All MSHA-reportable accidents at U.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc. operations in 2006. Fatalities appear first.
On the afternoon of 12/21/06 at approximately 1:20 pm a rock burst in the 4000-226E stope occurred. By 1:35pm all personnel underground were accounted for & OK. Msha was notified at1:35 pm PST. The crew in 226 stope was withdrawn. On 12/22 the stope was examined. Minimal damage along approx 100' of footwall from face to raise. Area was scaled & slushed & bolts installed.
Contacted at home that the power was out again at the mine. All underground personnel at primary escapeway and accounted for. Contacted MSHA Boise office and left message. Avista Utilities restored power at 8:15pm. Normal operations resumed. MSHA Boise office called and updated with a message.
Power out again. MSHA Boise office contacted. All underground personnel at primary escapeway and accounted for. Avista Utilities restored power @ 12:40pm and resumed normal operations. Shortly after MSHA contacted with update.
Contacted at home that power had gone out. Only 2 men underground. Both EE's at primary escapeway and accounted for. Left message at MSHA Boise office. Power restrored at 1:00am. Power out again at 2:10 am. No EE's underground. Decision made to cancel dayshift. Power restored at 7:30am. MSHA Boise office called and they were given an update.
Contacted Boise field office supervisor that the power was off at the mine. All mining activities were halted and all underground personnel were proceeding to the primary escapeway to wait. Avista Utlities restored the power to the mine and we were able to resume regular operations at 10:00PM.
The main distribution cross arm broke causing a power failure at the mine. No one was entrapped in the shaft or shaft pockets. Power was restored at approximately 9:55 PM.
An evening thunder and lightning storm caused a power outage that caused the #3 hoist to shut down. Power was restored almost immediately, but hoist would not reset. Electricians were called and had hoist up and running in approx 40 minutes. 6:20 pm to 6:57 pm. No men in shaft at time of occurrence.
An afternoon thunder & lightning storm caused a power outage that caused the Galena hoist to shut down. Power was restored almost immediately but the hoist would not reset. Electricians were called & had the hoist up and running in approx. 55 minutes. No men in the shaft at the time of occurrence.
A power outage due to weather disabled hoisting while 5 employees were underground. Before utility company could energize alternate lines, they had to be checked. Approximately 80 minutes. MSHA inspectors on site at time of incident.
A rock outburst occurred on the 4000 level near the bottom of the 40-184 raise. The burst occurred on the afternoon shift when no employees were in the area. When the 43-190 crew reported to their work area on the morning they discovered and reported the rock burst at approx. 7:30 a.m. The outburst caused damage to a 70' x 10' area that will require 10 shifts of repair work.
At 10:32 am the power to the #3 main hoist was lost due to high winds knocking a tree top into the power lines. 56 employees stopped work and stood by until the utility Co. restored the power at 11:55 AM. No accidents or injuries as a result. Bosie MSHA office notified at 11:05 AM.
Rock outburst occured in the 43-190 west slope. 2 miners ans shift supervisor were in the area at time of incident. 1 miner was working at the area burst occured.He received minor scratches and bruise on right leg. An area roughly 8-10' long, 3-4' deep and 4-5' high loosened by the burst
A rock outburst occured in the 43-190 RS. Approx- amately 30' below 4000 level. No injuries as a result. The three miners were temporarily withdrawn from the area until an investigation could take place the next day. The supervisor of the MSHA office in Bosie was contacted at approx. 6:37 pm on 3/7/06.
Outburst occurred at the top of the 3700-230 raise. Both miners were working under supported ground, scaling the area above the east compartment of the raise when the burst took place. No one was injured - crew left the raise. Immediate inspection not possible due to activity in area. Work area currently shut down; when mining resumes, will monitor & de-stress.
Employee was pulling jackleg and steel from gravel filled drill hole. Pulling hard when steel came free of hole causing employee to hit rib smashing ring finger of left hand.
0N 5/8/06 EE REPORTED A STRAIN/SPRAIN TO HIS LEFT SHOULDER WHILE ROCK BOLTING IN A PRODUCTION STOPE. ON 5/11/06 THE EE SAW A PHYSICIAN FOR THIS INJURY AND WAS GIVEN A FULL DUTY WORK RELEASE & TO MAKE APPT FOR PT. ON 5/15/06 EE STARTED PT MAKING THIS ACCIDENT REPORTABLE. NO LOST TIME OR RESTRICTED DUTY HAS RESULTED FROM THIS ACCIDENT TO DATE.
Employee was unloading a packages of timber off of skip. He lowered skip to tip timber into position to unload when load fell out onto shaft station striking top of left foot.
Filled out minor injury report on 11/8/06. Lifting 10"" x 10"" x 8' timber into raise skip. Felt sharp pain in lower back. Tried to work 11/9/06. Was taken to doctor AM of 11/09/06.
Employee was involved in an exchange of words with another employee. The other employee poked injured repeatedly in the chest with his fingers. At the end of the shift he filled out a minor injury report. On 10/30/06 he was checked by a physician and placed on restricted duty for chest inflamation making this accident reportable.
On 10/10/06, EE filled out a minor injury report on his shoulder. EE has continued to work w/o missing any scheduled shifts. On 11/07/06, EE saw a physician for his shoulder. This resulted in restricted duty days, making this accident reportable.
9/26/06, EE filled out a minor inj report on his left knee after he stepped out of the truck he was driving to lock a gate and the roadway gave way into an old culvert. EE has con't to work without missed shifts or restrictions. 0n 1/30/07 EE had arthroscopic surgery on his knee. 1/31/07 EE ret'd under restricted duty.
Employee was breaking boulder on the grizzly when a piece about the size of a baseball broke off striking him just below the knee cap.
On 8/30/06 ee was lifting an electrical gutter to put in the hoist skip when he felt pain in his back. EE filled out minor injury report at the end of his shift and went home. On 8/31/06 he re- turned to work and asked to see a physician. His doctor visit resulted in restricted duty days.
On 8/7/06 EE was moving an electrical box when he felt a popping in his left hand. A minor injury report was filled out at the end of shift as re- quired by the company. EE did not visit Dr. at this time. On 8/24/06, while on an unrelated disciplinary suspension was complete, the EE returned to light duty.
EE was exiting Man Trip at the beginning of shift when he felt pain in his lower back.
EMPLOYEE LIFTED ONE END OF A 10""X 10""X 6'TIMBER WHEN HE EXPERIENCED PAIN IN HIS MIDDLE BACK AREA.
The EE entered the area under the floor that the mining crew was rock bolting off of, when the jackleg fell through the floor and struck him.
EE was walking backwards, carrying an electrical panel, when he stepped on a rock causing him to twist his left ankle (sprain).
EE was attempting to move a 7'x27' roll of fencing onto a timber truck and strained his back. Minor injury report on 2/16/06. EE went to Dr. on 2/17/06
On 9/22/06, EE was installing rock bolts when a rock 6-8"" in diameter fell from the Rib he was bolting, striking him on the head. The blow caused his jaws to come together, chipping two of his teeth. He was found to be uninjured & released. On 9/29/06, he had his teeth repaired, making this accident reportable.
Employee was barring material in chute to get it out when material fell hitting bar causing bar to move quickly causing him to hit elbow on muck car.
EE was rock bolting the roof when a piece of rock fell and struck him on upper right arm. Rock size approx. 2"" x 4"".
The employee has developed symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. He underwent surgery on one hand 2/6/06. The other hand will follow.