyor sytem was apr. 20' x 15' x 33". Acting supervisor who discovered the fall was apr. 1 mile away when it occured and discovered it upon checking the belt conveyor system.

Employee was exiting a battery car. His right foot got stuck between the operator's seat and the side of the cab as he was stepping out of the car. He lost his balance and his weight shifted to his left leg. He states he heard his left knee pop.

Emp. was adjusting gate in storage tunnel when the clean up crew was moving the suction hose from the vacuum truck and knocked his feet from under him and he fell on his knee and shoulder. Emp. stated that it was very dusty in the tunnel and could hear the hose moving but didn't know it was that close to his feet. Taken to the doctor on 12/10/10 and placed on restrictions.

A custom made guard was made for a pit. The emp. kicked the 15lb guard to knock in place. The heal of his boot caught the guard. The emp. felt some pain to his right knee. Emp. continued working however later in the day his right knee swelled with increased pain and he was unable to get out the man trip. Emp. taken to doctor and placed on restrictions.

Operator car stalled, emp. got out of the car to check breaker. When returning to car emp. stepped on a rock and lost his balance, his left knee shifted and popped. Emp. did not fall. Later when trying to stand up in ram car to get out, left knee buckled again.

Emp. was unloading air boat off trailer into the water. To get the boat to start turning away from the bank emp. had to push the boat using the back of her legs to get the boat to start turning. Emp. felt the back of her right knee strain.Emp.taken to Work Comp. doctor and restrictions given on 11/23/10.

Emp. walking to the belt controller & tripped on a turnbuckle & anchor. He fell face down on the floor. Emp. denied pain at the time of injury. He contin. to work & his left knee started hurting. Emp. was off on personal leave & notified the Safety Dept. on 12/8/10 that he was still having swelling & pain to his left knee. Emp. taken to doctor & placed on restrictions on 12/9/10.

Emp. was working in #1 Shaft scaling. He was 708'deep. He was struck on the left shoulder with a piece of re-bar. The re-bar was 2 1/2" long by 1". The Constructors crew was cutting the re-bar and a piece that was being cut flew down the shaft and hit emp.

Emp. going through a set of manual airlock doors. He left the first door propped open, opened the small door, then pushed the drive-through door open. As he pushed the drive-through door open the small door closed, causing pressure on the drive through door. The pressure caused the drive-through door to close, pinning emp. between the door and a wooden post.

Emp. was cutting vacuum hose with a utility knife. He was cutting with his right hand rotating from right to left around the top of the hose. Knife slipped resulting in a laceration on his left forearm. Emp. taken to doctor and received 3 stitches.

Emp. cutting a hole in ventilation tubing to regulate the air, he cut the top of the first finger on his right hand just behind the finger nail. He was using his personal knife. Emp. taken to ER where he received stitches to his finger. No restrictions given at initial visit.

Emp. states he parked a front end loader and when stepping out from the loader, he caught his right foot in the last bottom step. Emp. fell to the ground and when he got up he felt pain in his right knee.

Emp. lifted one end of the stabilization cylinder to change out the hydraulic fitting and was lowering the cylinder back down when the weight shifted and mashed the tip of his middle finger on his right hand.

Emp. stepping backwards and fell into a hopper. Another emp. had removed the grating over the hopper without notifing the emp. that stepped into it.

Team leader pulling a water hose with mantrip, hose came around a mantrip & caught the right front tire, at this point water hose stretched, came loose. Hose wrapped around emp. legs, which caused emp. to fall on ground on his left side.

Work being performed on desliming screens. Feed valves to screens closed for repairs. When lang brine started, lang brine ran over onto mechanics working in screen. Energized welding lead got wet. Emp. assisting to get another emp. out of screen and received electric shock.

Emp. stated that 2 yrs ago he noticed the beginning of discomfort in his left shoulder. In the last 6 mo. he has had pain to this shoulder when he pushed roofbolt steels up into the drill hole. There is no actual injury date and emp. did not notify supervisor until 4/14/10. No restrictons placed on emp. until 11/4/10.

Emp. had accumulation of product on the bottom of his boots, as he stepped down from bottom step of stairs he slipped and hit his elbow on the handrail of the stairs. Emp. bruised his elbow and strained shoulder.

Emp. stepped off a bolter's operator platform, which was approx. 12" above ground level and stepped on a rock approx. 3" diameter in loose muck, causing his right ankle to twist.

Emp. attempted to lift one end of a belt roller off the ground. The other end of the roller was in a bracket. As emp. began to lift from one end the opposite end of the roller fell out of the bracket, pinching the tips of employee's fingers on both hands between the roller and ground. Emp. taken to ER. Emp. with fracture to each middle finger on both hands, placed on restrictions.

Emp. backing out of face, reached down with his cable hook to pull the mine cable out of the way he felt his right knee pop. Took emp. to the dinner hole, ice applied to knee. Safety dept. was called and took emp. to emergency room. Patient returned to work without restrictions. MRI read on 4/16/10 with diagnosis of torn right meniscus. Restrictions started on 4/27/10.

Emp. drove shuttle wagon to get 3 cars. Emp. hooked up 3 rail cars to transport to loadout station. Emp. was slowing down approaching the previously staged cars when the stray car hit the back of the cars that were attached to the shuttle wagon. The force from the collision caused the emp. to slam into the steering wheel. Emp. taken to ER for evaluation.

One emp. was hitting an eye bolt from the side with a sledge hammer to jar it loose so it could be removed. The sledge hammer came loose from his hands and hit another emp. on the left shin. Emp. that got hit was standing approx. 12' away.

Emp. was spotting bits on miner. He was using a raw hide brass hammer and bit wrench, as he was coming down to hit the bit wrench, the outside of his hand between the knuckles and wrist came in contact with another bit. Sent to ER. Positive X-Ray for fracture, placed on restrictions.

Emp. changing bits. While leaning over and using hammer, felt pain in between shoulder blades. Severe pain began as he started to adjust the position of the roll fan. Tips of his fingers on his left hand were numb and tingling. Sent to company dr, placed on restrictions. Muscle relaxant, MRI and P.T. ordered.

Emp. in lab felt dizzy, burning eyes, heavy chest. Discovered samples of chemical D31-18 were placed in oven prior to his shift which may have been cause. Removed chemicals from oven. Emp. went to company doctor. X-Ray showed Bronchitis, meds prescribed, restrictions ordered.

Emp. felt discomfort to right ankle, got home and found ankle swollen and red area noted. Emp. went to ER and was given an antibiotic and pain prescription for possible spider bite.

Emp. was removing old conveyor belt. Emp. had to clean belt conveyor covers to remove them to work on belt line. Belt covers were covered in dust. Dust was in the air and warehouse was hot. Emp. was sweating in this environment. Emp. got dust and particles in his eyes. He saw doctor and was prescribed an eye antibiotic.

Emp. was throwing a track switch (pulling motion) at loading station, when he felt a sharp pain in the left shoulder. He applied ice and took aspirin. He was taken to the doctor on 8/12/10 and prescribed a muscle relaxer.

Emp. hanging cable near the air door at main shop entrance when mud on the cable fell off and hit the left side of his face, the left side of the hard hat and safety glasses. The mud went around the edge of the safety glasses and into his left eye. Emp. taken to shop and eye wash was used to clean his face and eye. Emp. taken to Work Comp. doctor. Antibiotic prescription given

Emp. was using a large forklift to move a motor. He was attempting to adjust the forks to pick the motor. The forks did not move freely, he then tried to push one fork over with his left foot, at that time he felt his knee pop. He grabbed the mast to keep from falling.