U.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc.Mining Incidents in 2007

A small rock burst occurred on the 3700 level in the vicinity of the 230 raise bottom at track level. No one was working the area at the time. At approx 11:50 am I was contacted with information regarding this event. The outburst had hit in the hanging wall of the drift affecting 35 to 40 feet of the rib. The 230 stope crew will be doing the clean up work.

A burst was discovered by dayshift mining crews and reported at 8:15am. MSHA notified at 8:22 am. Approx. 25' of rob and back will need to be rebolted after scaling. Dislodged rock will be mucked up. Repairs will take 6 shifts (hr)

On April 29, 2007 AM a rock burst occurred at the Galena mine. The morning of April 30, 2007 at approx. 7:35 AM I was notified by the crew of the 226 stope that they had discovered the location of the burst. It occurred in the 226 raise. The crew immediately vacated the area to wait for their supervisor. At 7:37 AM I notified the Boise MSHA office & at 7:47 AM the MSHA 1 Call line.

On the morning of February 8th, 2007 a small rock burst occurred on the 3700 level in the hanging wall, about halfway between the 230 raise and the 244 raise at track level. The outburst disrupted about a 40' length of hanging wall. It also knocked down & disrupted compressed air & water lines. This interupted mining in the 244 & 291 stopes. No one injured or ventilation impaired.

Employee was blasting short holes for sill timber at raise prep. Loaded 2 holes with 2 sticks & 1 fuse primer each. 1 shot went off - employee thought both had gone off. Re-entered blast area almost immediately, then 2nd hole went off peppering him with rock.

Employee using double jack to break rock. A piece of rock flew up striking him in the left eye.

Employee failed to release pull bottle cord while motoring causing over extension, resulting in muscle strain.

Standing on a wooden block, lost balance and stepped down wrong onto foot.

Employee shut chute gate on foot.

EE's pant leg got caught on the 5th wheel of a passing train, pulling EE's foot under 5th wheel, smashing foot.

Employee had been drilling. Gloves and machine oily. He lost his slip on machine and when he tried to regain his grip off smashed his finger.

Employee was walking down drift when he stepped on the ball of the rail cause his ankle to roll spraining his ankle.

EE was installing rock bolts. When EE was pulling steel from drill hole, it hung up causing the jack leg drill to jerk causing a shoulder strain.

Employee was lifting a locomotive hitch and strained his left shoulder.

Employee was hurrying to board the man coach, stumbled and fell down.(This injury resulted in restricted duty days)-DCN 220071280048

Employee was raise nipping. Muck train was approaching at a slow rate of speed when employee noticed material in track. Employee retrieved material, thought he had stepped clear of train, was caught by 5th wheel on car and knocked down, hitting his back and arm on the rib.

Lifting 6' wooden ladders onto a timber truck, twisting while lifting, causing pain betweeen shoulders and neck.

Employee was bolting the back, when a rock fell out of back striking him on his right hand smashing his thumb.

Employee slipped stepping from jumbo striking right forearm on rib of drift resulting in a laceration.

Employee was walking over rough terrain; slipped and fell cutting ""R"" knee.

Rock bolting the back in the drift, employee saw a rock fall from the back. In his attempt to step back out of the way, the rock hit his left shin and foot.

Moving rock on the grizzly by hand, when another rock rolled down hitting his left hand, cutting his little finger.

Employee was rebolting the drift back. Piece of rock came down hitting employee between his glove and arm guard causing a wound that required stitches.

EE is currently scheduled for total knee replacement on 6/4/07. EE had been placed on restictive duty as of 4/27/07, until his surgery date per his doctor's request. Reason for replacement is pre-existing conditions and repeated trauma.