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EE was performing inspections when they noticed dust burping from the vent line above the feed bin on the fourth floor of the Preheat Tower. They said they looked up to identify where it was coming from when dust vented out and landed just above their glasses under the brim of their hat. Dust entered their left eye causing irritation. They received antibiotic ointment for the eye.

Employee was using a grinder throughout their work shift. Around 3:30PM they notified site safety coordinator about irritation in their right eye.

EMPLOYEE WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF JOB TRAILER AND ONE OF THE NIGHT SHIFT FOREMEN INADVERTENTLY SHINED A LASER PEN IN THE EMPLOYEE'S DIRECTION STRIKING EE'S RIGHT EYE. THE EMPLOYEE CONTINUED TO WORK FOR THE NEXT TWO NIGHTS AND ON THE SECOND NIGHT EE REPORTED EE WAS SEEING WHITE SPOTS AND EE'S VISION WAS FUZZY AND WANTED TO BE SEEN BY A DOCTOR. EE WAS SEEN BY AN OPTOMETRIST.

On 10/28/24 EE reported that EE injured EE's right shoulder pulling on a plunger of a grease gun in order to change the grease tube. On 12/5/24 EE requested to see a doctor as the pain had not gone away and EE had lost some range of motion. The EE was eventually diagnosed with a tear in the labrum of the right shoulder and underwent surgery on 05/12/25 to repair the torn labrum.

Miner was air lancing a plugged-up feed chute with the lance pointed down in compacted material causing a pocket of air to form within the material. The compacted material then moved allowing the air pocket to release causing material to billow up and envelop their face. Dust got between their face shield and safety glasses entering their eyes.

Employee and partner used Mill Building Hoist to remove Torque Tube off the 5th Floor of the Mill Building and lower it to the Ground Floor. As the tube touched the ground EE's hand contacted the pinch point on top of the hoists lifting block before it stopped moving causing their thumb to be drawn into the pinch point of the hoists rope and sheave resulting in a thumb laceration.

EE was assigned the task of injecting Visolite Tracer Compound into the bottom of the Coke Mill Dust Collector hopper to determine the condition of the dust collector bags. When EE asked the Control Room to start the Dust Collector Fan, the fan's suction pulled EE into the Dust Collector hopper causing EE to strike head and face on the hopper's door frame.

EE and partner were welding 4 x 8 sheets of steel in close proximity to each other. They wore their welding PPE including their welding hoods. Over the course of the shift, EE believes received the arc flashes while the partner was welding both behind and beside EE as the arc flash reflected toward the inside of EE's welding hood. EE was prescribed eye medicine.

Employee was using a 6" grinder to cut off the damaged bottom of a barge access ladder. As soon as EE cut through one leg of the ladder, pressure was released and the leg sprung toward EE striking EE's grinder which then pushed and struck EE's left hand against an adjacent guardrail. Diagnosis of 8/18/20: "Contusion of left hand". Restrictions given 08/26/20.

Employee and partner were given the job of drilling 4 3-inch holes in the side of a dust collector's emission stack. Employee used a power drill with a 3-inch circular saw to drill the holes. While drilling the 3rd hole, the saw bound up causing the power drill to quickly twist R hand/wrist resulting in a displaced fracture of the 4th metacarpal bone.

Feb, 5th employee was using a cutting torch when some slag flew into a hole along the seam of their glove's R index finger and landed on their nail. Employee received first aid and was allowed to go back to work by the doctor. Diagnosed with finger infection on Feb 25th they underwent procedure to remove nail and they missed work days.

While using a Drill Press EE attempted to drill a hole through a 12'x1' piece of metal to make a strap for an accumulator. While holding the strap with gloved hand the drill bit grabbed and twisted the strap tightly around EE's left thumb pulling thumb and hand around the drill bit. EE sustained crushing fractures and lacerations to several places along the thumb.

Operator of an overhead crane made contact with their body or a tool with the control device for the crane causing it to hoist unexpectedly pinching the injured employee's finger.

Employee was spraying the upper southwest door on the 6th floor of the Preheat Tower. EE was working on a large piece of material and when it came loose it hit the water spray gun pushing it back into EE's face shield. This blow caused a laceration to EE's lower lip resulting in 4 stitches.

While preparing to use an electric spray gun to paint, EE tried to clear a possible obstruction from the tip of the spray gun with left forefinger when EE inadvertently pulled the trigger on the gun. The employee was wearing rubber gloves, but the pressure from the gun punctured through the glove injecting mineral spirits through the skin and into the finger.

Employee's partner, while using the WOMA spray gun, lost control of it when spraying and gun flew out of his hand striking employee on left elbow.

Employee removing material with a jackhammer

Employee was working on the 3rd floor pre-heat tower. At approximately 3 a.m., he started using the WOMA high pressure water gun to remove buildup within the riser. After using this tool for approximately two minutes, he felt a strain in his R wrist. He immediately stopped working with the water gun. (Note: He was working a C shift.)

Two employees were a removing a motor which was rigged using the proper equipment. When the second weld was cut, the motor swung into the employee's hand. Due to the angle of the swinging motor, the eye broke causing the motor to fall.

Employee was water blasting the feed shelf through the upper SW door when dust blew back out from the cleaning port covering his coat. He felt a burning sensation on his shoulders so he backed away from port and shook his coat. He then felt dust in his left eye.

Employee was grinding on hand rail in Coke Mill Building. He walked over to shop and felt something in his eye and tried to remove it and could not get it out.

Injury was called to investigate why the #1 raw mill pump was not pumping and was standing apprximately 8' to the west of the pump when for an unknown reason the pump hopper split out spraying him with a large amount of raw dust, some of which got in his eyes even though he was wearing his eye protection.

Injury was working on hard build up inside the waste dust silo with a chipping gun (most of the work above his head due to the location). He had been working on the build up for about 45 minutes. After he stepped down for a break, he informed me that his right shoulder was starting to hurt.

EE stated he had been working at the clay dome welding plates to anchor bolts for steel erection. He said he doesn't remember any foreign material entering his eye. This resulted in not realizing there was ever a problem. There was additional welding taking place by another coworker, he said he was not sure if it was just irritated by a potential flash burn.

Employee was using a hand held grinder. His hand was too close to the wheel and it grabbed his glove. His hand was pulled into the blade which resulted in a cut to his right index finger. There was a properly installed guard on the grinder. The laceration to employee's finger required 4 stitches, a bandage wrap, and antibiotics.

Employee was walking through work area where another employee was cutting steel using a cut-off disk. While employee #2 was cutting the disk bound up and jumped out of cut and struck employee #1 in left knee. Cut required 4 sutures to close. Employee # 1 was likely too close to the operation.

EE said he was working at the additive silos reaming holes. He stated that material had entered his left eye around his eye protection due to the wind. He said he thought he had removed the material. He continued to say when he woke up Monday morning his left eye was swollen. As per the doctor's direction, a prescription was issued for the infection.

While repositioning an open step ladder with a powered cut-off tool in his left hand, the tool became energized, due to a faulty lock-off lever. The tool then slipped from the individuals hand, causing the rotating blade to come in contact with his hand. The blade passed through his leather glove, cutting the left index near 1st knuckle, resulted in 5 stitches to hand.

EE was cutting and hanging steel throughout the mid day time frame. A metal fragment entered his left eye, but was not noticed until after work. All PPE was worn for each task performed. The fragment was retrieved by a doctor and Sean has continued to work with no limitations due to the metal retrieved from his eye.

He was jack hammering a concrete plug on an existing storm sewer. The bit was stuck and while trying to remove it, the bit released causing the jack hammer back and it turned, smashing the man's left hand between an existing pipe and the handle from the jack hammer.

While working in the crusher building, feed was taken off the crusher which caused an abnormal amount of dust to accumulate in the area where the employee was working. Over time his eyes became irritated. The next day he reported his eye irritation to his supervisor.

Cutting metal liner from C-2 apron feeder, part of liner sprung free and hit right eye because liner had material behind it and had tension on it.

4 EMPLOYEES WERE DUMPING WASTE INTO THE CHUTE FROM THE UPPER FLOOR LEVEL. THE CHUTE BECAME BLOCKED WITH PRODUCT. THE INJURED PARTY WENT TO THE BOTTOM OF THE CHUTE TO DISLODGE THE PRODUCT AND IN THE PROCESS THE CHUTE FELL WITH A PART OF THE CHUTE HITTING THE EMPLOYEE.

Employee was making his rounds and bleeding the turn heads of oil. He walked by #2 kiln feed system and was hit in the face by kiln feed from the feed shank.

EMPLOYEE WAS ASSIGNED TO REMOVE MATERIAL FROM THE FEED END OF FINISH MILL #2. HE WAS PUTTING A WATER LANCE INTO THE FEED AND WHEN DUST BLEW INTO HIS RIGHT EYE. HE HAD A PARTICLE OF DUST STUCK TO HIS EYE THAT A DR HAD TO REMOVE AND HE WAS GIVEN ANTIBIOTIC DROPS.

EE WAS USING A 90LB JACKHAMMER TO REMOVE A CHUNK OF MATERIAL FROM THE #2 COOLER WHEN HE FELT PAIN IN HIS LOW BACK. HE WAS SENT TO THE DOCTOR AND CONTINUED TO WORK UNTIL 04/20/03 WHEN THE PAIN BECAME MORE SEVERE AND HE COULD NOT WORK. STARTED LOSING TIME ON 04/20/03.

WHILE USING JACKHAMMER OVERHEAD TO REMOV MATERIAL BUILDUP FROM 31 COOLER SOME MATERIAL GOT IN EE'S LEFT EYE. WAS GIVEN ANTIBIOTIC DROPS FOR EYE.

EE WAS USING FAST VAC TO DO CLEANUP BETWEEN NORTH & SOUTH VIBRATING PANS. AS HE WAS COMING OUT OF THE TUNNEL ONE OF THE VALVES ON THE SOUTHSET OF PANS SPEWED OUT HOT CLINKER. THE CLINKER WENT BEHIND HIS SAFETY GLASSES AND INTO HIS EYES. DR. PRESCRIBED MEDICATION THUS MAKING THIS A REPORTABLE INJURY.

EMPLOYEE WAS CLEANING OUT K2 ALLEVIATOR, 3RD COMPARTMENT, DUST COLLECTOR USING AN AIR LANCE WHENPOSITIVE PRESSURE BLEW DUST INTO HIS FACE AND EYES. GIVEN ATIBIOTIC DROPS FOR EYES.

EMPLOYEE WAS AT GRINDING TABLE IN MAINTENANCE SHOP USING HAND GRINDER ON A PIECE OF METAL WHEN GRINDER SLIPPED AND STRUCK HIS LEFT KNEE CAUSING A LACERATION REQUIRING 3 SUTURES.

INJURED AND ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WERE INSTALLING BALLS IN RAW #1 MILL. THIS AREA (HOOKING UP BARRELS) IS WITHIN 20 FT OF THE HIGH BAY HOIST BARRICADED AREA. CONTRACTOR WAS HOISTING 5 SHEETS OF PLY WOOD ON HIGH BAY HOIST TO THE 4TH FLOOR WHEN THE LOAD SLIPPED AND BROKE LOOSE FROM RIGGING. PLYWOOD SHEETS FELL ALL THE WAY TO GROUND FLOOR AND SAILED OUT OF BARRICADE AREA STRIKING BOTH EMPL

INJURED AND ANOTHER EMPLOYEE WERE INSTALLING MILL BALLS IN RAW #1. THIS AREA (HOOKING UP BARRELS) IS WITHIN 20 FT OF THE HIGH BAY HOIST BARRICADED AREA. CONTRACTOR WAS HOISTING 5 SHEETS OF PLY WOOD OF HIGH BAY HOIST TO THE 4TH FLOOR WHEN THELOAD SLIPPED AND BROKE LOOSE FROM RIGGING. PLYWOOD SHEETS FELL ALL THE WAY TO GROUND FLOOR AND SAILED OUT STRIKING BOTH EMPLOYEES.

WHILE ADDING OIL (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID) TO A COMPRESSOR THAT WAS STILL PRESSURIZED, INJURED & ANOTHER EE WERE BOTH SPRAYED WITH OIL FROMTHE UNIT. SOME OIL WENT INTO INJURED'S EYE. DOCT OR PRESCRIBED CILOXIN OPTHALMIC SOLUTION.

EE WAS ASSIGNED TO RECHARGE DISCHARGE END OF THE FINISH MILL #2. A BARREL OF BALLS WEIGHING 1 TON WAS LIFTED TO THE TOP OF MILL WITH CRANE AND EE WAS DUMPING BALLS INTO THE HOPPER PLACED AT MI LL. THE BARREL WAS APPROX. 3/4 EMPTY, ABOUT 500 LBS REMAINING, WHEN IT JUMPED OUT OF THE HOPPER CAUSING EE TO JAM RIGHT ARM BETWEEN HOPPER AND BARREL.

MAIN VALVE OF MIX MASTER STUCK OPEN. EE OPENED NORTH DOOR AND CLEANED IT OUT. TRIED TO START MIXER BUT WOULD NOT START. WHEN HE TRIED TO OPEN DOOR IT BLEW DUST AND STEAM ON HIS HANDS AND FACE.

EE WAS USING A SMALL CHERRY PICKER TO PUT LINER THROUGH MILL DOOR. THE BOOM ON THE PICKER JUMPED TO THE EAST AND EE JUMPED BACK TO AVOID BEING HIT. WHEN HE JUMPED BACK HE FELT PULL IN HIS BACK . DR. HAS PRESCRIBED PHYSICAL THERAPY.