U.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc.Mining Incidents in 2004

ON THURSDAY EVENING AT APPROXIMATELY 1000 PM A SMALL ROCKBURST OCCURRED IN THE 5500-31E STOPE. THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE FOOTWALL ABOUT 40' BACK FROM THE FACE AND 150' TO THE EAST FROM THE MAIN INTERSECTION, DAMAGE CONSISTED OF 30' TO 40' IN THE WALL. ESTIMATED TIME TO REPAIR, 4 TO 5 DAYS.

A rock burst was discovered in the 4000-226 rasie and stope. It showed up on the rock burst monitoring system on Saturday 10-23-04 at approx. 11:30 am. No one was owrking at the time. Damage to the raise occurred at stope level (26 sets up form the sill) and 11 sets above (66 feet). Slight damage occurred int he east stope.

ON FRIDAY MORNING AT 9:15 AM A ROCK BURST OCCURRED ON THE 5500 LEVEL IN THE 31 STOPE. THE MAIN EPICENTER WAS APPROXIMATELY 250 FEET EAST (STRAIGHT AHEAD) AND 64 FEET BELOW THE 31 EAST STOPE. SLIGHT DAMAGE ACCURRED IN THE STOPE, ONE SHIFT OF SCALING AND BOLTING WAS REQUIRED TO PUT THE STOPE BACK INTO NORMAL OPERATION. THE MSHA FIELD OFFICE IN BOISE WAS NOTIFIED.

Wed. @ 4:02 am a rock burst occurred on 4000 level apprx 30 ft w. of 4000-197 blind raise sill in the main drift & in 3700-230 raise. (3700-230 raise is directly above area on 4000 level) Damage in 4000 drift consisted of hanging wall blowing out 10 ft of rib & back shaken up around 20 ft. Damage in 3700-230 raise consisted of back/hanging wall blowing out 6-8 ft & broken timber.

ON 3/10/04 AT APPROX 10:20PM A ROCK BURST OCCURRED IN THE 4000-226 RAISE. DAMAGE CONSISTED OF 60' IN THE WALL BELOW THE STOPE LEVEL AND IN THE RAISE ONLY. THE STOPES UNDAMAGED. ESTIMATED TIME TO REPAIR, 2 WEEKS.

THE CAGER CALLED THE HOIST MAN TO TELL HIM HE HAD A SPILL, THE SKIP AND SOME OF THE SUPPLY DECKS WERE OVERLOADED WITH ROCK...ATTEMPTED TO HOIST THE #1 SIDE UP THE SHAFT, BUT IT KEPT KICKING OU T...MORE WEIGHT WAS PUT ON THE #2 SIDE AND THE #1 SIDE WAS SUCCESFULLY HOISTED TO SURFACE...CAGER ONLY EE IN THE MINE...CAUSE OF SPILL WAS A BOULDER LODGED BETWEEN THE GATE & CHUTE ASSEMBLY.

AT APPROX. 11:30 AM THE #3 SHAFT HOIST MAN NOTIFIED HIS SUPERVISOR THAT THE HOIST HAD KICKED OUT DUE TO THE OVERLOADING OF WET/SLOPPY MUCK FROM THE 5500 POCKET. STENCH WAS INJECTED INTO THE M INE AND THE MINERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO STAND DOWN...THE #1 SIDE WAS THE PROBLEM AND COUNTER WEIGHT WAS PUT ON THE #2 SIDE TO EQUAL OUT THE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION...THE #1 SIDE WAS HOISTED & DUMPED

While EE & partner were lowering & setting an air slusher in a drift the slusher became unbalanced about 6"" off the ground. EE put his hands on slusher to push it over before his partner began to lower it, when he lowered it the cable slipped & moved over to where his L hand was. This created a pinch point & resulted in EE getting his little finger crushed & ring finger fractured.

THE EE WAS BARRING & LIFTING A POWDER TRUCK ONTO A SUPPLY SKIP IN THE SHAFT WHEN HE FELT SOMETHING PULL IN HIS GROIN. HE REPORTED IT ON 12/29/04 BUT DID NOT HAVE SURGERY/MEDICAL ATTENTION 2/4/05

EE WAS DRIVING IN A SPLIT-SET BOLT WITH A JACKLEG AND DRIVER WHEN THE DRIVER BROKE, CAUSING THE DRILL TO IMMEDIATELY PULL AWAY FROM THE EE, STRAINING HIS RIGHT UPPER TORSO.

EMPLOYEE WAS UNLOADING SUPPLIES WHEN HE SLIPPED AND FELL INJURING HIS BACK.

The employee was in the process of rockbolting with a jackleg drill. He lost control of the machine and got his hand pinched between the jackleg machine and the leg.

THE EE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF TORQUING A PLANETARY OIL FILL PLUG ON A L.H.D. WHEN HE FELT SOMETHING PULL IN HIS LOWER BACK.

The ee was loading some 5""x8""x6' timber when he struck himself in the mouth.

EE SLIPPED & FELL WHILE WALKING DOWN A SET OF STAIRS IN THE MILL & TURNED IN A MINOR INJURY REPORT ON 11/1/04. HIS FALL CAUSED PAIN IN HIS TAIL BONE AREA. HE DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL CARE UNTIL HIS LEFT SHOULDER BEGAN HURTING. HE WENT TO DR ON 2/10/05. CLAIM ACCEPTED AS REPORTABLE ON 5/20/05 - BULGED DISC IN NECK.

WHILE THE EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING IN A STOPE HE FELT AN UNKNOWN OBJECT IN HIS LT. EYE.

THE EE WAS ROCK BOLTING WITH A JACKLEG WHEN A ROCK CAME DOWN OUT OF THE BACK AND STRUCK HIM.

THE EE WAS UNLOADING SUPPLIES FROM THE CAGE WHEN HE GOT HIS HAND PINCHED BETWEEN TWO OBJECTS (BETWEEN A BOX OF RUBBISH AND A BOX OF POWDER).

EMPLOYEE WAS ROCKBOLTING A FOREIGN OBJECT STRUCK HIM IN THE EYE.

Employee was unloading supplies in the stope and struck his elbow on a rock bolt mat.

WHILE IN THE PROCESS OF SCALING/BARRING DOWN THE EE WAS AND STRUCK INT HE R-ARM WITH A ROCK APPROX 4""X4"".

The ee has developed symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. He underwent surgery on 8/2/04.

The employee has developed symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. He underwent surgery on 6/2/04.

THE EMPLOYEE HAS DEVELOPED SYMPTOMS OF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME. HE UNDERWENT SURGERY ON 1-21-04.