White Mesa Mill — Accidents

Total: 45 accidents | Fatalities: 0

Date Classification Injury Days Lost Narrative
02/03/2026 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While performing a drilling task, the operator was applying manual pressure to the tool. The drill bit snapped unexpectedly under tension. The sudden release of resistance caused the operator's hand t...
03/09/2025 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Miner was cleaning rocks out of the apron feeder in the tunnel. The left index finger was smashed between the bar the miner was using and the apron feeder wall. The contact resulted in the tip of the...
02/28/2025 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 17d lost, 52d restricted On 2/28/25, an employee injured EE's right knee while unloading drums from a trailer. EE climbed over drums to access tie-downs and jumped onto the trailer bed, landing awkwardly. Initial care was con...
01/21/2025 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 2d restricted The employee was using a hook knife to cut zip ties from a band when the knife slipped lacerating the tip of the middle finger on the left hand.
07/12/2024 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee picked up a flex hose to move it. During the movement something flew into EE' eyes. Later during the shift EE' eyes became itchy and irritated. The employee was wearing safety glasses at t...
04/26/2024 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While stripping wire insulation with a razor knife, an employee's grip slipped, causing the blade to cut their left index finger on the opposite hand, resulting in a laceration.
03/02/2024 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee received a laceration to the tip of the index finger on the left hand while operating a drill press. This required 5 stitches to close the wound.
07/06/2023 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee installed Leach Tank #3 lid section to fit into place. The lid was stuck causing employee to push lid with right leg causing overexertion of their knee. Employee did not notice any pain at th...
03/28/2023 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee miss-stepped ascending a short flight of steps jamming left big toe/foot
01/11/2023 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was breaking up a hardened caustic chunk so that it would fit into a hopper when EE smashed finger against a solid object. This resulted in a fracture to the tip of the pinky finger on the r...
10/11/2022 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was stripping electrical wire using a box knife with a motion towards self and stabbed self in the right thigh. This resulted in a one inch laceration the depth of the blade, requiring three...
10/04/2021 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 35d restricted The employees were working on a 150 lbs. head tank frame that was sitting on the walkway grating. As they went to move the frame, EE #1 noticed welding rods and attempted to move them as EE #2 moved t...
08/07/2018 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None A miner was using an angle grinder to cut conduit when the miner reached around the conduit to cut the back side the grinder bound up and bounced towards the miner striking left forearm causing the in...
02/11/2016 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 195d restricted The employee was walking on an icy surface and EE's feet went out from under EE causing EE to land on EE's bottom. The employee dropped EE's right arm to soften the fall and injured EE's shoulder. The...
02/21/2014 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 24d lost, 40d restricted The employee was using a sand blaster when the breather hose got stuck. The employee pulled on the hose slipped on the grit under his feet and lost his balance and lost control of the nozzle. Sand bla...
09/11/2013 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 26d restricted The employee was lifting one end of a 250 pound cutting edge when he felt a sharp pain in the lower right side of his stomach. The pain went away but a report was filled out. He was later diagnosed wi...
11/13/2012 MACHINERY DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 13d restricted The employee was removing a cutting edge of a loader bucket using an impact wrench. The weight of the impact wrench pushed the spinning edge of the bolt out of the recessed hole of the bucket the bolt...
05/23/2011 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 15d lost Previous shift overflowed a tank with heated solution and soda ash. The crew then removed a set of grates in the sump area to pump the solutions back into the circuit. The crew then changed at shift...
12/03/2010 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Men were air lancing inside tank to break up solids to drain. Coupler came loose from hose and began whipping, hitting employee on hand.
10/02/2008 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was holding a sample to begin testing when he wrenched back.
09/16/2008 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was using a fusion welder, pipe rolled causing the clamp to pinch the right thumb
08/27/2008 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Hit in the face with a pipe. Glancing blow while loosing a hugger.
07/12/2008 FIRE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 26d lost Employee had 2 lighters and ""screamers"" in his pants pocket, one of which ignited while grinding. Employee claims screamers were spent already and that the lighter ignited. Employee received 3rd d...
07/05/2008 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None While supporting a 10"" drisco pipe for welding, a second employee pushed the pipe which pinched and cut the right index finger finger of the employee. The injured employee received several stitches.
04/01/2008 MACHINERY NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was grinding fiberglass. Grinder caught and kicked back catching employee's hand and lacerating left finger, needing stitches.
03/11/2008 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee was tapping beaker to check for weakness. Beaker shattered and lacerated left hand with glass shards.
02/25/2008 MACHINERY DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY None Employee was cleaning slimy material from boots with steam hose. Burned ankle.
02/21/2008 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY None Employee was moving from one work site to another, slipped on wet concrete, landed on lt. checking on wooden curbing, broke 3 ribs.
02/12/2008 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 8d restricted Employee was dismantling guard when it fell onto hand lacerating rt. big finger. He was going to replace the bolts on the centrifuge pump.
01/09/2008 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Slipped on ice, landed on back.
01/03/2008 HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED) NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Pulling on ratchet. Ratchet and socket slipped and hit Rt. upper lip causing a cut that required sutures.
11/12/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 74d restricted Employee was emptying drums of material onto conveyor for processing. The contents had hardened and had to be removed by hand. While removing drum from platform, the employee's hand was pinned between...
06/21/2007 MACHINERY ALL OTHER CASES (INCL 1ST AID) None EE was cleaning breakers removing chloroform & ammonidate. This man realized that the exhaust fan was not functioning correctly at this time, noticed more fumes than usual. Advised his supervisor of t...
04/26/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Man was sitting down, preparing samples for analysis dropped pipe and filled with acid (hxs04) onto lap, material spilled onto leg and ran onto leg & buttock area burning employee.
04/18/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS ALL OTHER CASES (INCL 1ST AID) None Dismantling an abandon sulfuric acid line. All valves were closed. Hydrogen gas build up in pipe caused a sudden release when the line was being disconnected. Sulfuric Acid material was blown onto...
02/01/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 16d restricted Subject was cleaning filter plates on filter press when he pinched his pinky finger between the plate and filter railings.
01/19/2007 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE was loading a barrel into crushing machine, got left long finger wedged between barrel and frame, smashed and ripped finger.
08/19/2005 HANDLING OF MATERIALS NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee received caustic burns to both arms when material splashed up in the sleeves of his wet gear. PPE was not wore correctly. Employee then did not flush the area until after an hour had gone b...
04/07/2005 OTHER NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None Employee had respirator cartridges that plugged off and caused the respirator pressure inside of mask to rupture the left ear drum. Doctors remarked that no permanent injury was sustained during the...
08/13/2002 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EMPLOYEE SLIPPED ON A WET FLOOR AND HIT HIS HAND ON A LOCKER IN THE CHANGE ROOM.
01/18/2002 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 5d restricted LOST HIS BALANCE WHILE MANUALLY POSITIONING A DRUM FOR A BARREL GRAB AND FELL FROM A FLATBED TRAILER.
01/02/2002 HANDLING OF MATERIALS DAYS RESTRICTED ACTIVITY ONLY 6d restricted THE EE SWUNG HIS LEG OVER A HANDRAIL TO ACCESS A LADDER. THE KNEE NOT SUPPORTING THE WEIGHT POPPED.
05/31/2001 POWERED HAULAGE DAYS AWAY FROM WORK ONLY 3d lost WHILE OPERATING WATER WAGON, HE HIT A BUMP. THE JOLT THREW HIM INTO THE SEAT BELT WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO CAUSE INJURY. THE BUMP WAS CAUSED WHEN AN OPERATOR CUT TOO DEEP WHEN PUCHING UP THE STOCK PILE. I...
01/31/2001 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON DYS AWY FRM WRK & RESTRCTD ACT 5d lost, 35d restricted THE EE LEFT THE BUILDING TO DO A YARD TOR, NOTICED THAT THE SNOW HAD BEEN REMOVED BUT DID NOT NOTICE THE FILM OF ICE. HE SLIPPED AND FELL. THAT DAY, DR TOLD HIM HE HAD A CONTUSION, LATER IT WA S DETER...
12/07/2000 SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON NO DYS AWY FRM WRK,NO RSTR ACT None EE HAD BEEN CLEANING MUD OUT OF AN INTERMODAL CONTAINER USED TO SHIP PROCESS FEED FOR THE MILLWHEN EXITING THE CONTAINER, HE KNELT DOWN PLACEDHIS HAND AT THE EDGE TO HOP OUT. WHEN HE TRANSFE RRED HIS...