Mining Incidents

Golden Sunlight Mines IncMetal/Nonmetal

Controlled by Barrick Gold Corp
Whitehall, Jefferson County, MT · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 2401417
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
89
Years on record
2000–2025
Latest incident
Jul 2025
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

89 on file

2025 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in wielding or throwing objects

Maintenance employee was pounding on a bearing assembly with a 16 pound sledge hammer. After the job was completed they noticed pain in right wrist. The next morning their wrist was stiff and sore. The employee did report that their wrist had been sore with pre-existing pain for sometime.

2024 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Maintenance Employee reported a muscle strain in left bicep above the elbow, 4 days after setting up a portable conveyor. appointments with physician were scheduled and after evaluation by a specialist on 8/15 they were diagnosed with lateral epicondylitis in the left elbow. No surgery required. Physical therapy recommended. Employee notified operator of condition on 8/26/24

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

A temporary employee for Smith and Sons constructions showed a recordable hearing loss after their annual hearing exam compared to their baseline test.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

A temporary employee for Smith and Sons construction showed a recordable shift in hearing compared to their baseline.

2022 · 3 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Lab employee walking off designated path fell on some snow covered ice. Employee reported pain in upper extremities. Right arm and Shoulder. Severity of the injury is unknown at this time. Physician evaluated the employee and had the employee get some rest and comeback for follow up appointment in a week. Did not release back to work as of yet.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

After loading samples into oven, lab employee felt discomfort with symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Employee went home rested, then went to urgent care where they were diagnosed with a Left Inguinal hernia. Released back to work with restrictions.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was holding a grinder with one hand and a piece of metal in the other. EE was using the grinder to remove an old weld off part of the metal when the grinder kicked out and cut EE's hand holding the metal. EE was wearing gloves on both hands.

2021 · 2 incidents

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

After employee unloaded electrical cable trays at the repulper building, and putting the forks back in the travel position to return backhoe back to the ready line, EE inadvertently pinched right middle finger where the fork pivots. After a medical evaluation EE received 3 stitches and was able to return to work.

Fall onto or against objects

Slip/trip accident. Carrying rebar and tripped causing them to fall. Employee put their arm out to catch themselves which hit the rebar matt.

2018 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

While a maintenance employee was being hoisted in a man basket after doing repairs in a leach tank, ee looked up to ensure the man basket was clear and some dust or debris fell from above landing in right eye. EE was wearing safety glasses. While trying to remove the particle it scratched cornea.

2017 · 2 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Contractor employee was repairing a sump. EE cut the discharge hose to length with a utility knife that slipped and made a laceration on left forearm

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was pulling a 2"" polypipe out of a culvert when it became lodged and then suddenly broke free causing the employee to lose balance and fall backwards tripping over a power pole that was lying on the ground behind the employee. The employee sustained an injury to right shoulder. Injury diagnosed on the 18th of April.

2015 · 5 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee had Carpel Tunnel surgery on right hand on 10/09/2015.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

When the employee was cutting a plugged hose the knife slipped and cut his hand. The employee went to the ER to have his hand looked at. The ER opened his hand up to see if he had nicked the tendon. The doctor used 3 stitches to close the cut

Fall from machine

Employee was ascending the Stairs on the front of the haul truck and fell backwards catching all his weight on his left arm injuring his left shoulder.

Struck by falling object

Employee was loading drill steel on carousel and the drill steel fell pinching his left hand.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

During the attempted extraction of a pump, the 2' diameter HDPE discharge line broke. The line recoiled and struck a technician standing at the collar. Chipped two teeth.

2014 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Occupational Illness - employee had surgery on his wrist for repetitive cumulative trauma

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

The results of the audiogram showed a Standard threshold shift in his left ear. The employee primarily operates a bulldozer. noise sampling on bulldozer operators has been conducted, TWA results from samples have been below the MSHA PEL of 90 dB. Employee baseline and annual audiogram from 2001 through 2013 didn't show any significant shifts in his audiograms

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

As the employee entered the rest room, the wind caught the door, pulling the employee's right arm. Informed of MRI results on May 1 2014 showed a full muscle tear in the rotator cuff - consultation for surgery is scheduled

2013 · 3 incidents

Struck against a moving object

Employee complained of back pain after operating a Haul truck. MRI showed degenerative arthritis in the upper neck requiring physical therapy. Doctors report was Jan 20, 2014.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was walking away from grind shack toward the MCC room when he fell on flat grating and bruised his shoulder. Because of continuing pain employee was further evaluated and found to have a rotator cuff tear.

Struck against a moving object

No Incident - doctor reported that driving in a haul truck aggravated his back by repetitive work and prescribed physical thearpy

2012 · 6 incidents

Contact with heat

Before Lunch experienced dizziness and light headed feeling along with nausea and vomiting, rested and ate lunch but symptoms got worse.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was operating a forklift when he noticed the other workers having trouble with the placement of the liner due to the wind. He got off the forklift to help pull the liner. While pulling the liner he stepped wrong and pulled a muscle in his right lower leg.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee had trouble with his left third finger from repetitive trauma, doctor visit was on May 18 when employee received a cortisone shot, company did not receive doctors report until June 18.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel and will have Outpatient surgery May 17, 2012.

Struck against stationary object

WHILE WORKING IN A BALL MILL, A BALL ROLLED UNDER HIS LEFT FOOT CAUSING LEFT KNEE TO TWIST SIDEWAYS.

Struck by flying object

As the crew was tripping out of a drill hole, while disconnecting the drill steel, the pipe that was under pressure kicked out and hit the helper in the hard hat and knocked him to the ground.

2011 · 7 incidents

Fall from machine

Employee was on the loader and was preparing to dismount, turned around and employees foot slipped off the first step and then he fell to the ground bruising right thigh and over extended his right hip, and hit his head on the fender. Employee was evaluated at the emergency room and x-rayed, no broken bones only bruised.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was removing a tangled hoist cable from a hand operated hoist when the end came through the pulley and struck him in the teeth chipping two front teeth

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee lacerated/broke tip of right pinky finger. Pinched between a hydraulic cylinder and boom of machine

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee loaded shooter with cap - In an attempt to hook lead line employee accidentally shot the shooter injuring his left index finger.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was getting on a cat D-10 dozer, he turned and felt pain in his left knee, he refused medical treatment at the time he reported it. At a later date employee request to be examined by a doctor and went in for an MRI, the mine received a copy of the MRI on December 5, 2011. Diagnosed as a Lateral meniscus tear in his left knee, and surgery has been recommended.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee diagnosed with tendinitis in shoulder, doctor gave cotizone shot and released to full duty.

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

Employee was removing steel from a trailer when he slipped and caught his finger between the trailer and steel - lacerating the finger requiring 5 sutures.

2010 · 2 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

In the process of replacing old piping in the mill employee was dragging a 9 foot long 12"" Diameter steel pipe out of the mill. The pipe snaged on a low concrete containment wall and swung sideways and hit the maintenance worker in left knee

Struck by flying object

While tightening spider bolts on primary crusher with an 1 1/2 inch air impact, dirt was blown into employees left eye. Debris had to be removed at the clinic.

2009 · 5 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated that he had a stinging sensation in his shoulder. At the end of May 2010 he requested a doctor's appointment, as he thought his shoulder had got worse. An MRI On June 14 showed a Rotator Cuff Tear.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing down a ladder doing his pre-shift and his knee buckled under him when he stepped to the ground. Doctor evaluation sent employee for an MRI report on Sept 16 showed a Meniscus Tear

Struck against stationary object

Employee was tightening segment bolts on a dozer sprocket and the socket adapter broke causing the employee to strike his arm on the dozer frame. The employee reported the incident and finally asked to see a doctor in August. He finally got a doctor's appointment in September and the MRI showed a rotator cuff tear and was reported to the mine on September 15.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was walking across the deck of a Cat 785 haul truck and took a step down approximately 7 inches and felt his knee pop. Employee worked for another four and a half hours and when he dismounted he decided he better have it looked at. The doctor prescribed physical therapy.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While stripping wire to connect to a new pump the employee cut his own hand requiring 9 sutures

2008 · 2 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was getting off of a drill and slipped and fell cracking four ribs.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was trying to remove the track adjuster on T-2 Dozer using a prybar - prybar slipped and he lost his balance and fell to to the ground - same level - landing on his right wrist and - employee was taken to the doctor for evaluation and an xray showed a fracture of the arm.

2007 · 6 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Carpel Tunnel

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While greasing a Drill Employee removed grease nozzel from Zerk, the grease sprayed back from the zerk and cut his thumb requiring three sutures

Fall from machine

Employee was climbing to the cab of Caterpillar 785C haul truck. As he reached the top rung he felt himself lose his grip; realizing he was going to fall, employee jumped to regain his balance and landed in a upright position. The employee fell approximately 8 feet landing on his right foot. The impact resulted in fractured bones in his right foot.

Fall from machine

A 62 year old Mechanic was working on a grease line on the front of the loader when he lost his balance and jumped off the loader to the concrete shop floor, impact with the floor broke his lower left leg

Struck against stationary object

Employee was ripping a large rock out and as the dozer came off the rock it jared the operater and he struck his head on the two way radio speaker requiring two sutures

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee's felt sore and he went to the doctor on Jan 22, The doctor diagnosed tennis elbow and gave him a cortozone shot in the elbow

2006 · 4 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was pulling a chocer with an attached shackel of the west end cyclone- when it stuck emplyee jerked and the shackel hit him in the mouth chipping one tooth and lossening three teeth.

Struck by flying object

Emplyee was removing a bucket tooth, hit the tooth with a hammer to free it and a small piece piece of metal flew off and struck his upper leg requiring three sutures

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Changing steel on drill 780 , doing a weep hole. Employee was manually handling the steel from ground level, when steel was unthreaded it dropped suddenly, pinching employees finger between the steel & the mast. One finger tip had a hairline fracture.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was getting into Bobcat Skid Loader and while turning to sit down felt the strain in groin area. Noticed the knotted area. Result: Hernia. Hernia was repaired on regular scheduled days off.

2005 · 13 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Employee stood up under a crane boom on a service truck jamming his neck. Preliminary reports indicated a stiff neck. With continued pain the employee was sent in for further evaluation. On November 30 a orthopedic doctor informed us the employee had a chip fracture on his neck and it would heal on its own. This became reportable on discovery of the chip fracture.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stepped down from 2 foot high pipe and slipped in the slurry twisting his ankle and chipped a bone in his left foot.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee was stung by a bee and had an allergic reaction.

Fall onto or against objects

Employee had just finished fueling the haul truck and was climbing the ladder on the front of the haul truck. The employee slipped on the bottom rung of the ladder, striking his left knee against the truck bumper. (Note: this employee had surgery and a pin 9 years earlier on this knee.)

Struck against a moving object

A rock slide in the 2 B pit struck the off side tires of the Cat 865C haul truck jaring the operator and the operater reported a stiff neck.

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was in a parked haul truck and bent over to get something out of his lunchbox and his back popped

Accident type, without injuries

Due to high rain fall the Highwall was saturated with moisture and was being monitered. Highwall activity indicated to evacuate employees from the area. Following our safety procedures employees were evacuated. No employee was injured or eqipment was damaged. There was no rock burst just a large slump of wet material from the highwall onto 5175 bench.

Struck against stationary object

Walking around the drill, employee struck his head on the water valve on back of the water tank. Required two staples for the laceration in his forehead.

Struck by flying object

S-5 Shovel while loading Haul truck 235 dropped a rock and broke the windshield out. Glass hit the operator's right eye. Intial evaluation by the Whitehall Clinic found no glass in the employee's eye. On July 20 employee informed me an Optometrist had found an imbeded object in his eye.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was adjusting a bar on the shovel bucket while replacing/adding shims to the trip bucket. The shovel operator thought he was signaled for him to trip the bar. Employees finger was between the trip arm and the shovel door resulting in a broken, lacerated right index finger.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While trying to put drill hammer in the pod the hammer swung back to the drill mast pinching two fingers between the hammer and the drill mast

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Left ring finger was caught while repairing a piston water pump on a drill requiring five sutures

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While unloading shovel teeth, a shovel tooth (shovel teeth weigh over 100 pounds) rolled over and pinched the employees left midle finger reguiring five sutures.

2004 · 5 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was moving shovel cable and two hours later had back pain - this became reportable on Thursday, December 9, when the doctor prescribed physical therapy - no resticted duty or lost time.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While using a masking tape paper cutter employee lacerated left index finger requiring five sutures.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was standing in the truck shop and collapsed from a heart attack and pronounced dead at the hospital. EMT?s with deliberator were on the scene with in four minutes.

Struck against a moving object

The Shovel bucket struck the truck box jarring the driver's back.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE CHANGING A DRILL AND REAMER BIT ON 75K TAMROCK PRODUCTION DRILL EE. PINCHED RIGHT MIDDLE FINGER TIP BETWEEN BUSHING AND DRILL BIT CAUSING HAIRLINE FRACTURE IN THE VERY TIP OF FINGER.

2003 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE BENT OVER TO CHECK A VALVE, WHEN HE STOOD UP HE FELT PAIN IN HIS BACK, NO LIFTING WAS INVOLVED.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

WHILE REASSEMBLING A PUMP - O RING SLIPPED - LACERATING INDEX FINGER REQUIRING SUTURES.

Struck against stationary object

EE WAS REPAIRING THE LEVEL BALL IN THE CYCLONE FEED TANK WHEN HE CUT HIS RIGHT WRIST ON THE RUSTED SHARP EDGE OF THE TANK. EE HAD GLOVES, LONG SLEEVE SHIRT ON, BUT WAS EXPOSED TO MOMENTARILY RESULTING IN A CUT ON HIS WRIST.

2002 · 6 incidents

Struck against stationary object

PUTTING 5' RODS ON THE TRAILER, HE RAN INTO SPEAR HEAD ON THE TUBE.

Struck against stationary object

EMPLOYEE WAS MOVING THE DART IN A 5A WASH BOX AND SCRAPED HIS HAND ON THE SCALE OF THE INSIDE OF THE BOX CUTTING HIS FINGER.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS ASSISTING WITH COMPLETION OF CONVEYOR BELT REPLACEMENT AND WAS GUIDING LARGE TAIL PULLEY GUARDING SCREEN INTO FINAL POSITION WHEN THE TIP OF HIS FINGER GOT CAUGHT IN A PINCH POINT CONTACT OF UPPER & LOWER GUARDS THAT COVER THE TAIL PULLEY.

Fall onto or against objects

EE HAD BEEN ADJUSTING A BRACKET AT THE TOP OF THE DRILL BOOM, AS HE STEPPED ONTO THE DRILL CAB HE SLIPPED ON THE OILY CAB SURFACE & BRUISED HIS LEFT RIB CAGE AREA. EE WORKED 3/9/02 & REPORTED OFF ON 3/11/02. EMPLOYER WAS NOT NOTIFIED UNTIL 3/11/02.

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

EMPLOYEE WAS HITCHING A TRAILER TO A PICKUP TRUCK. IN THE PROCESS THE EMPLOYEE CAUGHT HIS LEFT INDEX FINGER BETWEEN THE TRAILER HITCH AND THE PICKUP BALL CUTTING HIS FINGER NEAR THE END ON THE FINGER. THE CUT WAS CLEANED, 1ST AID ADMINISTERED, BUT WAS RECOMMENDED TO SEE A DOCTOR. EMPLOYEE RECECIVED DOCTOR'S TREATMENT SAME DAY AND RECEIVED STITCHES FOR CUT.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE WAS PULLING OUT FUEL HOSE OFF FUEL HOSE REEL AND OVEREXERTED CAUSING AN APPARENT ROTATOR CUFF TEAR IN HIS RIGHT SHOULDER.

2001 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE TORE LEFT ROTATOR CUFF IN SHOULDER WHILE LOADING PORTABLE GENERATOR INTO BACK OF PICKUP HE WAS INITIALLY TREATED WITH PRESCRIPTION MEDS & FOLLOWING AN MRI AT A LATER DATE DISCOVERED EXTENT OF THE INJURY. SURGERY SCHED 2/4/02

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE DIAGNOSIS IS BILATERAL LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS AND BILATERAL CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME.

2000 · 5 incidents

Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS RETURNING TO TURN LIGHTS OFF LOADER & STEPPED OFF A PILE OF ROCKS INTO A HOLE COVRED BY SNOW. EE FELT HE JAMMED LOWER BACK WHILE FALLING TO GROUND

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

REPETITIVE TRAUMA RESULTING FROM OPERATING HEAVYEQUIP CARPAL TUNNEL

Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS REPLACING A ROD BOLT FROM INSIDE ROD MILL AND ASSURED IT WAS FASTENED AND RELEASED HIS GRIP ON IT. THE BOLT DISLODGED AND FELL STRIING THE EMPLOYEE ON THE FACE. COMMUNICATIONS W ILL BE ENHANCED TO PREVENT FURURE OCCURRENCES.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

REPETITIVE TRAUMA OF OPERATING MACHINERY EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN A NEED FOR SURGICAL REPAIR AND SUBSEQUENT RECOVERY RESULTING IN TIME AWAY FROM WORK.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE WAS WORKING ON A CLEAN-UP CREW AFTER A MILL RE-LINE. HE WAS USING A LONG BAR TO LIFT ROLLER ASSEMBLIES FOR RIGGING WHEN HE EXPERIENCED DISCOMFORT IN HIS LOWER BACK. *FIRST DAY MISSED 5/3/00 .