All MSHA-reportable accidents at US Silica Company operations in 2008. Fatalities appear first.
During a holiday weekend while the equipment was not running, a propane vaporizer that had recently been refurbished had a gas regulator fail causing a localized fire in the vaporizer. The fire spread to the second vaporizer before the fire department could extinguish the fire. Damage to equipment is estimated to be approximately $6,000.
A level insicator and a heating elemnet within a double walled 500-gallon tank ignited combustible gasses within the tank. This ignition ruptured the vessel at the top seam resulting in a horizontal gash approximatley 16"" long and 4"" wide. Damage was limited to only this tank.
While driving out of the pit and going up a hill the vehicle started spinning tires on the ice so the employee got out of the truck to see if the 4-wheel drive was engaged. When the employee exited the vehicle he slipped and fell on the ice.
The employee was unloading a rail car at the unloading screw. He was opening a rail car discharge slide using a 60"" bar. The slide was difficult to open and the employee stood on the bar to attempt to move the slide. The bar slipped while he was standing on it causing him to fall to the ground. The employee twisted his right knee as he fell.
Employee opening/closing bottom gates on rail car, right leg slipped, over extended knee, resulted in a torn miniscus. Classified as first aid with no days missed until surgery on 10/14/08.
2 mechanics were hoisting an 8 in. flanged fitting of discharge hose to re-attach it to a pump that had been repaired. One bolt was put into the flanged fitting to and secured in place with a nut to hold it in place. Due to the tension on the hose, the bolt popped loose causing the hose to break free hitting the mechanic in the lower lip causing a laceration.
While working to bolt a sandline together the chain holding the pipe off the ground came loose causing the pipe to come loose and hit the miner in the chest. The force of the pipe hitting him in the chest knocked him on the ground causing him to strike his head on a piece of metal used to hold conduit off the ground.
Employee slipped on stair while walking out of screen tower. He was holding onto the handrail and pulled his right shoulder. Diagnosed with shoulder sprain and then with a torn rotator cuff. Surgery on August 25, 2008.
Employee was attempting to retrieve a tool from the back of a 4x4 utility cart(Pug). As he reached into the bed of the Pug, the operator started to back up, striking the employees right foot. This resulted in a broken leg. The backup alarm was working on the utility cart. The employee stated that a lack of communication and inattention were to blame. Restrictive duty.
Employee was holding one end of a flexible screw conveyor. The conveyor was cradled in his arms and held against his chest. The employee reached out with his left arm and felt a strain in his back.
Employee was releasing a torque tool that was used to close a gate door on the bottom of a railcar. Pressure was applied to the tool handle and the release button was pressed. The handle slipped from the employee's grip, spinned around and struck the back of employee's right hand fracturing the 5th metacarpal.
Employees was holding a strap on a super sack to be moved to another location. Employee told the forklift driver to move ahead into the back right corner of strap. When the end of the forklift tine caught the tip of employees L- thumb, between the forklift tine and the strap, causing a cut.
Employee was descending a fixed ladder when he slipped and fell. Fall resulted in broken bones (heel, rib, scapula, vertebrea). Impairment level is unknown.
Slipped on bottom step of short stairway while walking out of maintenance shop to start work truck. The slip resulted in the employee falling and striking his head the resulting cut required nine staples to close.
Unloading 1 1/2"" round cold rolled steel rods from a truck individually. Each rod was being blocked on one end only. When they went to unload 2nd bar, the load shifted. When this happened, the steel bar struck employees left hand, thus causing his left thumb to be injured.
The employee knelt down to pick up a piece of metal, when he stood back up, a lump on his knee appeared. The employee went to the doctor, where blood was drained from the lump. Incident was not reported until 11/26/2008.
Employee was using a 60"" bar while closing a bottom discharge slide/gate on a rail car. The slide was difficult to move. The bar slipped from the slide ""knuckle"", causing the employee to fall forward, mashing two fingers on his right hand between the bar and RR track rail.
Employee was welding and cutting on the wet process vacuum table. Fumes from the welding process and heated Nordbak wear compound irritated eyes.
Employee changed out propane tank (approx 65 lbs) from forklift. He lifted the full bottle, turned to his left and set the bottle onto the forklift. Later that same day, he began to experience pain in the right shoulder area and right arm. He stated that the only heavy object he had lifted on this day was the propane bottle. Employee waited for 2 days before reporting.
Employee was driving a locking pin into a high pressure hose coupling. Employee struck the ring finger of his left hand with the handle of the hammer he was using, resulting in a laceration of the finger. The laceration required 2 stitches to close.
Employee was cutting skaker deck apart to send off for repair. While attempting to remove motor from frame, part of the beam holding the motor would not come loose, as the cuts were not completely through the frame. Employee bent down to grab cutting torch when the weld broke causing the edge of the motor to contact the left side of employee's face.
The seal around the sand cooler cleanout access door was being replaced. Excess gasket material was being trimmed from around the outer edges. A utility knife was being used to trim the hard gasket material. Employee was cutting the gasket material using his right hand when the knife slipped off the gasket and made a 3"" cut on the underside of his left forearm, requiring stitches.
EE was walking down the steps at the crusher bldg.EE made a right turn at the landing,his right knee ""popped"" and ee felt pain.He was not carrying anything,there were no unsafe conditions or unsafe acts.Incident happened on 4/10/08 and was classified as a first aid until 5/2/08,when EE recieved knee surgery.
While lining up an adaptor piece on a valve the ring adapter slide down and struck his right thumb resulting in two stitches and a small bone fracture.
Employee was wiping up oil from maintenance shop floor, while another employee was stacking three wooden pallets up. While cleaning floor, one pallet fell onto left index finger cutting it.
While opening a RR car gate the bar slipped smashing his finger against car hopper.
EE was injured opening railcar slide.Bar he used twisted in the Knuckle of slide causing him to lose his balance. EE felt pain in lower back when he stood up.EE received First Aid treatment on the day of injury. The employee began visits with a chiropractor on 3/10/08 which has changed the status to a Reportable Injury.
Employee was breaking RR cars apart by pulling on lock pin when his finger was pinched requiring 5 stitches to close cut.
Employee was exiting the Mill building through the west door. He was carrying a bucket of samples weighing approx. 20 lbs. As he passed through the doorway, he stumbled as he stepped on the step, just outside the door. The employee fell forward onto his left arm and knees.
Employee reported numbness and tingling in his left arm, due to neck pain, but wasn't sure when it happened. Subsequent visits to a Dr. generated no treatment or restrictions. Restrictions wer e received 3/12/09. Employee is away from work due to restrictions. It is unclear what activities the employee was performing when injured.
The filing of this report is not to be construed as an admission by the company that an occupational respiratory disease or illness has occurred. Employee is retired as of 4/1/2008. The B readed notification was received 10/15/2008.