Big Island Mine & Refinery — Accidents

Total: 239 accidents | Fatalities: 2

Date Classification Injury Days Lost Narrative
05/16/2025 INUNDATION ACCIDENT ONLY None On Friday, May 16th, 2025 about 9:30am, it was observed that some of our ventilation structures on the lower west section had been compromised. As an abundance of caution, we evacuated the mine. Venti...
04/26/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 8d lost Employee was trouble shooting a plugged line. When the washout came free it sprayed hot liquid onto the employee resulting in 1st and 2nd degree burns on their forearm, neck and upper chest.
04/02/2025 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 37d restricted The employee dropped a 5-foot vertical section of scaffold tubing on self when the employee hooked the rosette on an I-beam while trying to position it. The I-Beam pulled the tube off the pin of the...
06/16/2024 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None On 6/16/24, at 2:00pm 7K01 Kiln rotation tripped. CBO notified Field Operator to inspect the trip. Field Operator noticed the bull gear had flames coming from the area. Utilized a fire extinguisher an...
02/21/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 95d lost Employee was loading a shuttle car brake onto the back of a side by side. Employee felt pain in left shoulder. Evaluation by orthopedic shown a tear in rotator cuff.
10/10/2023 HOISTING ACCIDENT ONLY None Lost incoming power from local utility which created a loss of power throughout the facility. We were able to run our main escape hoist with back up generator but the other 2 escape hoists were down....
04/13/2023 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 58d restricted Employee was spoiling cable from spoil reel. Employee slipped and fell on sled grating. They were taken to town for evaluation. Left wrist was fractured.
01/03/2023 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 64d lost Employee stepped down off of the continuous miner onto uneven ground and rolled their left ankle. This resulted in an injury to the left fibula.
12/01/2022 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 14d restricted Employee was working on replacing a gear box. The gear box shifted and smashed right index finger. Employee was taken to town for evaluation. Right index finger is fractured.
11/07/2022 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While employee was getting off pipe trailer, they placed their hand on guide bar for deck, smashing left ring finger in-between guide and deck.
07/29/2022 MACHINERY DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 76d lost Miner operator's right arm was hit by right bolter during the mining cycle. Employee was transported to hospital and received stitches.
01/25/2022 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 62d lost Employee was lifting a 4 in vacuum hose and felt sharp pain in right arm. Employee was taken for evaluation and it was determined that the tendon between the forearm and bicep had a tear. Employee had...
09/23/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was helping change the inner boom of the miner CM02. While guiding the hoses that run through the boom, the boom shifted from the front causing the boom to strike the employee's right thumb b...
06/02/2021 OTHER INJURIES DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES None Working in unit on filter deck. Cleaning at end of shift. Noticed employee acting slightly confused. Engaged employee, employee stated they were ok, but did not seem ok. Walked employee downstairs...
04/30/2021 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 22d restricted Employee carrying vacuum hose down belt galley tripped and fell receiving a cut on right arm. Employee was transported for evaluation and was shown to have a fracture of their rib.
04/07/2021 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 33d lost Employee walking to enter the admin building. Tripped on curb stepping up on to the sidewalk. Fall resulted in fracture of upper arm.
09/08/2020 MACHINERY ACCIDENT ONLY None Lost power and fans to mine at 2:00am and therefore had to evacuate mine. Power and fans were restored at 10:45am.
08/03/2020 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 17d restricted Employee was removing 2 inch drain pipe on swing pump while cleaning. Pipe slipped pinching left ring finger resulting in fracture of tip of finger and stitches. Employee released with restrictions.
07/03/2020 EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 3d restricted EE was calibrating level indicator on condensate line. While taking off the back of the indicator, the nipple from tank broke spraying employee on both forearms and leg. Employee was treated and rel...
01/18/2020 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 66d lost An employee was trying to pick up a DB box with a forklift. The forklift knocked the DB box over and it struck the injured employee in the leg.
01/02/2020 HOISTING ACCIDENT ONLY None Lost #1 hoist due to bad upper limit switch. Hoist was returned to full service at 8:50AM.
12/08/2019 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 15d restricted Employee was driving loaded shuttle car back to the feeder from the face when they hit a rock in the road. Employee felt pain in lower lumbar, so was taken into town for evaluation. Employee was seen...
09/09/2019 STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 62d restricted Shift employee was checking train cars. Employee exited side-by-side and stepped on a rock with left ankle causing it to roll. Employee was transported to town and evaluated. Returned to work with...
09/04/2019 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 52d restricted Employee was roof bolting when roof steel fell from mine roof striking and fracturing employee's right index finger. Employee received medical treatment, was transported into town and examined.
08/26/2019 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 60d restricted Employee was cutting a splice on shuttle car when box knife broke. Momentum caused knife to cut left pinky finger. Employee returned to work with restrictions.
08/21/2019 HOISTING ACCIDENT ONLY None Lost #1 hoist due to an electrical switch.
06/12/2019 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was working to reset manlift in Unit 5. While attempting, employee stepped through manhole opening resulting in laceration above the knee. Employee was taken to town and received 7 stitches...
06/06/2019 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 3d restricted Employee was trying to secure and stack the pipe, the pipe shifted pinching their left middle and left ring fingers. The employee was taken to town, referred to a specialist for evaluation.
05/05/2019 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee walking towards Unit 5 in area that appeared to be mud. Stepped on a spot, right foot slid into hole which was full of condensate. Removed boot, condensate burnt area around right ankle. Empl...
04/04/2019 FALLING/SLIDING/ROLLING MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was in the process of flagging an area in Unit 7 to identify a hazard when a chunk of hardened liquor fell striking individual on left hand creating a cut to the left 3rd digit of the hand. I...
02/23/2019 INUNDATION ACCIDENT ONLY None At 7:00 am seen a rise in methane levels at the bottom of our main exhaust fan which reached 1%. Evacuated the mine, deenergized power, and notified MSHA.
01/09/2019 MACHINERY DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 11d lost, 13d restricted Roof Bolt Operator smashed right ring finger between bolt and mast. Evaluated by doctor; required stitches. Released back to next scheduled shift with restrictions.
11/07/2018 OTHER INJURIES DUE TO NATURAL CAUSES None Employee was found non responsive in the control room. MSHA was notified. Employee was transported to town and declared deceased by natural causes.
10/31/2018 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was cutting skirting for belt line. Knife cut through skirting cutting the employee's left thumb. Employee was evaluated and required stitches. The employee returned back to work.
10/31/2018 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 163d lost Employee was handling roof mesh and smashed finger between mesh and bolt.
09/27/2018 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Working on sloped area with grinder improper placement of footing resulted in a laceration above the knee. While cutting metal form on the pillar foot slipped and lost control of the grinder.
05/10/2018 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was grinding, felt object in eye. Flushed the eye and headed back to work. Eye became irritated. Employee was taken to doctor and evaluated. Object was removed from the eye and antibiotic...
12/21/2017 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 10d lost, 38d restricted On 12-21 employees were changing valve. Valve slipped striking employee in the shoulder area. Employee was taken to doctor and evaluated and was released to return to work. Employee later experienc...
08/13/2017 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee working to empty a bin hit their left middle finger with a rubber hammer. The employee was evaluated and was found their finger tip had been fractured. The finger was wrapped and padded and t...
07/18/2017 NONPOWERED HAULAGE NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While employees were using the A-frame to transport roof vent fans on the U3 Eavps roof, one of the leading wheels of the A-frame caught on an obstruction underneath the roofing causing it to tip over...
07/03/2017 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 2d lost Employee was working on a belt line. The employees foot slipped and they felt a twinge in their back. Employee finished shift and later pain worsened and they went to the ER.
04/27/2017 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 25d restricted Employee was taking trash to hopper and twisted knee in a pothole.
12/02/2016 MACHINERY DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 7d restricted Employee was using double boom Fletcher roof bolter to install resin bolts. Auger plugged up and employee removed first auger to check suction. Second auger wasn't secure and came free and hit operato...
10/27/2016 STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 32d lost, 64d restricted Employee stepped out of the man trip on to a rock and twisted their knee.
08/17/2016 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee walked over grating and slipped on the corner of grating and fell on arm. This caused a laceration on the arm.
02/15/2016 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 13d restricted Employee was retrieving a hose from a hose bib. EE opened a valve thinking it was closed and caused hot mud to spray onto EE's hand.
02/09/2016 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 27d restricted Employee was up on the deca prepping for welding. Employee slipped on a pipe and fell on right hip.
06/21/2015 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 31d restricted EE was emptying a soda ash hopper with a guzzler truck and a chunk became lodged at the end of the hose. EE went to remove the chunk with the EE's hands. EE successfully removed the chunk. EE's rig...
05/05/2015 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee smashed his finger in the door of a heat exchanger.
04/06/2015 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was working on fiber cast line got something in his eye, rinsed their eye out. Eye felt fine. Two days later, employee felt discomfort in their right eye. Was taken to the dr. for evaluati...