All MSHA-reportable accidents at US Silica Company operations in 2013. Fatalities appear first.
Black smoke observed coming from fluidizing fan of dryer. Dryer was not running. Due to unsuccessful attempts to start the dryer, fuel oil inside of combustion chamber was smoldering. Issue was contained inside of combustion chamber. Fire department called as a precautionary measure. MSHA was notified within 30 minutes of the unplanned event.
The Volvo 220F loader had a fire in the engine compartment that destroyed the loader.
Twisted wrong getting in or out of drill and strained muscle in lower back.
Employee mis-stepped off of ladder onto ground and over extended knee on 7/29/13. Employee opted to have torn meniscus repaired on 12/2/13. As of 12/2/13, employee is off work until next doctor appointment on 12/18/13.
Employee was driving the company pickup and was crossing a RR track but failed to notice that the sand normally between the rails had been cleaned out leaving a 5"" drop. Even though the employee was wearing his seat belt and hard hat he bounced up into the cab roof and injured his neck. Lack of visibility was the main contribution to the incident.
Skidsteer operator was picking up rods with the skidsteer and the skidsteer had rolled forward from the pressure of him lifting and when it broke free, some of the rods came off the forks with one striking right foot.
Employee was moving a piece of steel 1/2"" x 6"" x 84"" in the steel storage area. As he lifted one end and began to move to his left, he tripped over another piece of steel and fell. He had a cut on his left knee that required 3 stitches. The steel was not organized very well and weeds had grown up in the area. He was on restricted duty until 9/13/13.
Employee was assisting in the placement of a bundle of rods. The rods slowly swung toward the employee and he put his right hand up to steady them. The rods inside of the bundle shifted catching the tips of his middle and ring fingers of his right hand. Per employee, butterfly closures were used.
Employee was changing cutting edge on skid loader bucket with impact wrench and caught his glove and left middle finger on rotating bolt head lacerating finger.
The maintenance employee was checking the wet process float cells. The employee climbed up the feed end of the float cell bank and reached up and grabbed a small guard at the top of the cells. He got his ring finger caught in the pulley on the backside of the pulley causing a cut and a fracture of the end of the finger.
Employee was opening the bottom discharge gate on a Rail Car. He was using a 48 inch bar to turn the gate mechanism. The gear on the mechanism disengaged from the gear track as he was pushing on the bar. His momentum caused him to fall forward. He caught himself with his hands and suffered a strain in his lower back.
Employee was walking on top of a cover rail car to position a loading spout in preparation to load the car. Employee struck his head on a low clearance walkway above the rail car. The employee suffered strained neck muscles as a result.
Using a wedge to remove liner and piece chipped off and flew up and cut through the pants and cut the knee cleaned area but after 2 days area got infected and to cut and cleaned out
Employee moved the monitor station (using the affixed handle) from the lower to upper position, he injured his left elbow. The force observed to move the monitor was no more than normal to move the handle on the station. Poor positioning and ergonomics was identified as more significant risk factor during the investigation.
Employee was walking and went to make a turn and his knee gave out. The employee reported that no single event occurred to cause the incident, according to the employee other than walking. There is no work relation to the injury other than being on mine property.
Grinding a 2"" pipe set vertically on end at waist height on a table in the D-Pit Maintenance Shop. While grinding the sparks were hitting his stomach and somehow made it into the area under the face shield and safety glasses. Employee did not notice until 6pm and did not report this until 6:45am on 6/9/13
Employee manning a tagline while a piece of pipe was removed and lifted out by a sky track boom lift. Pipe moved slightly and the rope slipped through the left hand and index finger causing a laceration. 15 stitches were administered.
Employee was using a sledge hammer in a tight area and caught his right ring finger between the handle of the sledge hammer and a bolt stud. The impact resulted in a laceration/cut requiring 3 stitches.
Employee was attempting to open a gate on the bottom of the rail car. The gate was stuck from residual materials from external sources, in addition the whether was below the freezing mark. The EE attempted to put more than normal force on the bar that opens the gate, and when the gate opened the employee lunged forward and to the left injuring causing pain in his left shoulder.
EE claims he has Carpal Tunnel based on activities as a mechanic at work.
Employee became ill and was subsequently transported to Limestone Medical Center