All MSHA-reportable accidents at Stillwater Mining Company operations in 2024. Fatalities appear first.
7/8/24 n/s miners identified HW rib concerns. They used a mucker to scrape off rock and ground support to aid in rehab bolting rib. Info was not adequately passed onto d/s. D/s miners reported heading condition to supervisor/GF who had MSHA inspector in office. Out of abundance of caution it was report as FOG but all ground support and rock was removed by miners. No FOG occurred.
The employee reports that while using a scaling bar in a chute area, EE's finger was pinched between the scaling bar and a handrail. A rock moved contacting the scaling bar and pushed the bar back causing the injury.
While holding a metal punch, 6lbs hammer glanced off and contacted left middle finger resulting in crush injury. Employee was holding punch with wrench in an attempt to keep hands free of hazard but glancing blow from hammer contacted hand. Employee was seen by medic and transported to ER for care.
EE was attempting to move a rock that had fallen off one of the rail cars that had just been loaded when the rock slipped out of their grip resulting in the rock to fall back against the rail car pinching EE's left ring finger between the rock & the rail car. Restrictions were issued at the ER for fracture and amputation of finger tip.
Employee stated while operating a shot-crete hose that it bucked from a partial plug. Employee braced self but in process of maintaining control of the hose EE felt a pop in left knee followed by mild pain. Seen site medic, went to doctor and was issued a one day rest restriction making this reportable.
Employee was prepping heading to bolt & while in process of using a scaling bar a rock slid down the bar contacting employees left rib area. Seen site medic, referred to ER, X-rays were negative, but restrictions were issued for contusion & bruising making this a reportable injury.
The employee reported that while assisting to re-position a steel wedge EE was contacted on the leg by the wedge. The contact caused a laceration to EE's thigh requiring sutures to close.
Employee was working out of a 2 yard UG loader bucket installing pipe when EE's partner lower the bucket EE's left hand was resting on the back of the bucket and third and four fingers were broken when they were pinched between the bucket and the Z Link of the lift cylinder.
Employee reported to the supervisor at the end of shift that EE's left shoulder is hurting, denies any event to cause pain, stated was only doing normal work activities no trauma, stated just normal wear and tear. Seen site medic, referred to ER, Then onto Occupational Health Provider where MRI was scheduled and employee was restricted from full duty.
While pinning screen the miner was contacted by rocks falling from the back. EE was contacted by the rock causing fractures to EE's left leg, right ankle, and spine. The ankle injury required surgery.
while mounting a lift truck employees foot slipped off the step resulting in EE contacting the truck with EE's right side lower rib area was seen at ER and given full release. On 7/5/24 EE went back in for soreness and x-rays were negative but restrictions were issued making this reportable on 7/5/24
Employee had just completed washing down the work station floor and as EE was rolling up the wash hose EE slipped on the wet floor resulting in left knee to pop followed by pain. Sent to the ER then onto an occupational health physician where EE was issued restrictions for left knee strain.
Employee reports hand slipped while repairing a break in pvc pipe that resulted in elbow strain. Employee was seen by site medic and referred to Occ Health and was issued restrictions.
Employee doing routine maintenance work at the past fill plant on the mixer paddles when EE's footing slipped resulting in the employee falling against mixer paddle resulting in a closed fracture to one of EE's right ribs
Employee reports a piece of collar pipe contacted EE's eye while EE was installing the pipe in a lifter-hole. The contact required surgery to repair the damage caused to the eye. Employee reports was wearing safety glasses at the time of the incident and the piece of pipe came around the glasses.
Employee was mucking with 2-yard loader on last shift 5/24/24 when employee strained upper back muscles. Seen medic & was released. After days off employee stated their back was still hurting, taken to ER on 5/28 & was scheduled to see an occupational health physician on 6/6/24 restrictions were issued at this time making incident reportable on 6/6/2024
A tech. expert on site to advise during mill re-line was injured when EE operated a liner trolley with a liner on the cart. The cart stopped causing the liner to rock and fall. The injured reached to stop it but liner fell on EE's arm breaking forearm bones. Out of an abundance of caution following a conversation with MSHA we are reporting on behalf of the Canadian Company PolyCorp
employee was prepping a diamond drill rig for a move and in the process of loading the drill rods into the storage rack one rod slid back resulting in pinching EE's right hand between the rib and end of the drill rod resulting in a crush type injury
Employee was in the process of replacing a portable pump in EE's work area & as EE lifted the new pump from vehicle and turn to carry it to install location EE rolled EE's left ankle. After installing the pump pain continued to increase, informed supervisor, seen by site medic, referred to ER, x-rays positive for a fracture.
LOTOTO employee took guards off a pump EE was working on. After removing all required bolts to remove the impeller, EE realized needed to move the pump a bit for the impeller to come out. Employee used their hands & grabbed the pulley belts to turn the pump. In doing so, pulled EE's right thumb thru the pulley resulted in fracture and laceration.
Employee reports utilizing a ""micky"" bolt to bend hog wire in preparation to hang in the back. Employee reports pushing down on the bolt to bend the wire when the bolt slipped backwards contacting their bicep and causing a laceration. Employee was taken to ER to have injury cared for.
Employee reports stepping of CMAC and rolling ankle. Employee did not immediately report in an attempt to walk it off. Employee reported it at the end of shift and was seen by site medic, referred to ER and then a follow up with Occ Health on 3/27/24 and was issued restrictions on that day.
Employee was attempting to pull up stabilizer jacks on lift truck when lift truck failed mechanically resulting in the lift bed to raise on its own. The employee's left wrist/hand was pinned between the controls & vent tubing for an extended time. Leadman miner found employee & got employee down. X-rays were positive for fracture to left wrist.
Employee had stopped mucking & noticed the radiator cap looked loose on the loader & decided to try and tighten it. In doing so, the cap blew off & hot coolant contacted EE's left arm and residual splatter to EE's face. Seen site medic, referred to ER, restrictions issued for mild 2nd degree burns.
Employee cut their left hand while prepping an electrical cable for a fan installation, employee was removing the outer jacket of the cable when the tool (Kipex knife slipped contacting left hand between the thumb and index finger resulting in surgery and sutures.
Miner was drilling a raise round on an Alimak raise climber. Miner noticed a stoper falling over on miner's right side and reached to stop the stoper from falling. The falling stoper struck the employee on the right arm as it fell to the Alimak deck.
Employee pulled a drisco pipe into the heading & after they had unchained it from the loader they stated as they stepped backwards with left foot it didn't move as if it was stuck causing them to fall. Employee called out to their partner as they had pain. Seen Site medic referred to ER, x-rays were positive for left ankle fracture.
Employee was bent over prepping a power cable for splicing & when stood up EE felt pain in their lower back. Seen site medic, referred to ER, then onto a specialist where restrictions were issued.
Employee walking on a sidewalk from where they parked vehicle, with a backpack & caring a case to the admin. building when they felt worsening pain in lower right back that has been an ongoing issue that they has been seeking care for prior to this incident. Seen site medic, referred to ER, x-rays negative, referred to next level of care where restrictions were issued.
Employee reported EE was sitting in a mantrip, the train jerked forward and stopped unexpectedly causing neck pain. Employee was seen by site medic and referred to Occ Health. On 7/3/2024 EE was issued light duty restrictions.
The employee reports that EE pinched their finger between a 4"" steel pipe and a rock while EE was setting the pipe on the ground.
Employee reports they were using a scaling bar to clear debris from the surface crusher when they pinched their thumb between the handrail and scaling bar. The contact resulted in a fracture to their right thumb.
Employee slipped after showering and employee's head contacted locker door resulting in a laceration. Was seen at ER where sutures were required. Full work release was given making this a medical reportable incident.
While working on a customer machine, a contract mechanic sustained an injury due to stepping on a rock and rolling the right ankle.
Employee was pinning up a wire panel in the back as part of the bolting cycle, while adjusting the wire one of the mickey bolts used to hold the wire up fell out of the back and contacted the employee below the left eye resulting in a laceration, sutures were required & given full work release making this a medical reportable incident.
The exhaust hose on the Drifter started to come apart and the Driller used a safety knife to cut the remaining hose in order to replace it. The blade of the knife did not retract back in completely after making the cut and struck the palm of the Driller's left hand causing a laceration.
During a review of recent audiograms by a contracted audiologist on November 7, 2024 it was confirmed that an employee sustained reportable hearing loss to their right ear. The operator received an e-mail on November 8, 2024 making them aware on this date of the reportable occupational injury.
During a review of Audiograms by an Audiologist on 6/10/2024 it was determined that the employee sustained a threshold shift in both ears. The employee is being retrained in accordance with section 62.180 of the 30 CFR.
The company was made aware of the mercury exposure diagnosis on 7/18/24. The release form provided to work comp and the company on 5/21/24 did not have a diagnosis. The treating physicians have also not made a determination as to the source of the mercury exposure, at work or personal life. This 7000-1 is being filed as directed from MSHA, per citation 9906316.
Employee was sitting in the diamond drill control seat when employee experienced tightening of lower back muscles, resulting in tenderness and pain, employee stated there was no mechanism to this injury, employee was just sitting at the controls.
During a review of audiograms by our audiologist on April 2, 2024, it was determined that the employee sustained a reportable threshold shift in the right ear. The employee is being retrained in accordance with section 62.180 of the 30 CFR.
During a review of Audiograms by our audiologist on 4/2/2024 it was determined that the employee sustained a reportable threshold shift in both ears. The employee is being retrained in accordance with section 62.180 of the 30 CFR.