All MSHA-reportable accidents at U.S. Silver-Idaho, Inc. operations in 2014. Fatalities appear first.
Hoistman called Mine Foreman at 10:00 pm report power out. Foreman arrived at mine at 10:15; called Safety Supervisor; was on the phone with MSHA 800 number. Foreman spoke with all supervisors underground; all crews were reported at #3 stations by 10:50. Crews not sent back to work until 11:45 after confirmation the #3 hoist was running.
At 0000 hrs. ee Hoistman heard noise coming from the west drum. Clutched out the west side and investigated found a 15 bolt and nut inside of the hoist drum. Use east side to hoist maintenance and super at 0100 hrs. Maintenance personnel on site, investigated the west drum, at 0500 investigated the east drum for any interior bolt problems and at 0545 hrs. informed safety.
No. 3 hoistman was pulling lead from 3700-45. Brake not releasing all the way when #1 side in the dump - doesn't release till #2 side in dump. Alarm at 1901hrs. Hoistman acknowledged then reset; 1924 hrs. main drum brake pressure fault on computer. Warning was acknowledged - reset, went to fault again. Hoistman called EE, on site at 2000 hours. Pump coupler seal broke.
On 8/26/2014 at approximately 3:20 P.M. a rockburst occurred in the 37-281 stope area which resulted in a roof failure and damage to ribs in proximity to burst. The burst occurred in conjunction with blasting a round in the area. All personnel are required to be out of work areas at blasting time. Burst area is approximately 31 feet long and 10' high.
The hoist operator inadvertently bumped a power switch when he hung up the pager phone which disrupted power to the accumulator pump. The computer detected this and locked out the hoist. Since it was on a weekend it took the operator considerable time to make notifications and get someone to come in to troubleshoot the problem. See 50.11 report for more detail.
The hoist man took the skip can up into the scrolls to the upper lilly limit and the hoist would not reset with the back out switch. We re-booted the hoist cpu and the hoist reset and came out of the dump.
The primary hoist(#3)went down sometime around 1:00am due to an unknown mechanical failure. All personnel were accounted for and the secondary hoist (Galena) was still fully operational. Mine personnel found that the breaker on a 110v inverter had tripped and caused the outage. everything was reset and the hoist resumed normal operation at 2:00am. MSHA was notified at 1:20am.
The primary hoist (#3) went down at 6:15 due to a mechanical failure. All personnel were accounted for. MSHA was notified at 6:38. Mine personnel found that air had leaked out of an accumulator through a leaking pet cock. This caused the oil in the tank to drain and cavitate the pumps. The problem was corrected and the hoist was up at 8:55am
A rock burst occurred in the 37-232 stope which damaged a 14.5'x 13' area of the stope resulting in rock being dislodged past anchorage of bolts. This occurred with blasting at the end of shift. No miners were in the vicinity. The damage from this event was not known until 5/27/14 because personnel were prohibited from entering area until 5/27/14 to allow area to stabilize.
A breaker tripped on the Dynapar braking system for the Galena shaft hoist. Electricians were called in to determine the reason that the breaker tripped. It was determined that the control card for the system needed to be replaced. The repairs were made and the hoist resumed operation at 6:20 P.M.
A.C. side of generator shorted out on the brush holder on start up.
This form 7000-1 is submitted for the sole purpose of terminating citation no. 8697258. The submission of this form 7000-1 does not constitute an admission by U.S. Silver and Gold that an entrapment or a violation of 30 CFR 50.10 occurred and no inference of either event may be drawn from its submission.
Employee went outside mill to take a break - sat on makeshift bench fell back jamming left shoulder trying to catch himself. Went to local clinic after shoulder continued to bother him on October 9, 2014
Put up ""I Beam - 4600 Galena, felt pain in stomach. To clinic diagnosed-pulled abdomen muscle. Complained of pain-October 29, 2014, to clinic, diagnosed pulled abdomen muscle. Came back complaining of persistent abdominal pain, back to clinic - diagnosed-hernia. On restricted duty November 11 scheduled for surgery November 19th.
The employee was bolting when he experienced pain in the groin area and noticed what he referred to as swelling. He stated that he has had similar pain occasionally for several years both on and off the job but it was more significant than in the past. He was diagnosed with a bilateral hernia. He could not correlate the event to any specific activity.
The employee was attempting to bar a large rock that was stuck in a muck chute. As he pried on the rock he felt a sharp pain in his back. He was diagnosed with a back strain/sprain.
An employee lifted a piece of 40-lb rail with another miner. As they were walking the rail to where it was going to be installed the employee tripped on a 1"" hose that was laying in the walkway. The employee fell and the rail landed on his right shin causing a severe hematoma.
This accident was originally reported as a minor inj. Employee was diagnosed with sprained wrist on 6/17/14. He was drilling with a jackleg when the steel hung up and the machine rotated suddenly which twisted and sprained his right wrist.
Employee was cleaning the ground floor of the rock house with a 1"" water hose. He was walking forward near the base of the E-45 conveyer foundation while pulling the 1"" hose. The employee's left foot caught the foundation and he tripped and fell on to his left side and on to the concrete floor. He was walking east towards the rock house room.
The employee was inspecting a 2yd LHD which was parked in the fueling area of the 3700 ramp. There were two 10""x10""x10' timbers leaning against the rib beside the LHD. The timber in the rear fell and bounced off the rib or other timber and hit the employee in the right side of the head as he was leaned over inspecting the LHD.
The employee was moving a pile of rubbish. A metal band approximately 10' long by 3/4"" wide was protruding from the pile. He jerked on the band and when it came free it recoiled striking him in the eye, causing a laceration to his cornea. He reported that he was wearing safety glasses as per Co. policy but the band somehow got around them. An investigation is continuing.
Employee carried 60 lbs. pump down stairs -felt pain to right forearm - went to local clinic on Feb 24 2014; was told if it still bothered him to come back - employee complained of pain and range of motion - returned to clinic on October 10 - placed on restricted duty.
The employee was bolting the back with a jackleg drill. As he was backing out of the hole the steel puller bounced up and released the steel which caused it to fall striking the employee between the thumb and forefinger. This caused a laceration which required sutures. The employee was disciplined for using defective equipment.
EE was examining the cleaning cells at the mill which sit on a slightly elevated floor. The floor is constructed of metal grates and there is a 6"" step up to the elevated floor. When she left the area she misjudged the step as she was leaving the elevated floor. This caused her to fall on her knees resulting in a L. ankle sprain, and a sprain and a laceration to R. knee.
Miner was hanging water line, lost his footing. Trying to catch himself, he grabbed a monster mat and cut his left pinky finger.
Employee was attempting to remove a plug from a pump. There was a pipe in close proximity and slightly above the pump. As he was attempting to loosen the plug the wrench slipped and his chin made contact with the pipe causing his jaws to slam together. This resulted in a chip in Tooth #8 and piece of tooth #14 was broken off.
The employee was collaring a hole with a jackleg drill for a slab round when a small piece of rock broke off at the collar and struck him on the shin. He received a laceration which required sutures.
The employee was breaking rock on the grizzly with a double jack. When he made contact with the rock a small shard of broken rock was ejected and it struck him on the wrist between the cuff of his glove and the Kevlar arm guard that he was wearing. It caused a small puncture wound that nicked a vein causing significant bleeding. He received one suture.
EE was handing lagging up to his partner on the floor above. As he slid the lagging up a small particle of rock was dislodged and entered his eye through the gap between the top of his glasses and his forehead. The rock caused an abrasion to his cornea. He was given a prescription antibiotic as a precaution against infection. He was given a release to work his next shift.
Employee experienced heat stress on 5200 level in shop area. At 9:00 supervisor sent employee out to main station to cool off and get fluids; employee returned to 5200 ramp area and experienced cramps - was brought to the surface and passed out on the Galena Top Station, transported to local hospital; released to full duty 3 hours later.
Employee underwent surgery for repair of carpal tunnel syndrome potentially caused by vibratory impact from jackleg drills.