Mining Incidents

MLC - Bonne TerreMetal/Nonmetal

MLC · Facility
Controlled by HBM Holdings Company
Bonne Terre, St Francois County, MO · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 2302371
Fatalities
2
Total incidents
40
Years on record
2008–2025
Latest incident
Oct 2025

Fatalities at this mine

2 recorded
Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

Employee was performing cleaning and maintenance. They began work around 7 pm and was discovered by coworkers on the ground below the area of work. It is believed they fell.

Struck by falling object

Two men were working atop an 80 ft silo attempting to reset the chain on a bucket elevator. One man was below and in phone contact with one of the two mechanics atop. As the call was ending, the assisting mechanic atop knocked a 'miner's bar' off the platform. The bar fell and hit the man below on the back of the head. The man died approx. three hours later in the hospital.

Reportable incidents

38 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2025 · 2 incidents

Fall down stairs

An employee slipped and fell while descending the wooden stairs near the office trailers, landing on their arm and injuring their shoulder. During the fall, their foot slipped forward, causing them to land backward on their arm near the elbow, resulting in pain extending to the shoulder. A medical evaluation confirmed a small fracture in the left shoulder.

Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was cleaning out the vault area of the kiln, scooped up a large piece of Hot Coating. It rolled over the back of the bucket striking a hydraulic fitting, causing it to break and spray Hot hydraulic oil , causing a flash fire that was extinguished in less a minute.

2023 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

Employee was walking by apron conveyor dust collector when they felt something get in their left eye behind their safety glasses.

2022 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

The employee opened the door to the cooler and dust went under EE's safety glasses causing eye irritation in the left eye

2018 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee allegedly tripped while walking to the office.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was cleaning material discharge from the dust chamber, using a skid steer when additional dust discharged from chute burning employee. Employee exited skid steer, landing in material pile also resulting in burns.

Struck by flying object

Dusty conditions, PPE ( safety glasses were provided and in use)

2017 · 4 incidents

Struck by flying object

Windy dusty conditions.

Struck by flying object

Employee was struck with a pressurized hose after releasing a cam lock latch.

Struck against a moving object

Operating loader, hit a hole and strained upper back.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Hopped over narrow drainage ditch and slipped in mud.

2016 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was exiting loader and some how hurt shoulder.

Struck by falling object

Employee was working inside wet scrubber removing dirt from the walls using a hammer-drill and shovel, working off a fully-decked scaffold. Employee was breaking debris off of wall, working above head, when a large piece of dirt broke free and struck employee in head and back, knocking employee to the scaffold deck. Employee was wearing all appropriate PPE.

2015 · 3 incidents

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Jerked coal mill inspection door and caught his finger between door and hand rail

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was pulling brick out of the old kiln and brick fell on his finger.

Contact with hot objects or substances

Employee was operating Bobcat, removing hot overflow rock. Dumped it in water. Steam burn.

2014 · 10 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Was climbing out of dust chamber and pulled something around left rib area

Struck by falling object

Employee was in the kiln removing brick. Brick fell from hand and hit left ring finger.

Rubbed or abraded

Employee got out of loader. Didn't have his safety glasses on. Got something in his eye, rubbed it, started hurting.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Rubber boots rubbed a blister on heel, got a little lime dust in boot. Lime burn

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Putting firebrick in the kiln. Was hit on finger with hammer.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

worker didn't realize he had a hole in his boot, got dolomitic quicklime in his boot. lime burn on right foot

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Worker had rubber boots on. Some dry dolomitic got inside the boot, his feet were sweating and he had a blister on his heel. resulted in lime burn.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was replacing a bearing. Was on his knees, got wet and got lime burns on his knees

Contact with hot objects or substances

Slipped down last 2 steps on the ladder. Tried to catch himself. Got hand in hot rocks, some went in his glove.

Struck by falling object

Employee was removing rock from pollution floor. A clump of frozen rock and coal fell from pipe and hit employee on hardhat, which resulted in a concussion.

2013 · 5 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

was shoveling mud.

Caught in, under or between a moving and a stationary object

Setting an I-beam with backhoe. Was reaching across under bucket to reset strap, when bucket dropped. Pinned hand between bucket and I-Beam.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee had an anxiety accident while walking to the shop from the burn floor.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Shoveling ""B"" pan

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Was rodding out coal mill. Small piece of coal got in eye

2012 · 7 incidents

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was cleaning out the roll crusher, which was stopped up. When it came loose, lime dust got into his eye.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Had mud on boots, was going down ladder, slipped, tried to hold onto handrail and twisted his back.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Was pushing a large piece of metal into place and pinned his ring finger on right hand.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Was down in elevator, cleaning ""B"" pan, stepped in water and got lime burn

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Was cleaning ""B"" pan, in Cooler area, stepped in water, came up to waist.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee stepped off ladder into water. The water went into his boot, getting his foot wet, which resulted in a lime burn.

Struck against stationary object

Was working on pump in Maintenance shed. Slid hand down pipe. Was burr on pipe which cut right hand, requiring sutures