All MSHA-reportable accidents at U.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc. operations in 2011. Fatalities appear first.
We experienced a total power outage from provider (Avista) to all U.S. Silver properties. There were no personnel in conveyances. #3 cagers were in pocket. All underground workers were instructed to stand down until power came back up. The hoistman notified Avista and was told outage weather related. Power came back up at 4:01 and hoist and fan start ups went well.
A seismic event occurred near the 185 raise on 4900 that dislodged approximately 1/2 to 2/3 of a car of muck from the raise that was deposited at the bottom.
Stress built up in ground causing a rockburst. Fractures in back and ribs. Drift and raise obstructed with displaced rock between 3400 level 230/218 intersection to approximately 50' beyond the top of 230 raise.
Because of excessive snow melt the screen that filters cooling water for the hoist bearings became plugged which resulted in them overheating. This caused a vibration which resulted in the hoist being shut down until a thorough examination and repair could be done. There were approximately 11 employees under ground who walked to the Coeur or climbed to 3700 then walked to the Coeur
Coeur Hoist was down due to trip of safety circuit. Problem traced to a burned (shorted) electrical coil on the brake system. Coil was replaced, hoist back up and running at 1645 hrs, April 14, 2011.
Galena Hoist 900 h.p. motor failed on start-up, shorted on rotor windings under high load, insulation failed.
Employee was knocking lacing to get back into stope after shooting a brow round. He had knocked 3 lagging and placed them over his joker chute. He tripped and fell in the joker chute. He broke his right leg and had lacerations on his head.
EE was operating electric locomotive with 9 ore cars attached when he went thru a closed air door, taking out the air door with injuries which included three broken ribs, punctured lung, laceration to back of head.
EE had stepped into a two foot trench to help a fellow employee lift a rammer over some underground utilities and when he stepped out of the trench, his knee gave out on him, causing him to fall back into the trench. His knee is the only injury that he received.
Cleaning grizzly off, rock rolled off muck pile by grizzly striking ""L"" pinky finger against rock on grizzly. Lacerating top of small finger
Bolting back of drift, backed up and tripped over air hose, hurt knee, went to doctor Wednesday, July 13th, put on light duty pending MRI July 14th.
Running bazooka diamond drill, cycle drill steel cuff of glove caught in slide mechanism crushing tip of right thumb resulting in amputation of thumb tip.
EE was swinging sledge hammer, trying to break nut on cone head loose, felt ""R"" knee pop. EE went in and had MRI taken, resulting in surgery on Monday, May 23rd. EE did not lose any time or work restriction until May 23rd.
The employee was installing a header and tried to gain elevation by standing on a wood block appx. 10 x 10 x 18 inches. The Block rolled which caused him to fall. He put his arms out to break his fall which caused a hairline fracture to the radial head when his arm contacted the concrete floor.
Hoisting powder truck to put on the track to unload it. When hoisted up he pushed it over to the track and right shoulder popped when he went to unload it at powder mag and felt pain in right shoulder
Miner slipped on wet muck while bolting with jack-leg. Jack-leg came down hitting employee on side of ""R"" foot.
Hoisting a slusher bucket, bucket rolled and hit employee on the wrist.
Employee was swamper on ore train, train went through air door. Employee riding on last ore car was jolted and injured right shoulder.
Employee was using a double jack to beat boulder in Grizzly. He hit the cat walk on back swing, lost his balance, swung down, and double jack struck him in the left knee.
EE closed an air door and drove towards the air door. EE was not able to stop his locomotive on time and crashed into the air door, pinching his right arm between air door and locomotive.
The employee was pulling muck from a shaft pocket when the material hung up due to a large rock bridging the chute opening. He was using a scaling bar to dislodge the rock and when it broke loose it struck the bar and cantilevered it upward striking the employee in the mouth.
The victim had just installed a dywidag bolt with a jackleg. As he pulled the driver off of the bolt he lost his balance and the machine pivoted forward against the leg. The victim's hand was in this pinch point and the result was a laceration on the pinky finger and possible hairline fracture.
Victim was standing on the ground cleaning out the bed of a haul truck when he slipped and struck his chin against the bed and incurred a laceration on his chin.
Employee was placing a bag of tools into a pickup when his arm contacted a fractured tail light lens. A sliver of plastic became embedded in his right forearm which required excision and sutures.
Attaching drawbar for timber truck to locomotive, caught ""R"" middle finger between pin and frame of timber truck - lacerating tip of ""R"" middle finger.
Knocking a bit from end of steel, the steel fell over causing the end of the steel to flip up and hit EE in the mouth chipping two teeth.
After reviewing the data from the ESG seismic System, there was a seismic event that occurred 80 feet below where the accident occurred there was noise-popping and snapping in the face of the heading EE was working at which startled her, she turned in response to the popping and tripped and fell with hard hat coming down across the bridge of her nose.
Worker was unloading ""holey boards"" off of a timber truck. He had the hoist hooked to bands- when he went to move load-the bands broke, resulting in a cut finger & the load falling on his shin/foot.
Employee was barring down when a small burst occurred which dislodged a rock, striking the employee on the hand. He was wearing all PPE including gloves.
49-172E EE was collaring hole in back when piece of rock approx. 3"" x 2"" x 1"" broke off, fell and struck him on ""L"" wrist between glove and arm guard. Stope was barred down very well.
Miner was preparing to bolt the roof when he stumbled and inadvertently twisted the leg feed on the drill. Machine rose up suddenly and struck the miner in the mouth. Miner's front bridge was broken and had 2 sutures on the inside of his upper lip. There were 4 teeth broken out of the bridge.
4000-259 I Drift. EE was cutting his haul back cable on slusher bucket 8' from face, pulled cable tight on top of bucket to get it into cutter on top of bucket. Held cutter w/left hand and hit cable cutter with sledge hammer in right hand. After hitting the cutter 5-6 times, missed cable cutter, hitting his left hand smashing left ringer finger. 3-sutures.
Employee claimed Carpal Tunnel to both wrists on March 29, 2011. He has been working in his job class as Miner ""A"" with no lost time or restricted duty till today June 15, 2011. He had surgery done on one wrist today (June 15, 2011) and the 2nd wrist on June 29th.
Employee claimed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on March 8, 2011. EE worked in his job classification with no lost time or restricted duty till Thursday, June 16th, 2011 when surgery was performed on ""R"" wrist for CTS.