Every injury and fatality MSHA has on file. Filter by state, year, sector, classification, experience, or any keyword from the investigator's narrative.
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Operator was watering travel route from stripping area to spoil area. Operator made a pass up the hill and turned around to head back when they crossed into the area they wet prior. The truck began to slide, operator overcorrected turning the truck onto its side. When the truck overturned the operator hit their head against the truck ROPS. Operator did have seatbelt on.
EE reported neck/back pain. States it is due to the bouncing of the dozer while operating. It has gotten worse overtime. Chronic issue.
Operator was setting up to fill the hydraulic oil on the Wirtgen 2200 Surface Miner. This involves hinging a plate metal cover back to access the tank cap. After the cover was hinged back, operator placed EE's left arm on the top step. The cover swung down from it's position, striking the operators left arm causing a fracture to the forearm/wrist area.
The equipment operators were helping with the continuous miner move in the last open cross-cut. The water and power cables that trail the miner were part of the move. The injured employee tripped and struck EE's rt. knee on the uneven ground. Soreness and swelling developed but EE managed to complete EE's shift. An exam occurred. No treatment or RX were required. 7 days off work.
A recent audiologist report on 12/26/24 revealed a STS in a employees left ear. The sound level of the Rock handling is at dBA 78.4 or below. Potential recordable hearing shift; evaluation ongoing.
Maintenance tech was replacing a faulty LCL Filter in a drive cabinet. After filter was replaced, tech was moving old filter to get it out of the electrical room. Filter has casters but they are locked in place. When attempting to rotate the filter, the unit tipped over. Tech attempted to stop it and felt a pain in left arm.
Back spasm that required muscle relaxant shot and treating physician ordered >20 lbs. lifting restrictions
Employee was assisting in cleaning up around the ready line area when they were loading up broken wood and pallets into the loader bucket. The injured employee attempted to pick up a pallet that was partly buried under some dirt and felt a pop in left bicep.
Employee was shoveling material when they stepped on a loose rock. Employee went to doctor and received prescription medication. Employee returned to work with no restrictions.
Mine operator arrived at site riding with a co-worker, operator got out of personal vehicle in employee parking and walked to the site Haul truck parking location wearing slides (sandals) not approved PPE, before clocking in, as the employee went over the berm their left leg got stuck in the mud, the operator tripped backwards spraining their Left Knee.
Annual hearing tests were performed on 2/14/2023. It was documented that employee's hearing has dropped below the threshold of EE's original baseline. On 2/20/2023, EE was sent to an audiologist to be retested in a clinic setting and the results were the same. EE is being referred to an ENT doctor to ensure the hearing loss is not due to a medical condition.
Smoke was observed exiting the mine prior to the start of the shift. No miners were underground. The light smoke indicated that it might be coming from the battery charging station. This was accurate. One battery was smoldering. Power was de-energized and the smoke stopped. Under MSHA direction a rescue team eliminated the hazard with baking soda.
Operator was walking in a muddy area when boot got stuck in mud, EE attempted to pull boot out of mud, the force of the pulling motion caused them to trip backwards and caused a small stress fracture on top of foot, leading to 1 day lost time for swelling and requiring a brace.
EE was lifting a wheelbarrow by its handles when EE heard and felt a pop in lower back.
Before the welding could take place, maintenance had to grind off an old weld. While in operation the grinding wheel guard came loose, spun, and contacted the surface. The contact caused the grinder to jerk towards the mechanics off hand, resulting in a laceration on the left thumb.
The EE was using a skid steer to carry materials through a curtain. The curtain was raised manually. As EE passed through the machine nicked the bottom of the curtain causing it to drop. The weighted PVC bar on the bottom of the curtain struck EE's safety glasses on the left side. The frame of the glasses caused a small laceration to EE's left eye lid. Five sutures were required.
A roof fall occurred on 10/22/2020 during the night time & no miners were in the mine at that time. This occurred at Panel #3 W at cross cut 38 F3 & 38 G3 in an area that had been mined. The area has been barricaded & a formal geotechnical engineering study of this area is bein conducted. It appears the fall occurred below the anchor zone of the 42" fgr bolts.
Strained shoulder while using an 8 pound hammer while pounding the outside of the bin. This was not EE's normal job and EE was helping a Maintenance Tech. EE hurt it on 2/7/2020. EE reported it on 2/17/2020, EE saw a doctor on 2/18/2020, EE could continue to do normal job of operating equipment. EE's shoulder did not improve and surgery was needed on 4/1/2020.
While descending from the fuel truck, ee felt pain in right knee. The day of the incident ee was given first aid. EE went to a doctor on 01/14/2020 and scheduled an MRI. Surgery was scheduled for 02/14/2020. EE missed EE's first shift on 02/17/2020
EE stumbled on flat ground and landed on the buttocks and felt pain in the left knee. EE reports EE did twist the knee during the fall. Went to the doctor on 12/06/2019, Doctor prescribed a mobilizing knee brace for a hyper-extended knee. No work restrictions.
EE was performing start of shift maintenance on KPI 4250 (Rock Crusher) attempting to add anti-freeze to the radiator the EE fell approx 5ft from the position where they were standing to the crusher deck. EE was treated in the local ER diagnosed with a right AC joint separation, Non displacement fracture to C4, and two broken ribs. The EE was treated and released from the ER.
Strain to upper arm, possible tear to bicep muscle. Mechanic was repairing a broken coolant line on a haul truck. Was reaching to remove the fitting and pulling on the wrench when they felt something in upper arm pop. Was taken to the ER and was given a 10 pound lifting restriction and scheduled a follow-up with a orthopedic doctor.
The underground natural gas line that supplies the plant failed and started leaking natural gas underground into the nearby access opening to the old abandoned underground mine entrance. When notice the area was evacuated and main gas valve was closed.
A mechanic felt pain in lower back when repairing the guarding on a tail pully at the crusher. EE came to work the next day and the pain had increased and EE went to see a chiropractor. EE was directed by the chiropractor to stay home. EE was give a full release for work by the chiropractor on 12/10/2018.
While making shop repairs to a spare mixer assembly, technician turned the internal rotor. The rotor became momentarily seized and released before the technician could remove their hand. Finger caught between the rotor assembly and the lid, causing the loss of a portion of the distal phalange, 1/3 of the fingernail, on the left ring finger.
EE was letting down suspension supports that keep the surface miner from lowering down when the EE is underneath to change out bits. The suspension support came down pinching the EE right pinky finger causing a laceration and fracture.
Loader operator was dismounting the front end loader and fell to the ground when ee lost footing stepping on the last rung of the step falling to the ground and landing on left elbow and lower back.
Sustained high wind of 45 MPH caused 7200kv phase to ground or 12.5kv phase to phase power lines to arc and catch dead weeds and trees on fire below. Area burned was about 2 acres without any damage to equipment or structures.
We had a roof fall in the Blue Rapids mine that was discovered this morning, 2/7/2018, during routine inspections. The exact time of fall is unknown but the area was observed yesterday afternoon too and the fall had not occurred then. No injuries occurred.
A Leak was found in a 500 gal propane tank outside the office building. All personal were evacuated to the quarry main gate. The gate is about 1/4 mile from the office. Once the propane company had check and repaired the tank the all clear was given.
A roof fall occurred in the underground mine at location of 33 and 2v, the fall blocks passage thru this area. Operators were approximately 1300ft away from the area of the fall when it occurred. No miners were injured.
Employee repairing lubrication system, climbing off machine to get more parts, hung ring on step while descending to ground level.
The operator applied the socket to the segment bolt head on the D8 Dozer sprocket and was in the process of applying downward pressure when the socket came loose resulting in left thumb getting caught between the wrench handle and the lifting eye on the right pusher arm. The operator sustained a laceration requiring three stitches and fracture to the left thumb.
Employee notified supervisor that while stepping away from the continuous miner, stepped into a hole about 1-2 inches deep and jarred back resulting in restrictions of no bending or lifting.
Miner lost their footing and fell, dislocated their right shoulder accessing a manhole.
During routine scoop operations the right front corner of the bucket caught the rib, suddenly stopping the scoop. Causing the operator to strike EE's head on the door resulting in a laceration of the scalp. After seeing EE's own blood EE felt woozy, laid down and fainted for 30 seconds. Operator returned to work with no medical treatment. no damage to the equipment or the mine.
During the task of bolting, the operator had to hold the head of the bolt to stabilize it while the bolt driver was being positioned. When the driver head contacted the bolt and was pushed into position the employee's left index finger became caught between the bolt head and the plate resulting in a laceration to the inside of the left index finger.
Employee fell to same level ground when he came in contact with elevated extension cord.
Employee was operating a dozer in the pit area and stopped to get out. As the employee stepped to the ground from the D-10 dozer steps, he twisted his body slightly and felt an slight pain in his back. The employee reported it to his supervisor. The following morning, the employee reported that his back was sore and he needed a day to rest.
Employee fell to the same level ground when trailing cable from continuous miner came in contact with his feet/legs.
driller closed hand in door of drill rig and received 7 stitches on middle finger
An ATS contractor was working near the primary crusher shop while constructing guarding. The contractor was pulling a 6-8 foot section of expanded metal from the back of a flat bed truck. As the employee pulled the metal from the truck, it got stuck. The contractor responded by pulling harder. The metal broke free, flipped over and cut his lip.
Employee reported that previously unreported shoulder discomfort that she was having for the past 8 months was work related. There was no event that EE could think of that resulted in the discomfort. Initial evaluation by the doctor on 7/14/14 confirmed work relatedneess dependant on MRI scheduled 7/24/14.
Employee strained back while bending over to grease conveyor on 12/9/13. The injury became reportable on 12/13/13 due to Dr. restrictions.
A scoop that was cleaning the slope after a beltline was removed lost traction on the slope and slid approx 10' to the apex at the bottom and came to a sudden stop. This caused the operator inside to hit his head on the window frame in the cab resulting in 6 sutures.
EE woke up at night with swollen left eye. EE attributed incident with windy dusty work environment the previous day. EE saw doctor and was prescribed eye drops. EE called out from work Friday 5/11/12 to see doctor.
Annual audiogram testing indicated the employee suffered hearing loss in the past year that may be related to work noise
As a result of annual testing it was determined that the employee suffered a loss of hearing.
Employee was hitting the #6 mill dust collector with a 4# sledge hammer to improve flow of material to a screw conveyor. The employee was bracing himself with his right hand when the hammer bounced and hit the hand, breaking the finger and needing 8 stitches.
The area was experiencing strong winds. The wind caused 2 overhead power lines to get close and spark. The sparks fell to the ground and ignited dry grass in remote area. The local Fire dept. extinguished the fire at 2:10 pm.