Fort Smith Plant — Accidents

Total: 74 accidents | Fatalities: 0

Date Classification Injury Days Lost Narrative
01/02/2026 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 7d restricted While holding the belt the injured worker re positioned a hand to secure the belt from moving, the worker cutting the belt continued cutting the blade moved & cut the left hand behind the index finger...
10/28/2025 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 2d lost Lab tech was in the laboratory, walking into the mill testing area from the main room. When transitioning through the doorway from the main room into the mill testing area, the miner slipped on the ti...
11/03/2023 POWERED HAULAGE DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 3d lost, 64d restricted Employee was working in a tight space using a mini skid steer to remove sand. The employee backed up and hit their arm on a support beam. The employees hand pressed against the machine causing a fract...
07/28/2022 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 5d lost, 31d restricted At 18:35 on July 28, 2022, A utility operator, was completing EE's pre-shift inspection on the CAT forklift and dropped EE's pen. The employee crouched down and leaned forward, putting EE's hand on t...
03/09/2021 POWERED HAULAGE DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 5d lost, 3d restricted The production operator transported a hot cooler breach hopper. When the production operator let their gloved left hand down. The sand flowed into the glove causing second degree burns on the left han...
02/28/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 4d lost, 3d restricted Miner was moving a sand tilt hopper using a forklift. Once the hopper sand contents were discharged, the hopper did not return to its upright position. Miner then parked and dismounted forklift and pu...
02/13/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 2d restricted Shoulder sprain resulting from manual labor removing lids from air slides.
11/18/2020 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 2d lost Miner used a forklift to move hopper filled with hot sand from a kiln system. Once at the tipping location, miner lifted hopper to shoulder height, got out of the forklift and released the lever to ti...
01/17/2015 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None An employee of a temporary contractor (Shutdown Solutions - MSHA Contractor ID# A1732) stated he was in the process of tearing down equipment when he smashed his pinky finger between a brick roller an...
10/15/2014 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 6d restricted He was using the blow gun to clean out pipes - pipe was clog causing it to blow out and employee lost his balance and hit a beam injuring his neck, left upper back and right are
08/19/2014 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 147d restricted On 8/19/14 the employee stated he was climbing the fixed, vertical ladder when he accidentally struck his left hand pinky on the ladder rung above his head. The Employee did not request medical atten...
06/21/2014 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While reaching up with meter leads to conduct a ground check, an unknown and undetected foreign object entered the employee's left eye. The employee was later taken to a local emergency room where no...
12/31/2013 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 36d restricted While descending a 4 ft step ladder with one foot on the first rung, and the other foot on the second rung, the employee's boot got hung up on the step causing him to loose his balance and fall to the...
02/06/2013 STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 20d restricted Employee stepped from an I-beam onto concrete floor, inadvertently stepping on a clinker causing him to twist his left knee. He was seen by the company Doctor on 2/8/13, diagnoses - strain. No restr...
03/07/2012 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee and co-worker were cleaning blockage in the heat exchanger cyclone: employee was sprayed with hot dust, resulting in second degree burns to left side of his face and left upper chest.
02/08/2012 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was using a 4 inch grinder to cut a piece of flat metal for construction of an equipment guard; grinding wheel caught the sleeve of employee's shirt and pulled the grinding wheel into employe...
01/22/2012 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 7d restricted EE was raking and sweeping loose material from the floor around an elevator when he overextended his reach and suffered a strained muscle in the lower back.
04/28/2011 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE manoeuvring a scissors lift through a narrow passage in order to access the back side of a mixer screw chute. His left hand on the rail of the lift to balance himself. Was concentrating on clearing...
01/20/2011 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 21d restricted EE was walking through plant 2 on her way to the lunch room for lunch break. She slipped and fell on some loose proppant on the floor, suffering a lumbar strain and contusions to her left shoulder and...
11/03/2010 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was cleaning loose material off the floor in the forming area. He had formed a small pile of material to shovel into the hopper and when he attempted to step over the pile he slipped and fell, frac...
10/06/2010 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was attempting to latch a flip hopper back in place. Hopper had slid forward too far for the pins to fit into the openings on track. EE was attempting to latch it by holding latch open with lt hand...
09/18/2010 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee went to change the belts on a dust collector fan. When he removed the guard, his right hand struck a sharp edge of the guard. He received a laceration on his hand, between the thumb and index...
10/13/2009 MACHINERY DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 2d restricted Employee was clearing a plug-in in a binder rotary eeder. Airborne binder dust creates a potential explosion if conditins are right. Airborne dust was pulled into the dryer below by recirculation fan...
09/30/2008 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was using a chipping hammer to chip hardened material off the cooler gear, a piece of the chisel side of the hammer broke off, penetrating employee's left thumb. This was classified as a firs...
09/16/2008 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 20d restricted Employee experienced a lumbar strain while changing bags in a dust collector bag house.
07/23/2008 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Due to equipment malfunction, employee was manually lighting burner on dryer, dust and hot air from dryer irritated his eyes, resulting in a secondary conjunctive infection.
07/23/2008 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was using a flip hopper mounted on a forklift to dump trash in a large waste container. When the hopper was tipped, it rocked backward pinching EE's left pinky finger, resulting in a laceration and...
09/30/2007 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee cut left thumb while slicing summer sausage for his lunch.
09/19/2007 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was standing a concrete equipment pad performing maintenance on the P-2 ball mill lube system. When he stepped down to the catwalk approx. 24"" below, he felt pain in his foot. An X-ray was i...
08/24/2007 POWERED HAULAGE PERM TOT OR PERM PRTL DISABLTY None Utility EE was leaning against a guardrail with his arms stretched along th top rail and his hand hanging over the end. A forklift was exiting the area in reverse and struck the end of the guardrail w...
07/14/2007 NONPOWERED HAULAGE NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE & 2 co-workers were pushing a cooking cart under support beam in forming area. Insufficient clearance for equip on cart to clear beams. Piece of equip struck beam, tilted backward & pinched inj EE'...
06/21/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 43d restricted EE was loading a clinker buster with a flip hopper & when he raised the lever type handle, to open the clam shell on the hopper, he strained his right elbow & forearm.
06/11/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was doing clean-up of loose material on the floor of the forming area; he mad a change from regular shovel to a scoop shovel because it was faster. While using the scoop shovel, he rec'd thoracic s...
03/24/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 16d restricted Employee was part of a crew changing bags in dust collection systems over a period of several days. He was sent to the dr complaining a neck and right arm pain and was diagnosed with a cervical strain...
08/03/2006 DISORDERS (PHYSICAL AGENTS) OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 5d restricted Affected employee and co-worker were cleaning Rotex screens in the plant 2 forming area when the affected employee suffered heat stress. The outside temperatur was 102 degrees that day, increasing the...
04/18/2006 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 8d restricted Employee was performing regular clean-up tasks; while shoveling, he felt a ""pinching"" pain in the right lumbar area. When he straightened up to try to stretch the pinch out, he suffered a lumbar spr...
03/23/2006 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 1d restricted Injured EE was holding a pipe in place while maintenance personnel welded an extension on one end. The pipe was not securely blocked and it fell, crushing the EE's left ring and pinkie fingers between...
02/15/2006 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 24d restricted EE was raking loose material under the belt into piles for shoveling. A shovel was leaning against the wall behind him. The shovel was bumped causing it to fall under the belt and thrown back against...
10/22/2005 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 10d restricted To eliminate sweeping to clean up area, employees had placed 5 gal buckets under a conveyor belt to catch spillage. When employee attempted to remove a bucket, it hung up on the equipment frame. When...
09/01/2005 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 37d restricted Injured ee was attempting a to roll a drive belt onto a sheave that was under tension: when the belt broke over the top, his left hand was caught between the belt and sheave, resulting in a crushing i...
06/22/2005 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 4d restricted EE WAS MANUALLY REMOVING THE TOP PALLET FROM A STACK APPROX. CHEST HIGH WHEN HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN THE LEFT LOWER BACK. HE WAS EVALUATED BY THE COMPANY PHYSICIAN AND DIAGNOSED WITH A BACK STRAIN....
06/16/2005 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 493d restricted Employee was doing pre-shift inspection on a yard tractor; lost his balance while lifting the hood back and fell backward, causing the hood to strike him on the right shoulder.
05/06/2005 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Contractor was cutting cross-brace loose on baghouse frame to remove and repair damaged duct work. The cross-brace was apparently twisted from being struck by a piece or mobile equipment. When the bra...
03/11/2005 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 58d restricted EE AND A CO-WORKER WERE REPLACING A SECONDARY ROTOR IN A MIXER. EE LOST GRIP ON THE SHAFT WHILE BRINGING IT TO AN UPRIGHT POSITION, ALLOWING THE ROTOR TO FALL. EE PINKIE FINGER ON LEFT HAND WAS CAUGHT...
02/09/2005 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 9d restricted EE STEPPED ON A RAKE LEANING AGAINST A SUPPORT POST. WHEN THE HANDLE OF THE RAKE FLIPPED UP, EE THREW RIGHT HAND UP TO PROTECT FACE. THE HANDLE STRUCK HAND RESULTING IN A CONTUSION AND BRUISE TO THUMB...
02/02/2005 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 21d restricted EE AND 2 COWORKERS WERE BUILDING ROTEX SCREENS. EE PICKED THE ROLL OF WIRE UP OFF THE TABLE AND SET IT ON THE FLOOR. A PIECE OF LOOSE WIRE PUNCTURED THE RIGHT FOREARM OF EE AND BROKE OFF IN HIS ARM.
07/06/2004 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None INJURED EMPLOYEE AND TWO CO-WORKERS WERE REMOVING OLD CARTRIDGES AFTER REBAGGING A BAG HOUSE. INJURED EE WAS STRUCK IN THE MOUTH WITH A CARTRIDGE AND THE IMPACE KNOCKED 4 TEETH LOOSE. NOTE: IT WAS NOT...
06/02/2004 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 5d restricted EE SLIPPED AND FELL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST THE FORKS ON A FORKLIFT.
04/05/2004 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 29d restricted EE AND ANOTHER MECHANIC WERE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE BACK DOOR ON A DRYER. THE DOOR WAS STUCK AND EMPLOYEES WERE PULLING ON IT TO FREE IT. ONE SIDE CAME LOOSE AND FELL DOWN, PINNING EE'S RIGHT HAND B...
02/21/2004 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE WAS PULLING A SMAPLE OF COARSE MATERIAL THRU A CLAMSHELL ON THE END OF A DISTRIBUTION PIPE IN THE SIZING AREA. HE WAS HOLDING THE CLAMSHELL OPEN WITH HIS RIGHT HAND AND APPARENTLY PLACED HI S LEFT...