All MSHA-reportable accidents at Sherwin Alumina Company, LLC operations in 2005. Fatalities appear first.
EE had allowed mud to accumulate on his work boots. He was walking on a concrete pad and slipped as result of the mud accumulation. He felt a pain in his left groin area. His personal physician diagnosed him with an inguinal hernia. Surgery to repair will be done on November 10, 2005.
EE was holding a blunt-end chisel while a coworker struck it with a hammer. The coworker missed the chisel head and struck the EE on his right hand, fourth finger. Result was a laceration and a fractured finger. Placed on restricted duty.
EE stepped onto an uneven walking surface and felt a ""pop"" in his right knee. Taken off of work by the plant physician on 07/28/05.
EE was replacing a pipe fitting when a hammer that was on an overhead pipe fell and splashed dilute caustic into the EE's left eye. Result was a corneal chemical burn that required prescription medication. EE was taken off of work by his treating physician on 06/18/05.
Employee was attempting to get off a barge. His footing slipped and he scraped his left shin on the access ladder. The abrasion required sutures to repair. He was placed on restricted duty on 04/05/2005.
Employee was descending a stairway. When he stepped off the last step, he slipped on some mud and twisted his left knee. His personal physician took the employee off of work on 01/22/05.
EE experienced lower back pain after he moved a rail car door opener. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation. The Emergency Room doctor placed employee on sedentary work only restrictions.
EE was closing a valve when he felt a pain in his left shoulder. EE had been scheduled for shoulder surgery on 12/16/05, EE and treating physician changed the surgery date to 12/14/05.
On 08/17/2005, EE had to have an small piece of metal surgically removed from his right wrist that had gotten imbedded on 07/24/2005. EE had been holding a hand tool while another EE struck it with a hammer. After several weeks the EE noticed that he had something in his right wrist.
EE stepped over some process piping and felt a pain in his right leg. On 06/24/05 EE begin losing work.
EE was rolling up a fifty foot section of one inch air hose that was no longer in service. In the process, the employee twisted his right knee. On May 24, 2005, the plant physician placed him on restricted duty.
EE was descending stairway, when he reached the bottom and stepped onto hard surface, he twisted his right knee. Placed on restricted duty.
EE was working inside of a scalloped floor tank. The floor was slippery and the EE started to slip. He locked both knees to keep from falling and he felt a pain in his left knee. On 03/31/2005, EE was placed of restricted duty and reassigned to a light duty position.
Employee was using a valve wrench to open a six inch plug valve when he felt a pain in his back. On 03/09/2005, plant doctor placed employee on work restrictions; no lifting > 25#, no ladder climbing, no pulling/pushing >25#
Employee was walking on top of some alumina airslides when he struck his head on an overhanging piece of pipe. He went backwards and fell 45 inches to the ground. Employee struck his head, right shoulder and right leg on the airslide. On 03/09/2005, employee was taken off work by his treating physician.
Employee was stepping over a pipe when EE twisted right ankle. On 02/08/05, plant doctor applied air splint to immobilize the ankle. Working with restrictions.
EE was walking on the into a building while it was raining. He slipped on a wet spot and fell. He broke his fall by extending both arms out. He felt a pain in his right shoulder. Diagnosis was a torn rotator cuff. EE had surgery on 12/26/2005 to repair the torn rotator cuff. EE started missing days on 12/27/2005.
EE was removing a set of screws from a pump coupling. Pump was down, drained and de-energized. EE's left gloved hand got caught on one of the screws and his hand got twisted. This resulted in a fracture on the left hand finger tip. EE placed on restricted duty.
EE was using a valve handle to open a six inch plug valve. The valve handle broke and the EE fell backward. He landed on his backside. He experienced pain in his lower back. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and the ER doctor took him off work for two days. EE is on restricted work duty.
EE sustained a fractured finger tip on his left hand middle finger when a piece of hydrate scale landed on it.
EE was working inside of an evaporator vessel. He slipped while standing on an internal ledge and fell approximately three feet onto the evaporator floor. EE sustained a severe contusion to his right shoulder. Treating ER doctor took EE off of work for one day. EE reassigned while on work restrictions.
EE was walking down an inclined walkway. He stepped on a slippery spot, lost his balance, fell backward and landed on his right shoulder. Plant physician placed EE on restricted duty and prescribed PT 3x/week.
EE did not report this injury until 08/17/2005. EE sustained a right knee sprain when he stepped on a rebar that was sticking out of the ground. He felt a pop in his right knee. Plant physician prescribed pain medication to alleviate the pain. EE was placed on restricted duty.
EE lifted a five gallon plastic bucket that was full of repair parts. While at home after work, EE started feeling pain in his lower back. On 08/10/05, the plant doctor prescribed a muscle relaxant and pain medication. EE placed on work restrictions.
EE was using an air impact tool to remove a nut off of a bolt. The air impact tool slipped off of the nut and struck the EE on his right wrist. On 8/05/05, he was diagnosed with a closed fracture of the right carpal bone. Restricted duty: no use of left hand.
On 08/01/2005, EE reported to his supervisor that he had injured his hand on the job on 07/24/05. He thought he had a metal splinter in his right hand. He tried to dig the splinter out with his pocket knife without success. X-ray & CT scan reveal no metal splinter, however, an absess is present.Treating physcian prescribed antibotics. Placed on restricted duty on 08/01/05.
EE was walking down an inclined walkway. He slipped and reached out to the handrail. He felt a pull and a burning sensation in his right elbow. On 08/12/05, the plant doctor injected his right wrist with cortisone. EE placed on work restrictions.
EE was clearing a calciner dust line. Dust puffed out of the line causing the EE to jerk out of the way. One hour later he started experiencing back pain. Plant physician precribed muscle relaxant and pain medication. No lost time but placed on restricted duty.
EE was rodding out a drain valve when a dilute caustic/slurry solution splashed out of the drain valve and onto his abdomen. EE sustained two small 3rd degree burns in his abdominal region.
EE was using a hacksaw to cut a piece of 5/8"" bolt stock. As EE was making the cut, his left hand, 3rd finger came in contact with the bolt stock and sustained a laceration that required sutures to repaired.
EE was walking beside a conveyor when he slipped and fell. As he reached out to catch himself, his left hand went between a troughing roller and the conveyor belt. Result was a crush injury to his hand and laceration that required sutures to repair.
EE was helping a Yard Runner operator move an electric motor. The motor got caught on an angle iron bracket and swung unexpectedly. This unexpected movement caught the EE's right thumb between the motor and support piping. This resulted in a laceration and fracture of the right thumb. The laceration required sutures to repair. EE is on restricted duty.
EE was walking when he stepped on a one inch air hose that was lying on the ground. He twisted his right ankle. He was placed on limited walking restrictions and on 04/25/05, he was transferred to a temporary assignment in the plant warehouse.
EE was using a spline drive to operate a valve. In the process, he felt a pain in his back. On 04/21/2005, plant doctor prescribed medications and EE was given restrictions.
EE was walking on a slippery (wet) driveway. He slipped and twisted his left ankle. On 4/22/05, EE had surgery to repair hairline fracture.
EE was riding a bicycle when he was startled by the sound of a motor vehicle horn. He turned his body in the direction of the sound and felt a pain in his back. On 03/28/2005, plant doctor prescribed medications for pain and anxiety.
EE was using an eight pound sledgehammer to knock scale out of a pump screen box when he felt a pain in his lower back. On 3/31/05, EE was placed on restricted duty and taken out of his assigned work area.
On 03/01/05, employee fell against some structural support beams and striking his right rib cage. On 03/07/05, employee was placed on work restrictions. No ladder climbing, no lifting > 10# with right arm and no use of sledgehammer.
EE struck his elbow against some adjacent piping while operating a valve. On 04/05/2005, EE was placed on restricted duty in his work area.
EE was picking up a conveyor belt clamp. The clamp slipped and EE's right wrist ""popped"". On 03/22/2005, EE was given an injection to his right wrist. EE was also placed on restricted duty.
EE (a Maintenance Mechanic) was to install a vent pipe on a vent valve. He opened the vent valve and a diluted caustic solution sprayed onto his face and got into his left eye. Opthomologist diagnosed chemical corneal burn to left eye and prescribed antibiotic. Plant doctor put employee on work restictions.
On 02/10/2005, employee was complaining of pain in right hip and leg. Placed on restricted duty on 02/25/2005.
EMPLOYEE STEPPED ON WOODEN PALLET AND THE PALLET BROKE CAUSING EMPLOYEE TO TWIST LET KNEE.* ON 2/28/2005 THE PLANT DOCTOR PLACED THE EMPLOYEE ON RESTRICTED DUTY. *
Employee was using a pry bar to tighten a pump impeller. The pry bar slipped causing the employee's right hand to strike an adjacent flange. The impact caused a fracture of his right hand index finger.
Employee was ascending onto the top of a barge. He slipped and pinched his right hand ring finger between ladder and wall. On 09/02/2005, plant physician administered a steroid injection to the affected finger. On 1/23/2006, EE had surgery on right hand. Surgeon found cyst on the bone; removed cyst. Returned to work on 1/27/2006 with restrictions.
EE was using a sledgehammer to operate valve. The hammer slipped out of his hand and landed in a puddle of caustic. Caustic splashed up and got into left eye. Opthomologist gave prescription-strength medication. No lost time or restrictions.
EE was attempting to install a safety clip on a pressured one inch air hose. The hose became uncoupled and the EE's face was sprayed with air and residual caustic that was trapped in the hose. EE was treated at a local hospital. Treating physician issued prescription medication.
EE was pushing on some steel rods when he slipped and struck his chin against a rod mill discharge chute. He sustained a quarter inch laceration which was closed by the plant doctor using super glue.
EE attempted to move a portable metal stand that were stacked on top of each other. As the EE moved one of the stands he felt a pain in his lower back. Plant doctor put EE on restricted duty.
EE sustained a fracture on his right hand ring finger while using a grease gun. The handle on the grease gun was missing a bolt nut. The bolt fell out causing the handle to collapse, pinching his finger between the handle and the grease gun body.
EE sustained a fractured finger tip on his right fourth finger when a scaling gun he was using landed on the finger.
On 09/20/05, EE, who is a certified welder, got welding slag in his left boot when welding on a pipe. He sustained a small thermal burn on his left foot, thinking it was ""nothing"" and he did not report it to the mine operator. On 09/22/05, EE reported to the plant medical department with an infected burn in his left foot. Plant doctor prescribed antibotics for the infection.
EE states that on 08/27/05 he got some caustic on his left leg. On 09/02/2005, after his four regularly scheduled off days, he reported to his supervisor that he had a caustic burn on his left leg. The burn had become infected and the plant physician prescribed an antibiotic for treatment of the burn.
EE states that he inhaled some caustic mist while working. EE self-administered Albuterol and Advair, His own prescription. He went to the plant medical facility where the treating nurse administered Oxygen for 30 minutes. EE was released to full duty shortly thereafter.
EE was using a wheel wrench to operate a wheel valve. The wheel wrench slipped and struck the EE on the mouth. On 07/29/2005, x-ray revealed a cracked tooth. No lost time or restricted duty.
EE was disposing of trash that he had collected during his housekeeping duties. As he twisted to put the trash into a trash can, he felt a pain in his lower back. Plant doctor issued prescription strength muscle relaxant. No lost time and no restrictions.
EE was hosing down with a dilute caustic solution. EE felt an itching sensation in his right foot. EE did not report the incident to his supervisor until 6/03. EE went home and discovered that he had a small chemical burn area in his right foot. The affected area became infected due to a lack of prompt medical treatment and poor personal hygiene.
Employee was performing confined space attendant duties and windblown particle entered her eye.
The equipment operator was working in a digester tank. He took the machine to the bottom of the tank to make a repair. When climbing out of the work basket, his lifeline became disconnected. It retracted quickly striking the hole watch in the face.
Maintenance Mechanic was attempting to flange up a section of pipe to a vessel. His left hand, fourth finger got caught between two flanges, resulting in a small laceration that required sutures to repair. Prescription strength pain medication was also administered. No restrictions or lost time.
Employee was in the process of cutting a drill stem. EE closed the hydraulic vise valve with right hand and as hydraulic vise closed, it caught middle left finger and cut the tip off along with the nail.
Employee was using an 8lb hammer to open a hammer type valve. When he struck the valve for the 3rd time the hammer bounced back and struck the ee on the right side of his face. The EE was wearing safety glasses & goggles, but the impact caused both items to shift and the safety glass frame cut the employee's right eyelid. Sutures were required to close the wound.
EE had been doing alot of walking while performing his job. He started getting dizzy and weak from the heat in the area he was working. He was taken to a local hospital with heat related symptoms. The ER doctor instructed the EE to stay away from work for one day. EE lost one day of work time.