Mill utility employee was jackhammering in Silo 4 when the jackhammer became stuck. While attempting to free it, the jackhammer suddenly released and dropped, pinching the employee's right pinky between the jackhammer and a grizzly bar. The employee received medical treatment- reinserted fingernail and stitched it to hold in place. Was told to keep dry and clean.
Search the record
Every injury and fatality MSHA has on file. Filter by state, year, sector, classification, experience, or any keyword from the investigator's narrative.
- Total incidents
- 273,095
- Of which fatal
- 1,202
- Years on record
- 2000–2026
- Classifications
- 20
Alert me on this search
Email me when a new incident matches these filters. One confirmation email; unsubscribe anytime.
120 matching records
Showing 50 of 120Employee was using a grinder with a wire wheel when EE stood up and accidentally hit the trigger of the grinder causing it to kick back and get bound up on EE's left forearm causing a laceration.
Employee was using an air lance with 90 psi air to clear a chute plug in the #4 Finish Mill feed chute. The employee lost grip causing the air lance to hit them in the mouth. They initially declined medical attention. On 10/24/2025, they requested to be seen at the emergency room due to mouth pain.
Cutting trees with chainsaw. Blade got stuck. Turned off. When EE pulled the chainsaw out, it swiped EE's leg, resulting in a small cut, requiring three stitches and no loss time.
3-man crew was troubleshooting the CKD system for the Kiln. Inspection door was removed from the horizontal rotary feeder to investigate the flow of material. Employee got their hand caught in the rotating equipment. Employee was taken to the local ER and received multiple stitches to the right middle finger.
Employee was using a handheld die grinder cleaning the weld out of a bracket. As the employee was grinding the weld, the grinder kicked back causing the grinder to strike their face. The die grinder caused a laceration to the left cheek of the employee. The employee was wearing a face shield, but it wasn't locked into place allowing the grinder to contact their face.
Employee was operating a jackhammer to remove material and as piece of material fell- hitting the jackhammer and pinning left index finger against port opening on the container causing injury.
While honing employee's skills practicing welding in the maintenance shop the employee was exposed to the arc flash from the welding. Employee was wearing PPE and others had used the same PPE without injury.
EE was cleaning the preheater with a water blaster along with a co-worker. EE was using the shorter 6' lance. EE lost control of the lance and the tip struck EE on the left thigh. The co-worker let off the pressure release pedal shutting it down. EE was wearing supplied PPE. The high-pressure water resulting in a puncture and laceration wound on EE's left thigh.
Employee was attempting to dislodge a stuck jackhammer from material. As the employee attempted to free the jackhammer it broke free causing the employees hand to make contact with the structure. This Caused a fracture to the left pinky finger.
Employee was cutting grating. The grinder kicked back, cutting through EE's gloves and made a small laceration of EE's left thumb. Required four stitches to close the wound and was able to return without limitations.
Employee was gouging when employee felt debris in right eye.
The Cat 349 Excavator was on a bench pile of rock in southwest corner when the rock below the tracks gave way causing the 349 to slide down about 15ft and lay over on its side. Operator received 10 staples in the right side of the head, 6 cracked ribs and bruising to the face. Employee returned to work without lost time and is currently on restricted duty.
Stray hot metal from welding contacted work boot of employee and resulted in a burn injury to EE's left foot.
Employee felt pain in the right arm while jack hammering in plant 3 raw mill.
The incident happened on 6/14/21 and turned into a reportable incident on 6/17/21. The employee was using a torch and cutting above shoulder height above EE when a spark entered EE's right ear.
Employee was in process of in-choking a chute. Employee was using an 8' air lance when they extracted the lance, the weight of the air hose and lance made it top heavy and the lance slipped from hands. the lance fell, striking them on the back of the head, causing a laceration, requiring 6 staples to close. Employee returned to work with no restrictions.
EE was installing a containment system for the kiln heat exchangers when EE bent down to weld a piece. Prior to that EE carried a Fronious electric 110 welder which weighs 19.6 lbs. When EE bent down EE felt something pull in the lower back.
While using a mixing drill to mix mortar for brick installation, employee's glove was tangled in the shaft of the paddle bit causing a cut on pinky finger that was treated with stitches.
Employee was attempting to unclog a supply line. After turning off air they removed one end allowing material to blow into their eyes. This caused abrasions to the eye.
Injured employee was using an air lance to get material feeding. When material broke loose, it flooded out, knocking glasses off employee. Employee got dust in eyes and flushed them out thoroughly. Employee was taken to ER where eyes were flushed again and employee was given prescription eye drops as a precautionary measure. Return to work at full duty- Medical treatment only
2 employees were grinding on a chain conveyor approximately 6' apart in the dome area of the cement plant, one employee felt a piece of metal fly into left eye. EE was unsure if the debris was from EE's own grinding or from the employee next to EE.
The Maintenance Journeyman A was bent down vacuuming the compressor room and when the Maintenance Journeyman A raised up felt a pain in lower back. The Maintenance Journeyman A did not seek immediate medical attention until 01/26/2018
Employee was grinding on a piece of metal with a grinder when a small shard of metal flew up under face shield and safety glasses and became embedded in right eye.
Left eye was hit by a piece of material, EE was wearing safety glasses.
Employee was grinding steel and foreign body entered behind face shield and entered into right eye, causing corneal abrasion.
Employee was water blasting equipment when hot water splashed back onto leg causing a burn. Employee developed blisters on skin and requested medical treatment where EE received a prescription medication.
The injured employee was operating a forklift to stack pallets of packaged cement when a fluid cooler fan started vibrating. EE went to adjust the fan guard when finger was cut by the plastic fan blade requiring stitches.
While trying to get material to withdraw, employee put an air lace into a ¾ inch port hole on the side of the hopper. The air lance was 6 foot long. The material finally started to flow. Some of the material came out around the lance some dust got into right eye. Employee seen doctor and received prescription. No work restrictions.
Employee was cutting a 3-inch pipe line and when cut was almost complete, the blade of the bandsaw being used crimped in the cut. At the same time the pipe started to fall and the employee accidently triggered the saw and cut into fingers of right hand, requiring stitch
Injured worker was waterblasting in the pre-heat tower and strained his right shoulder.
injured was lancing on preheater vessel when a large chunk fell on lance causing employee to unexpectedly twist his arm.
a fleck of steel flew into his left eye while he was grinding steel
Employee was air lancing coal bin due to material being hung up in the bin. Employee strained lower back.
Injured Employee (IE) was starting the Cemex unloading system and saw that the system was dusting. He went around to the Cemex Dust Collector while it was still running and opened the inspection port and stuck his right hand inside and contacted with a rotary feeder catching the tips of his two fingers on the right hand and pinching tissue on the ends.
Injured Employee (IE) was removing coating from the kiln throat using a rivet buster. He aggravated his old back injury by binding and pushing the coating down with the throat.
Employee was drilling a hole with an electric drill when the bit caught and spun the drill. The employee's gloves were tacky and stuck to the drill handle. His right pinky was twisted with the drill causing a fracture
Miner was unclogging kiln#1 dust transport line, there was a 3 1/2" mill ball that was sucked up into the 4" gap vax hose. The miner had his hand on the high reach basket. The gap vax hose jumped when the ball was picked up by the suction line. Pinching miners hand requiring 2 sutures.
Employee was grinding steel overhead. Debris was falling from overhead conveyor above his work area. Debris entered right eye, causing eye irritation.
The employee was using a shear machine to cut a piece of plate steel. The employee inserted the piece of steel into shear and it lifted up pinching his right hand small finger between the steel plate and the guard/barrier. The employee sustained a fracture and two lacerations requiring stitches.
Injured Employee (IE) was helping to charge a raw mill with steel balls and was tightening the chain on a Morse drum handler when he felt the pain. He wanted a report filled out but did not seek medical attention until 8/16/2011.
Guys were cleaning in an area with buildup After cleaning a significant amount of the material, there remained a fairly large chunk that was attached to the wall. EE was using a pistol grip jackhammer with an approx. 3 foot long bit to knock down the buildup. The entire chunk came down and either directly or indirectly made contact with EE's instep(above the steel toe).
Injured worker was water blasting and felt a sharp pain in his lower back
Injured person was waterblasting and his lower back popped out and the popped back in. The same thing happened the next day while water blasting and opening freight elevator door.
Waterblasting exit of the kiln a chunk come down on the barrel of the waterblasting gun causing the gun to jolt the injured workers right shoulder. Doctor's appointment 9/28/10 was put on restricted duty 9/29/10.
Employee was cutting strips of wood down to 12X2 inch pieces using a table saw. The employee's thumb struck the saw blade and cut his left thumb open. Required 6 stitches to close the wound.
Strained lower back while waterblasting the top hole north side of riser while standing on a 3 step platform.
Employee was holding onto a air lance while trying to dislodge a piece of buildup off the burner pipe. The piece broke free and jerked the air lance. The employee was still holding onto the airlance and strained his right shoulder. Employee attempted to condition the shoulder but was determined to have a torn labrum. Employee had surgery on 12/2/2010
Injured worker was cleaning around clinker cooler with jackhammer and shovel. His back and upper left leg felt sore as the day went on. Reported to his supervisor around 10:15 a.m. Appointment was made to see the doctor.
Injured worker was jackhammering and removing chunks of cement from silo 54 when he felt his lower back tighten up. On 3/25/10 he requested to see a doctor and was placed on light duty.