Premier Silica LLCMining Incidents in 2005

Employee was moving a 55 gal barrel of kerosene in the Process Bldg with a chain hoist. A clasp was hooked to the barrel edge and as it was moved from the pickup truck, the clasp released and the barrel dropped about two feet onto employees rt foot. Employee had a hairline fracture on top of foot; no medical treatment, just time off for swelling to go down.

Employee was clearing rocks from the grating on a drive over feed hopper. Employee felt soreness in his left shoulder, elbow and hand the next day. Employee has not returned to work due to pain in shoulder.

Employee was stepping down from ladder and missed last step which caused him to slip to ground level. Resulted in sprain to his left ankle.

The employee was removing material buildup from the walls of the Pit hopper from a standing position above the hopper. He was using a hollow bar about 11' long and weighing about 25 lbs. He performed about 6 downward thrusts with the bar striking the hopper walls and when he continued the movement a 7th time, he felt pain in his lower back.

Employee said that while operating the bag machine, his right shoulder became more painful from an old work-related injury. He felt burning pain & stiffness in it whenever he had to raise it overhead to reach an empty bag. Finally became so painful tht he could not push empty bag onto the machine's filler spout on his right side. Had torn rotator cuff surgery on 8/26/05.

Employee was making adjustments to feed system above bulk bagger; he asked other employee to test system. He informed operator he was clear of machine. As machine was started, his leg became caught between stationary and moving part of machine putting pressure on lower leg. Employee had a stress fracture to his right ankle.

The employee was attempting to support the transmission oil pan of a front-end loader with his hand. The mechanic broke the seal between the transmission oil pan and the transmission with a crowbar. The oil pan broke free and fell to the concrete slab. It pushed the employee's left hand down to the concrete slab and fractured the tip of the middle finger.

EMPLOYEE WAS STOOPED DOWN PULLING ON CONVEYOR BELT TO POSITION IT FOR SPLICING. AS HE WAS PULLING ON BELT HE FELT A PAIN IN LOWER BACK. DR STATED HE HAS TWO SPLIPPED DISCS, SEPARATED RIBS AND SHOULDER STRAIN

Operator was on walkway at creek pump to clean screen. the walkway frame broke & the operator grabbed the railing to keep from falling. At that point he felt a pull in his rt. shoulder. He did not see dr until 3-3-05 & has not lost time. Amendment: After 6 months the dr determined that surgery was reqd to repair a torn ligament. This was not reportable till he reqd surgery 10/13/05

The employee said that approx. 3 months ago, he began to experience pain in both shoulders while pulling/pushing 50-100 lb. sandbags in a sliding motion on a conveyor and air table while using an automatic palletizer in the Bag House. He requested at 6:35 P.M. on 5/18/05 that the Supervisor seek medical attention for him.

EE was shoveling along 50W stacker area. While shoveling sand next to concrete wall, the corner of the shovel hit the concrete wall, stopping the EE's motion. EE's right hand went numb and his shoulder started hurting. Diagnosis from medical clinic is strained right shoulder.

The employee said that he was attempting to stand up from a seated position in a chair in his office when he felt intense pain in his lower back.

Welder was working on elevator at ground level below bulk loading station. the 6"" dust collection hose came loose, swung down striking ee in chest and mouth. ee had a laceration to lip requiring medical attention.