Mining Incidents

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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
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The record

23 total records

Showing all 23
February 21, 2023 SC · Metal/Non-Metal crusher attendant/operator, pan feeder operator/worker HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Oconee County · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

The employee was tightening a screen on the crushing plant. When they pulled on a bar that tightens the screen, they felt a pull in their back and tingles in their toes.

March 31, 2021 SC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Oconee County · Struck by falling object

Two Mobile Equipment Mechanics were removing the old cutting blades from a yard loader with a torch. They did not have it blocked from underneath as they have been instructed. When the steel fell, it bounced/ricocheted onto mechanic's foot. Both employees were disciplined for unsafe work practices.

July 9, 2020 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Oconee County · Struck against stationary object

The employee was assisting another employee with changing out some screens on the crushing plant. One of the screens had a sharp edge where it was worn down from the rock and had broken off. The sharp edge of the screen punctured the employee's right hand.

June 4, 2020 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Oconee County · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was installing an evaporator core, and while turning a nut into a tight place, the pressure of the line sprang back and bent employee's pointer finger over top of the other three fingers.

May 12, 2020 SC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Oconee County · Struck against a moving object

Employee was using an excavator to dig a boulder out of the pit floor, and the bucket slipped off the boulder, jarring the excavator and causing a whiplash effect.

April 22, 2020 SC · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator OTHER
Oconee County · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Was not reported until 4/27/2020. Employee stated that EE's knee hurt when getting off the loader on 4/22/2020. It was observed that EE was short of breath and sweating. EE was sent to clinic and transferred to hospital. EE has blood clots in right leg and saddle between lungs. Treatment is on-going.

February 25, 2020 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer POWERED HAULAGE
Oconee County · Struck against a moving object

The employee was driving the 1991 forklift up the hill from the plant/pit area to the scale house/shop area. Halfway up the hill, the forklift stopped running & as the employee was calling someone for mechanical assistance, the forklift began rolling backward down the hill. It stopped when it struck the tunnel at the old plant. The employee has no broken bones or internal injuries.

May 6, 2017 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Oconee County · Contact with hot objects or substances

While cutting lifting eyes with a cutting torch, the metal fell off the table. The employee reacted and grazed left shin with the torch causing 1st and 2nd degree burns to an area approximately 3" x 5".

December 30, 2016 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Oconee County · Struck against stationary object

Employee hit their knee on a ladder step leading to a storage bin. The employee reported the injury to the Quarry Foreman on 2/16/17, stating that they needed to see a doctor.

February 4, 2015 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Oconee County · Struck against stationary object

As the employee was exiting Liebherr shovel, he struck his right elbow on the machine. He did not report the injury for approx. 2.5 weeks. Upon visit with a doctor, he was diagnosed with medial epicondyle fx. Was put into a cast, no medication, no lost time, restricted duty for as long as the cast is on the arm.

June 27, 2013 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Oconee County · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was removing a welder from the hitch of a pickup truck, when he sat welder down the jack stand wheel folded up and the welder struck the top of the employees left foot resulting in a hair line fracture.

September 22, 2011 SC · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Oconee County · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Inmate laborer did not mention any problem until later in the evening after being returned to the law enforcement center. He was taken to emergency room at 6:38 pm workday ended at 3:00pm

July 17, 2008 SC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Oconee County · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Customer was clearing tailgate of rock from a previous load when the tailgate slipped from his hand cutting the index finger on his right hand requiring 18 stitches. Customer was seen at the quarry hauling rock again later the same day.

November 13, 2007 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Oconee County · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Miner was climbing into a backdump truck, heard his knee pop and felt pain. After sitting in the truck for 15 minutes he contacted the Quarry Foreman for assistance in getting out of the truck. Upon evaluation, a physician diagnosed the injury as a sprain to the left knee.

July 7, 2005 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Oconee County · Flash burns (welding)

Employee sustained welder's keratitis to the outside corner of his left eye. While welding beside another employee who was also welding, he lifted the hood on his protective helmet to chip slag from the work area. The employee beside him struck his welding rod to the work area on the left side of the injured employee. He reported it the next morning.

April 5, 2005 SC · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Oconee County · Fall onto or against objects

EE WAS ASSISTING 2 COWORKERS. THEY WERE LIFING A SCREEN OFF OF THE FORKS OF THE FORKLIFT. EE LOST HIS GRIP, FALLING BACK ONTO THE SCREEN DECK AND LANDING ON HIS BUTTOCKS.

September 14, 2004 SC · Metal/Non-Metal superintendent HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Oconee County · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE PREPARING TO CHANGE THE OIL IN THE CONE CRUSHER, THE EMPLOYEE REACHED ACROSS A 55 GALLON OIL DRUM TO RELOCATE IT AND FELT A SHARP PAIN IN THE LOWER RIGHT SIDE OF HIS BACK. HE SAW A DOCTOR ON THAT DAY, BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY LOST TIME FROM WORK UNTIL DECEMBER 10, 2004 WHEN THEY DECIDED TO DO SURGERY.

April 2, 2003 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Oconee County · Fall from machine

AT THE END OF THE WORK DAY, EE WAS GETTING OUT OF A 40-TON BACK DUMP TRUCK. HE WAS WALKING DOWN THE STEPS, HIS FEET SLIPPED OUT FROM UNDER HIM, HE GRABBED THE HANDRAIL PULLING THE MUSCLE IN HI S RIGHT SHOULDER AND BRUISING HIS HIP, BACK AND SHOULDER.

November 7, 2002 SC · Metal/Non-Metal mine manager, mine foreman, mine owner OTHER
Oconee County · Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EMPLOYEE WAS IN A COUNTY CAR WHEN A HONEY BEE STUNG HIM ON HIS RIGHT ARM. HE HAD A ALLERGIC REACTION REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION OVERNIGHT.

April 3, 2002 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
Oconee County · Struck by falling object

EE WAS LOOKING UP TO UNTIE A ROPE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO A CUTTING TORCH WHEN A ROCK FELL FROM A SCREEN ABOVE HIM & HIT HIM IN THE EYE.

November 30, 2001 SC · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman MACHINERY
Oconee County · Struck by falling object

EE WAS CUTTING A WORN WEAR PLATE FROM A KAWASAKI LOADER BUCKET WITH A CARBON ARCH WELDER. HE CUT ONE SIDE FREE AND STARTED TO CUT THE OTHER SIDE WHEN THE PLATE GAVE WAY AND FELL ON TOP OF HIS RIGHT FOOT JUST BEHIND THE STEEL TOE AREA OF HISBOOT. THERE WAS A SMALL PUNCTURE WOUND AND A FRACTURE OF TWO BONES IN THE FOOT THAT REQUIRED SURGICAL REPAIR.

November 6, 2000 SC · Metal/Non-Metal truck driver Fatality · POWERED HAULAGE
Oconee County · Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

INJ CONTRACTOR WAS ON THE GROUND, OUTSIDE HIS VEHICLE JUST AFTER HIS TRUCK WAS LOADED. JUST BESIDE THE VICTIM'S TRK ANOTHER CONTRACTOR BEGANBACKING UP TO BE LOADED. THE MOVING VEHICLE WASN OT EQUIPPED WITH AN OPERABLE BACK-UP ALARM. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HE HAD SEEN VICTIM OUTSIDE HIS TRK ON THE BACK LOOKING AT THE ROAD, BUT DID NOT SEE HIM ON THE GROUND. HE SAID HE FELT A BUMP

August 7, 2000 SC · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Oconee County · Fall from machine

WHILE DRIVING A HAUL TRUCK TO THE CRUSHER TO DUMP A LOAD OF ROCK, THE EMPLOYEE SMELLED SMOKE. HECONTINUED UP THE ROAD; THE TRUCK STALLED AND HE JUMPED OUT OF THE TRUCK INJURING HIS LEFT KNEE.

Showing all 23