All MSHA-reportable accidents at US Silica Company operations in 2024. Fatalities appear first.
A burn pit was lit on Friday 11/1/2024 to burn pallets that are no longer usable. The fire was put out at the end of the day and fire watch was on the fire for 24 hours after the burn was over. On the following Monday more pallets were added, the next morning the new pallets caught fire from a left-over hot coal.
Employee was conducting maintenance on a disconnected rotary seal valve. Employee spun the internal rotor manually with EE's left hand to check tolerances, when the middle finger of EE's left hand was caught between the vein of the rotor and the housing of the rotary seal valve. This resulted in a fingertip amputation just below the nail.
Employee opened the latch and cover of the rotary vane discharge chute for inspection. While using EE's right hand to clean the chute, EE's hand contacted the vane of the rotary feeder. This resulted in an amputation at the level of the distal interphalangeal joint of the 3rd and 4th digits.
A forklift operator made a complete stop on the forklift and then exited the machine. EE walked away from the machine and the forklift began to roll following the EE. EE was at the warehouse racks and the machine hit EE at the rack causing fractures to 5 ribs
Maintenance employee tripped on a catwalk toe board. Employee fell and struck the edge of the catwalk grating resulting in fracture to the tip (tuft) of EE's left thumb.
Employee collapsed as a result of a personal medical condition, striking their jaw as they fell. The fall resulted in a chin laceration and temporal bone fracture.
While performing cleanup, the floor plating the employee was standing on fell into the water ditch resulting in a fractured leg.
Employee was descending the ladder of a road grader and felt discomfort in EE's right knee. EE was later diagnosed with a meniscus tear and underwent surgery on 11/7/24 making it a reportable incident.
The employee was removing guard when EE felt a pain in their shoulder. Employee was diagnosed with torn rotator cuff but, continued to work full duty until 2/14/2025 when EE had surgery.
The employee felt discomfort in EE's knee while descending a stairway. After following first-aid measures, the knee didn't improve. EE went to a doctor and was diagnosed with a tear in EE's meniscus. The injured employee had surgery on 10/17/24, making this injury reportable.
A loose branch fell from an adjacent tree and struck an idling chainsaw the employee was holding. This caused the chainsaw to shift and strike the employee's left knee, resulting in three lacerations. The employee was taken to a medical clinic, where sutures were used to close the lacerations.
The employee's right pinky finger was caught between the latch and the door of a Rotex machine, resulting in a fracture to the finger.
Employee was using a piece of all-thread to move sand and got right pinky finger caught between the all-thread and metal flight causing a fracture to the tip of EE's finger.
Dump truck employee was driving, crossed a berm and rolled over resulting in a fracture to the posterior 12th rib.
EE was cutting a piece of tubing on the #1 belt filter press. While cutting the tube, the blade was pinched and the tube twisted. The result was a kick back from the cutoff wheel and EE's finger was cut. EE was wearing the proper PPE, cut resistant impact gloves, face shield, etc. The blade cut through EE's glove.
Lifting and moving 50lb. bags and twisted wrong causing a sprain to lt. knee
Haul truck driver reached between the seat and counsel to get a part, when EE pulled EE's hand out it was cut between the middle finger and ring finger between the knuckles, causing EE to get stitches. Operator returned to work the next morning.
While staging material for a maintenance task, the employee tripped over a chain hoist and landed awkwardly on a guard the employee had just removed. The resulting injury was a fracture to the fingertips of both the left ring and middle fingers, as well as five sutures.
A miner was operating a Ditch Witch SK 600 when the equipment suddenly jolted. This action caused the miner's finger to get smashed between a support bracket and the handrest. It resulted in a fingertip avulsion requiring sutures. The miner was released from the hospital the same day and returned to work the next morning.