Weeks Island Mine and Mill — Accidents

Total: 169 accidents | Fatalities: 1

Date Classification Injury Days Lost Narrative
07/07/2009 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was on a ladder disconnecting the cylinder to install cables on a 1200 JLG man lift. He fell from the ladder and suffered a laceration to the elbow and a contusion of the sacrum.
06/20/2009 FALL OF ROOF OR BACK FATALITY Fatal The investigation is not complete, but as of now it appears that the employee had washed the #2 drill and was rolling up the hose when a portion of the mine roof collapsed, striking and covering him w...
01/09/2009 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 28d restricted Employee was placing a blasting cap in a drill hole with his left hand while holding on to the top rail of the loading basket with his right hand. The loading basket moved causing the basket to move a...
12/28/2008 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 74d restricted Employee slipped on slick floor and caught himself before falling to the ground. While slipping he twisted his knee. Employee continued to experience problems and because of his chronic arthritis cond...
12/22/2008 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 33d restricted EE was cleaning tail pulley and had the #5 Kubota parked on the side of him. The Dubota started rolling, rearing him from the back and causing him to slip and fall, hurting his knees. EE was sent for...
12/09/2008 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 139d lost The employee was riding in a gator into the salt mine to fix a scaler. A piece of rock salt fell from above and broke his right femar and fractured bones below the knee cap.
07/26/2008 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 50d restricted Employee waws replacing a .25 inch fuel line on the powder rig engine and did not realize the cover was not secured. When he attempted to remove the fuel line from the engine, the cover on the driver...
07/16/2008 DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA) OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 6d restricted Employee reported pain in right wrist when she woke up on report date. Employee sought medical help and was diagnosed with tendonitis. Further medical evaluation revealed that the employee would need...
01/26/2008 DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA) OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 35d restricted Original incident occurred on 1/26/08. EE sought medical attention and was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. He continued to experience problems and after seeking further medial treatment require...
12/10/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was standing on the southwest side of the chlorinator station inside the strip curtain observing another employee attempting to remove the chlorinator. Upon breaking the seal with the bottle...
12/01/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 31d restricted Employee was standing on hitch receiver to put coolant in the Grove. Employee grabbed coolant and hitch rotated, causing employee to slip off and fall to the ground.
08/31/2007 IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST ACCIDENT ONLY None The face in 27KW was shot at the end of the night shift, approx 6:30am. When the powder crew went underground to inspect the faces, they found 5 small fires in the face and muckpile. After checking CO...
08/04/2007 ALL OTHER OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESSES OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 None Original incident occurred on 8/4/07 when employee strained right shoulder. Employee has again experienced problems with his shoulder and sought additional medical treatment. Employee was diagnosed wi...
04/28/2007 HOISTING ACCIDENT ONLY None Four men were on top of cage, approximately 200' below the collar of the #4 shaft removing pipe when a failure of the hoist motor occurred. This failure was caused by a phase to phase fault. The crew...
04/05/2007 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 93d restricted Employee has just finished closing a barge cover. He turned to exit off the top of the barge, slipped and slid off the side of the barge between the bulkhead and the barge.
03/07/2007 FALL OF FACE/RIB/PILLAR/SIDE/HIGHWALL ACCIDENT ONLY None Outburst - 1400' level - room 29 B-east. Outburst occurred during a shot. No one was in the mine at the time. Miners returned to production work in the mine after it ventilated for approximately five...
11/30/2006 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While trying to put the bottom bucket pin back in place on 980 loader with a sledge hammer, the hammer hit the bucket, glancing off of the bucket & striking his left leg.
11/20/2006 MACHINERY PERM TOT OR PERM PRTL DISABLTY 34d restricted Employee was cleaning end caps when his finger contacted a moving drive chain. This contact caused a tip amputation of the middle right finger.
11/13/2006 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 62d restricted EE was inspecting the oil cooler for leaks on the scaler. The hinged cover was secured in an upright position with a rope attached to the scaler's boom. The rope that was securing the oil cooler in an...
06/02/2006 EXPLOSIVES AND BREAKING AGENTS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 182d restricted EE was standing behind another Powderman who had tied in a misfired non-electric blasting cap to a spool of Cordex e-cord. The other EE began backing away from the face, unspooling the e-cord. The oth...
06/02/2006 EXPLOSIVES AND BREAKING AGENTS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 173d restricted EE was tying in an anodes non-electric blasting cap that did not detonate during previous main shot. He tied the cap's shock tube onto a roll of Cordex e-cord and then began backing away from the cap...
03/13/2006 IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST ACCIDENT ONLY None The faces in 28K North & South were shot at 6:30 AM. When the fire boss crew went undergroung to inspect the faces, they found gas discharging from several blast holes, and the gas was burning. After...
10/18/2005 MACHINERY PERM TOT OR PERM PRTL DISABLTY 96d restricted PRECISE ADJUSTMENT OF OILER REQUIRED POWER DUE TO SYSTEM DESIGN. WHILE MAKING THE FINAL ADJUSTMENT TO THE OILER LINKAGE ROD, THE EE WAS INATTENTIVE TO HAZARDS & PLACED HIS LEFT HAND ON THE OILER SUPPO...
06/01/2005 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None THE EMPLOYEE WAS STANDING BEHIND A 50 LB BAG OF ANFO. THE BAG WAS SITTING UPRIGHT ON THE GROUND. HE USED A SAFETY KNIFE TO OPEN THE POLY BAG, AS HE CUT THE BAG, HE WAS PULLING THE KNIFE TOWARDS HIMSEL...
02/18/2005 IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST ACCIDENT ONLY None 28B NORTH FACE HAD SMALL FLAMES AFTER BLASTING. AFTER CHECKING CO AND METHANE LEVELS, SUPER EXTINGUISHED FLAMES. MULTIPLE RE-IGNITIONS OCCURED, PROMPTLY EXTNINGUISHED. SALT WAS MUCKED OUT OF THE FACE...
11/26/2004 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 70d lost AN 8' X 8' X 1/2"" STEEL PLATE WAS BEING USED AS FORWORK FOR A 20' X 8' TALL WALL. DURING THE CONCRETE POUR, THE WALL TIES FAILED AND THE EMPLOYEE'S LOWER RIGHT LEG WAS STRUCK BY THE STEEL PLATE AND P...
10/30/2004 IGNITION OR EXPLOSION OF GAS OR DUST ACCIDENT ONLY None THE FACE IN 27CN ON THE 1400' LEVEL WAS SHOT AT 6:30 AM. WHEN THE PRESHIFT CREW WENT UNDERGROUND TO CHECK THE FACES, THEY FOUND METHANE GAS DISCHARGING FROM SOME OF THE BLASTED HOLES. THE METHANE WA...
10/04/2004 STEPPING OR KNEELING ON OBJECT DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 5d restricted Ee alleged that on 10/4/04 during 3rd shift while moving an undercutter cable he stepped on a rock with his left foot. Ee did not experience pain at that time. Later the ee's foot began to hurt & he s...
07/21/2004 MACHINERY ALL OTHER CASES (INCL 1ST AID) None While tramming in scaler employee ran over chunk of salt causing him to lose his balance and fall to both knees.
04/07/2004 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was disembarking the volvo 150 loader and slipped from the bottom ladder rung. he managed to break his fall with his hands, spraining his left wrist. ee experienced swelling in his wrist and furthe...
03/05/2004 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 42d restricted EE HAD TO MOVE AN ELECTRICAL CABLE FOR AN UNDERCUTTER. CABLE WAS BENEATH WHERE STAB JACK WOULD GO. EE USED A HOT STICK TO PULL THE CABLE. AS EE PULLED, THE STICK SLIPPED OFF THE CABLE AND EE LOST HIS...
02/05/2004 ENTRAPMENT ACCIDENT ONLY None THE PLANT LOST UTILITY POWER, DISABLING THE SECONDARY ESCAPEWAY. A MINE EVACUATION IMMEDIATELY COMMENCED IN THE PRIMARY ESCAPEWAY USING THE EMERGENCY GENERATOR. AFTER PARTIAL EVACUATION, THE G ENERATO...
09/23/2003 NO VALUE FOUND ALL OTHER CASES (INCL 1ST AID) None THE #10 LHD WAS STOPPED IN 2WB ON THE 1200 LEVEL. EE, DRIVING A GATOR, STOPPED TO PASS THE LHD. HE FLASHED HIS LIGHTS TO PASS, AND BEGAN TO DRIVE AROUND THE LHD. THE LHD OPERATOR DID NOT SEE T HE SIGN...
09/16/2003 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 63d restricted ON 9/16/03, EMPLOYEE HAD CLIMBED DOWN A LADDER AND STEPPED TO THE GROUND. AS HE TURNED TO WALK, HE TRIPPED AND FELL. THIS INJURED HIS RIGHT SHOULDER. EMPLOYEE SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION AND WAS RELEASED...
08/26/2003 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 179d restricted EE WAS RETURNING FROM BREAK. EE STEPPED INTO PATH OF FORK TRUCK. FORK TRUCK OPERATOR WAS UNABLE TO AVOID EE. THE FORK TRUCK AND EE COLLIDED. EE SUFFERED TORN LIGAMENT IN LEFT KNEE. INSPECTION OF FORK...
08/06/2003 HOISTING ACCIDENT ONLY None HOIST ROPE PULLED OUT OF A RELIANCE BARKER DAVIES CAPPEL ON A LOADED SKIP. SKIP FELL FROM 30' ABOVE SURFACE COLLAR TO BOTTOM OF SHAFT AT 1400;LEVEL. PER THE MANUFACTURER THIS CAPPEL WAS DEFE CTIVE WHE...
04/17/2003 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 38d restricted EE STEERED ATV FULL RIGHT & STEERING LOCKED. TO AVOID MACHINE TIPPING OVER, HE USED LEFT FOOT ON GROUND TO STABILIZE THE UNIT WHILE STOPPING. THE MAIN FRAME BROKE CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK. INI TIAL ME...
03/12/2003 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE WAS CHIPPING ON A POST-INDICATING VALVE FOR THE PLANT FIRE SYSTEM AND WAS WEARING SAFETY GLASSES WITH SIDE SHIELDS ALONG WITH FACE SHIELD. EE BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE IRRITATION IN HIS RIGHT EY E AFTER...
01/14/2003 HOISTING ACCIDENT ONLY None EE WAS USING A FEL TO LOAD SUPPLIES ONTO THE HOIST MANCAGE. AS THE EE BACKED OUT AWAY FROM THE MANCAGE THE FEL'S FORK BRACKET CAUGHT THE SIDE OF THE MANCAGE & DAMAGED THE MANCAGE. A SECTION OF CHANNEL...
01/04/2003 FIRE ACCIDENT ONLY None THE #8 LHD CAUGHT FIRE WHILE MUCKING A FACE IN 15THN ON THE 1000 LEVEL. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE REAR OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, NEAR THE RADIATOR. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE EE DID NOT TUR...
12/16/2002 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 48d restricted EE WAS CLEANING TAILPIECE OF BELT CONVEYOR WHEN SHE NOTICED ONE OF THE EXPANDED METAL GUARDS WASOUT OF POSITION. THE EE GRABBED THE EDGE OF THE GUARD AND ATTEMPTED TO MOVE IT. 2 OF THE EE'S FINGERS WE...
11/18/2002 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 10d restricted EE WAS REPAIRING PUMP. PIPE HANGERS IN CEILING PULLED OUT WHEN TRYING TO DISASSEMBLE THE PUMP CAUSING LACERATION AND FRACTURE TO EE'S THUMB.
10/14/2002 OTHER DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 5d lost, 5d restricted HAND TOOL LAYING ON ROOF TARP WAS THROWN BY HIGH WINDS STRIKING EE IN THE FACE CAUSING SMALL LACERATION TO CHEEK AREA.
09/09/2002 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None WHILE PULLING THE DRIVE BELT BY HAND TO CHECK ALIGNMENT EMPLOYEE'S LEFT THUMB WAS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE BELT AND SHEAVE. HE WAS NOT WEARING GLOVES.
08/08/2002 HOISTING ACCIDENT ONLY None THE #3 HOIST WAS HOISTING SALT IN AUTOMATIC MODE, WITH THE WEST SKIP COMING UP LOADED, THE HOIST WAS TRIPPED OFF BY THE OPERATOR. THIS CAUSED THE UNLOADED EAST SKIP TO BOUNCE ON THE END OF T HE ROPE,...
06/11/2002 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 7d restricted EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PLACE A 12-VOLT BATTERY INTO THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME TRYING TO HOLD HINGED COVER ON THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT OPEN. WHILE LOWERING THE BATTERY INTO THE COMPA...
04/10/2002 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EMPLOYEE WAS KNEELING ON FLOOR ON RIGHT KNEE CUTTING A USED BELT, PULLING THE UTILITY KNIFE TOWARDS HIMSELF, HE CUT THE BELT AND IN THE SAME MOTION CUT HIS LEG.
04/08/2002 FALL OF ROOF OR BACK ACCIDENT ONLY None OUTBURT - 1400' LEVEL- ROOM 23I GOING NORTH. OUTBURST IN MINING DIRECTION. OUTBURST OCCURRED DURING SHOT. NO ONE WAS IN THE MINE AT THE TIME. MINERS RETURNED TO WORKINGS AFTER VENTILATING FOR APPROXIM...
02/22/2002 DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA) OCCUPATNAL ILLNESS NOT DEG 1-6 104d restricted EMPLOYEE'S JOB IS TO LOAD VERTICAL BENCHES WITH EXPLOSIVES (50 LB ANFO AT 1.5 BAGS PER HOLE). REPEATED MOTION OF THIS JOB OVER TIME IS BELIEVED TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO SORENESS TO ELBOWS. EMPLO YEE REQ...
02/13/2002 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 26d restricted EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE SEVERAL BOLTS FROM A MOUNTING FLANGE BY HITTING ON FLANGE PLATE W/4 LB SLEDGEHAMMER. HIS FINGER WAS CAUGHT BTWN 1 OF THE BOLTS & THE HAMMER HANDLE AS HEAD OF HAMMER CONTACT...