All MSHA-reportable accidents at U.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc. operations in 2005. Fatalities appear first.
At 10:50 PM on Dec 28, 2005 a rock burst (outburst) occurred in the 4000-226 east stope. Damage consisted of 25' of rib that will require scaling & re-bolting. Damage is 200' from the 226 raise & 30' below the 3700 track level. The event occurred when the night shift rounds were blasted & was likely triggered by distress holes that are drilled & blasted with the rounds.
The rock burst consisted of approx 40 feet of the hanging wall. The length of the stope from the face is 70' from the intersection. This stope will be permanently closed down and sealed (sand filled) from future mining activity in this area.
A rock burst occurred at the bottom of the 4000 level 184rs. in the main drift & the top of the 4300-190rs approx. 20'below the 4000 level. The rock burst was triggered by the blast from the 43-190 development raise heading. The rock burst was picked up on our seismic system & due to the activity was not looked at until the next day.
AT 5:05PM ON MARCH 9, 3 MINERS ON 4000 LEVEL REPORTED TO THE #3 SHAFT HOIST MAN THAT THEY SMELLED WOOD SMOKE IN THE 4000 LEVEL DRIFT PAST THE TOP OF 43-190 RAISE. HOIST MAN IMMEDIATELY INJECTED STENCH INTO THE COMPRESSED AIR LINES AND THE VENTILATION STREAM TO EVACUATE THE MINE. SHIFT SUPERVISOR ALSO SMELLED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TOP OF 190 RISE. EVACUTATION COMPLETE AT 5:45P
at 11:20 pm on 3-8-05 a rock burst outbust occurred int he 5500-31 stope and the 5500-36 east stope. the rock burst in the 55-31 east stope consisted of damage int he hanging wall approx. 20 ft in from the main interseciton, three sill caps were damage along with the cement fill coming in approx. 8 to 10 feet up and 10 foot wide.
ON WEDNESDAY MORNING AT 4:26 A.M. A ROCK BURST (OUTBURST) OCCURRED IN THE 5500-31 EAST STOPE. THE DAMAGE WAS IN THE FOOTWALL ABOUT 20 FEET BACK FROM THE FACE AND 180 TO THE EAST FROM THE MAIN INTERSECTION; THE DAMAGE CONSISTED OF 20' OF THE FOOTWALL. ESTIMATED TIME TO REPAIR - 2 SHIFTS. THE MSHA FIELD OFFICE IN BOISE WAS NOTIFIED.
On Wednesday morning at 10:10 am a rock burst (outburst) occurred in the 5500-165 east stope. the minimal damage was in the footwall and the face approximately 40 ft from the main raise. Estimated time to repair- one shift.
EMPLOYEE WAS WORKING IN A TIMBERED RAISE BUILDING A WORK PLATFORM/FLOOR WHEN HE SLIPPED. IN THE PROCESS OF CATCHING HIS BALANCE, HE TWISTED HIS KNEE. THE FLOOR HE WAS BUILDING WAS ON A SLANT APPROX 2 TO 3 DEGREES.
THE EMPLOYEE FILLED OUT A MINER INJURY REPORT 8/14/02 STATING THAT HE HAD PINCHED HIS HAND BETWEEN A SCALING BAR & A 10""X 10"" X 12' TIMBER WHILE BARRING OUT ROCK IN A CHUTE LIP. CONDITION WORSENED DUE TO ORIGINAL INJURY & REPEATED MOTION, TRAUMA & PRESSURE ON HAND. SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION AND UNDERWENT SURGERY ON 8/18/05 AND NOW IT IS A REPORTABLE OCCUPATIONAL ILNESS
EMPLOYEE TURNED IN A MINOR INJURY REPORT ON 5/11/05 STATING THAT HE FELT SOMETHING PULL IN HIS GROIN AREA WHILE LIFTING A TIMBER TRUCK BACK ONTO THE MAIN LINE TRACK. AS TIME WENT ON, HIS CONDITION WORSENED AND REQUESTED TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. ON JULY 26, 2005 HE UNDERWENT SURGERY TO REPAIR A HERNIA THEREFORE MAKING IT NOW A REPORTABLE ACCIDENT
The employee was moving a piece of timber 10"" x 10"" x 4' when he felt a sharp pain in his upper right arm/shoulder area.
WHILE MOVING A 15 HP SLUSHER WITH AN OVERHEAD HOIST, A 1/4"" S-HOOK STRAIGHTENED OUT OF THE LIFTING CHAIN CAUSING THE SLUSHER TO FALL ON EMPLOYEE'S FOOT (LEFT). EMPLOYEE WAS REACHING FOR HOIST CONTROL WHEN SLUSHER FELL.
THE EMPLOYEE WAS STANDING IN MAN SKIP. WHEN HE SHIFTED HIS WEIGHT FROM SIDE TO SIDE, HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS BACK.
The ee was climbing down a ladder when he slipped and fell approx 10'-12'.
The employee was operating an underground locomotive when another Employee inadvertenly closed a ventilation door as EE and the motor were passing through. This caused the door to hit the motor breaking it into pieces, a piece of the door struck the employee on the shoulder and the wrist.
THE EMPLOYEE WAS LIFTING A RAISE SKIP (APPROX 50 LBS) WHEN HE FELT SOMETHING PULL IN HIS LEFT SHOULDER
EMPLOYEE WAS CONSTRUCTING A BULKHEAD/WALL WHEN HE FELT SOMETHING ENTER HIS EYE
The ee was walking around a 2yd L.H.D. that he parked in a stope when he slipped and fell striking his leg on the corner of the mucker.
The employee was pulling on a 2"" sprinkler line (plastic) when he felt something pull in his back.
THE EMPLOYEE OPENED UP A FLOOR, CREATING A 6' X 16"" X 4' DEEP HOLE IN THE SHAFT POCKET AREA TO CLEAN UP. WHEN HE MOVED FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER HE SLIPPED AND FELL INTO THE HOLE HE CREATED. HE CAUGHT HIMSELF WITH HIS ARMS AND SHOULDERS.
The ee was putting in wood timber in a stope when a 6""x10""x72"" post that the ee put in place fell over and struck him on the hand/wrist area.
EMPLOYEE WAS COLLARING A HOLE IN THE BACK WITH A JACK LEG WHEN A ROCK FELL FROM THE BACK (2""X6""X6"") STRIKING HIM ON THE NOSE
The employee was drilling the back with a jackleg in a stope when a rock came down from the corner stirking him on the arm.
The employee was lifting a 8' x 10"" x 10"" cap/timber when he felt something pull in his back. He did not receive medical attention until 3-1-05 as he conditioned worsened.
The ee was helping his partner pull a jack leg drill out of a hole when his finger got pinched between the air gooseneck and the water gooseneck.
The EE was helping his partner drill out round, when face stuffed knocking the ee down, struck by falling rock.
EE WAS TAKING DOWN A 26"" X 20' VENT TUBE WHEN EE FELT SOMETHING ENTER EYE.
THE EMPLOYEE WAS USING A PRY BAR TO ADJUST A ROLLER RACK ON A SLUSHER WHEN BAR SLIPPED AND STRUCK HIM IN THE FOREHEAD.
EE was drilling face in underhand conventional stope using jackleg. When trying to retrieve drill steel from completed hole, felt pain in left shoulder. Turned in a minor inj. report. 12/1/05 he stated still experiencing pain in shoulder & wanted to see a dr. Dr. prescribed anti-inflammatory & issued work release w/no limitations. During follow-up suggested PT.
WHILE THE EMPLOYEE WAS ROCK BOLTING A SMALL ROCK BURST OCCURED IN THE BACK CAUSING A SMALL ROCK TO STRIKE HIM
EE WAS CLIMBING DOWN A 6 FOOT LADDER WHEN HE LOST HIS FOOTING AND SLIPPED APPROX 1 FOOT. IN THE PROCESS OF RE-GRIPPING THE LADDER WITH HIS HANDS, HE STRAINED HIS LEFT RING FINGER. HE FILLED OUT A MINOR INJURY REPORT ON 8/17/2005 BUT DID NOT SEEK TREATMENT. HIS CONDITION WORSENED & ON 10/13/05 HE REQUESTED MEDICAL TREATMENT THEREFORE MAKING THIS A REPORTABLE ACCIDENT.
The employee was in the process of rockbolting the back in a stop when a rock came down and struck him on the arm causing a small laceration.
The employee was working in the electrical shop putting a lid on a can when he felt something enter his eye. The employee was wearing safety glasses.
The ee was in the process of looking up 2-3""x10' metal pipe when he pinched his finger between the two pipes.
THE EMPLOYEE WAS BENDING OVER TO TURN A SLUSHER ON WHEN HE STRUCK THE BRAKE HANDLES WITH HIS FACE/HEAD.
The employee was in the process of hitching ore cars to the level locomotive when he got his hand pinched between the hitch & the hitch lever.
EE WAS WALKING IN A DRIFT WHEN EE SLIPPED ON THE TRACK AND FELT A TWINGE/PAIN IN RIGHT KNEE. EE FILLED OUT A MINOR INJURY STATEMENT ON 1/25/05. CONDITION WORSENED AND ON 2/11/05 WENT TO THE DOCTOR AND RECIEVED MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR THE INJURY.
He was fixing a stuck skip when a falling rock struck him in the head.
The employee has developed symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. He underwent surgery on 7-28-05.
A doctor's report date 5-30-2005 and received on 6-6-05 states that the employee has been diagnosed with nonspecific interstitial pneumonitis.