EMPLOYEE WENT ON TO THE TOP OF WAREHOUSE #4 TO CHECK OUT THE WATER COOLER WITHOUT FALL PROTECTION. EMPLOYEE STEPPED ON SKYLIGHT AND FELL TO WAREHOUSE FLOOR 29 FEET BELOW. FALL RESULTED IN FATA LITY OF EMPLOYEE. EMPLOYEE FAILED TO COMPLY WITH COMPANY SAFETY REGULATIONS.
Colado PlantMetal/Nonmetal
- Fatalities
- 1
- Total incidents
- 109
- Years on record
- 2000–2026
- Latest incident
- Mar 2026
Fatalities at this mine
1 recordedReportable incidents
108 on file (excluding fatalities above)2026 · 1 incident
Employee tripped over a 3-inch pipe that was staged for an outage outside of the maintenance shop. The employee fell to the ground and landed on EE's left upper torso, resulting in fractured ribs.
2024 · 4 incidents
A forklift operator made a complete stop on the forklift and then exited the machine. EE walked away from the machine and the forklift began to roll following the EE. EE was at the warehouse racks and the machine hit EE at the rack causing fractures to 5 ribs
A burn pit was lit on Friday 11/1/2024 to burn pallets that are no longer usable. The fire was put out at the end of the day and fire watch was on the fire for 24 hours after the burn was over. On the following Monday more pallets were added, the next morning the new pallets caught fire from a left-over hot coal.
Lifting and moving 50lb. bags and twisted wrong causing a sprain to lt. knee
Employee was conducting maintenance on a disconnected rotary seal valve. Employee spun the internal rotor manually with EE's left hand to check tolerances, when the middle finger of EE's left hand was caught between the vein of the rotor and the housing of the rotary seal valve. This resulted in a fingertip amputation just below the nail.
2023 · 1 incident
EE placed finger between two flanges when trying to bolt them together. Pinky finger was smashed causing stitches.
2021 · 1 incident
Employee was adjusting the dribble bolt. The adjuster nut was not operating properly and decompressed forcefully onto the employee's left pinky. Employee was taken to the ER and given six stitches. It was also noted that the employee's pinky had a small chip in the bone tip and EE was given antibiotics as a preventative measure for infection.
2018 · 5 incidents
Employee was standing on a Forklift Rail Stopper while putting a label on a pallet. Employee slipped off of the rail and employee's hand landed on a conveyor roller and employee hyper extended arm.
Employee stepped off a ladder in to a covered ground of debris. Employee hopped to an area with less debris and landed on a metal Morris Coupling and rolled their left ankle.
Employee attempted to dump a self dumping hopper into the grizzly. The lever on the hopper was not releasing, so employee held the lever down with left hand and pushed the hopper so it would dump. When the hopper dumped, it bounced and EE's left hand on the handle was pinched on a bolt on the forklift.
Employee had pull cables in hand and went to turn and twisted knee. EE didn't pivot foot when EE turned and it caused a strain on right knee.
Employee was throwing bags and then kicked the bag slipping on a mat. The employee strained their groin and left leg when they slipped.
2017 · 5 incidents
This is an Illness report, as a result of the miner's exposure to workplace dust.
While attempting to carry a section of pipe down a flight of stairs the employee rested the pipe on the landing and tried to reposition employee's grip on the pipe. The pipe rolled and crushed the employees finger under the weight of the pipe.
While pulling open kiln hood employee was struck when a chain come-a-long popped loose and struck EE in the abdomen.
Employee was walking back to the mill when a gust of wind blew a particle of dust into EE's eye. The employee ended up going to EE's own doctor off shift without informing the employer. The doctor only had to use a q-tip to get the particle out and then irrigated the eye. No prescription eye drops were administered. No work restrictions were issued.
employee was putting chains on employee's truck when employee walked around the front of the truck employee slipped on the ice and caught self before employee fell all the way to the ground. this caused employee to strain the abdomen/groin area
2016 · 3 incidents
Employee claimed they got off of the forklift and strained their lower back. EE did not want medical attention but new supervisor insisted that they go to the doctor. Doctor issued a general restriction of limited standing, bending and twisting. The employee performed their normal job duties the next shift as the general restriction did not affect the normal duties.
Employee was walking and tried to jump over a pallet and tripped over it and fell to the ground and landed on right knee. Employee was seen by doctor and diagnosed with a knee contusion and released to full duty.
Employee was cutting open a box of cargo straps and got too close to the left hand and cut the skin between the thumb and index finger.
2015 · 1 incident
the employee was rolling a tarp off of the trailer when dust fell into his eye and it became irritated
2014 · 6 incidents
The employee was packing and stacking 25 lb bags of perlite. his wrists started to hurt later in the shift. when he woke up the next day before his next shift his wrists hurt and were swollen.
employee was cleaning out a bin above a chute leading to an RSV. he did not LOTO and test out the equipment prior the task. he had his index finger and middle finger cut and scraped by a piece of moving equipment. he did not receive restrictions until 11-14-2014 when the doctor had to perform a deep tissue cleaning.
The employee was packing and stacking paper bags onto a conveyor when he felt a pain and heard a pop in his right shoulder.
The employee was packing paper bags when he started feeling what he thought was a heart attack. We got him to an area that was safe, calmed him down and spoke with him. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
employee turned away from his locker and started walking and stepped on a broom and twisted
employee was in his work area when a co worker noticed that he was shaking, hot but not sweating, and not feeling well. the employee was transported to the hospital and the diagnosis was weakness, nausea, heat exhaustion with personal medical issues contributing to the problem.
2013 · 5 incidents
Employee was descending a ladder when his foot slipped and his right knee hit the ladder. EP Minerals was not notified at the time of the accident and the injury was not confirmed work related until 12-5-2013.
employee was packing bags in the packing area when a dust storm came up causing product to get into his eye. He was taken to the hospital where he was treated for a scratch on his eye and given antibiotic drops to prevent infection.
Employee was packing in #1Mill when his right leg slipped on the steel railing and he fell down hitting his left knee on the steel rail. He was taken to Pershing General Hospital where he was given a knee brace and crutches and returned to work on light duty.
Employee was refeeding into the #1 grizzly when he cut a bulk bag and the knife slipped, cutting his forearm. He was taken to the emergency room where he received stitches.
Employee was refeeding into the grizzly and was bending over to pick up a 50lbs paper bag. When he reached down to pick it up he felt a pop in his back and it began to hurt. He continued to refeed into the grizzly and the pain continued in his back. He was taken to Pershing General Hospital where he was treated for a back strain.
2012 · 7 incidents
Employee was moving a hose on top of the bulk hopper car, it was twisted and when she moved it, it caused her to fall.
Employee was walking in #3 structure to observe a dust leak and when he looked up he got something in his eye. He rinsed it but could not remove the dust particle. He was taken to the emergency room where they looked and could not see anything in his eye, but before he left they put an antibiotic drop in his eye to prevent an infection.
Employee was stepping up onto a forklift when he felt a pain in his side.
On 9/23/2012, employee felt pain in her right knee while performing normal product packing activities which involve continuous standing and leg motion to place filled product bags on conveyor. Injury did not require medical treatment or work restrictions until 12/5/2012.
Employee was descending a fixed ladder from one level when his foot slipped and he fell to the deck. He fell approximately 4 6 landing on his feet.
Employee was installing a braking system on a stretch wrap machine, he was stripping the cabling in the unit. He nicked his left index finger with a utility knife. He did not report it because the cut was small, a few days later he felt it became infected and seeked medical attention. It was determined that the cut had become infected and prescribed medication for treatment.
Employee felt like she got a dirt particle in her eye. She rinsed her eye out at the plant and then was taken to the doctors office where it was determined that there was nothing in her eye. She was given prescription eye drops as a safe guard against infection.
2011 · 2 incidents
Employee was throwing a full bag onto the conveyor, when he turned he cut his left forearm on a packing spout.
Employee had just finished cleaning an area in the structure and was walking back to the Kiln office. It was raining and the ground was wet. When she stepped up on the concrete she lost her footing and fell on her right knee.
2010 · 3 incidents
Employee was performing maintenance on a screw conveyor when he strained his right elbow.
Employee was performing hole watch duties at ground level while scaffolding was being built in a lower compartment of a baghouse. Scaffold materials were being passed in through a manway. An 8ft. scaffold pole slipped from the builders hand inside the unit falling to the ground and hitting the hole watcher in the left foot fracturing big toe behind steel toe boot protection.
While driving a forklift in reverse, employee turned head and foreign body got into his left eye. Doctor removed foreign body and gave employee prescription for eyedrops. Employee returned to work with no restrictions
2009 · 6 incidents
Left thumb was caught between the swinging door of the 1P1 fan and the 1P1 fan case, which caused a fracture to the thumb and required 13 stitches to close the laceration.
EE was using skill saw when the guard struck the saw and grabbed his pant leg. This resulted in a laceration to his upper right leg about 2"" above his knee.
Employee was stacking paper bags filled with 27 lbs of Pelite onto a pallet. While doing this he pulled muscles in his back and the ER doctor diagnosed him with muscular back pain and prescribed light duties and physical therapy for at least until his next doctors appointment which is on 9-17-09
The ambient air temperature was 106 degrees F. and the employee did not keep himself hydrated. The ER doctor diagnosed Dehydration/Heat Exhaustion and he was given one day of restricted work.
Exposure to silica during 41 years of service at company
Exposure to crystalline silica during 15 years of service at the company
2008 · 11 incidents
Prolonged exposure to crystalline silica.
Employee was walking down stairs and his boot was caught in the grating. To stop his fall, he twisted and grabbed the handrail with his loose hand. This caused a strain to his back and aggravated a previous back injury.
Employee has worked for EP Minerals for 20 years, and through an annual chest x-ray, likely signs of silicotic nodules were detected.
The employee had finished putting a bulk bag on the bulk bagger and tripped over the angle iron in front of the bulk bagger that is used for a forklift guide. He twisted his back. He was given restricted duty on 10-28-08.
While rolling a metal rolling pin over ore, the employee felt pain in her right elbow. The doctor diagnosed her as having ""Tennis Elbow"" and prescribed Physical Therapy and Naproxin. No work restrictions were given
The employee has been diagnosed with ""Silicosis"" from prolonged exposure to crystalline silica (cristobolite). HSE Manager was notified on 8/05/2008 via e-mail
The employee has been diagnosed with an occupational illness (silicosis). At this time there is no medical treatment required and the employee does not have any work restrictions.
The employee has been diagnosed with an occupational illness (silicosis). At this time there is no medical treatment required or prescribed and the employee does not have any work restrictions.
While placing a bag on the left hand packer spout, the bag that was on the right hand spout broke on the end that was facing the employee and he got DE in his right eye which caused a corneal abrasion. He was given a prescription (Ciprofloxacin) to prevent an eye infection.
When the employee went to place a 50 LB bag of product on the conveyor belt, he had to stop his forward progress abruptly because the belt had stopped and it was full. He suffered a shoulder sprain and was given a 5 LB lifting restriction.
Employee has an occupational illness (silicosis). The employee has been terminated and is on workers compensation because his doctor wrote that he must permanently avoid exposure to diatomaceous earth. We are a manufacturer of diatomaceous earth so being on the property will expose you to diatomaceous earth
2007 · 5 incidents
Occupational illness. Employee has been diagnosed with silicosis
While reaching around a guard, the employee's right hand touched the conveyor belt and was pulled between the conveyor belt and the air slide table. He received deep abrasions. The employee's post accident drug scan was positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine and he was terminated immediately.
Occupational illness. The employee has been dignosed with Silicosis. The company was notified via letter on July 05, 2007
Employee was helping another employee manually turn the v-belts so the bearings could be adjusted. He got his little finger on his left hand pulled between the sheave and the v-belts, which amputated his little finger at the outermost joint, just below the fingernail.
Employee has an occupational disease. She has been diagnosed with silicosis and her doctor has required her not to return to work.
2006 · 4 incidents
Employee was driving a forklift in reverse and he pivoted his upper body to get a clear field of vision when he felt a pull in his left lower back. Diagnosis is mechanical low back pain with sciatica symptoms. Prescription meds, physical therapy, and restricted work for 3 days.
Employee failed to relieve the air pressure in a 2"" air line before removing the air line from the air compressor. The air hose fitting hit the employee in the right leg and caused a 1-1/2"" long laceration which required 5 stitches to close.
Packing 25 lb bags all day/went home with left wrist hurting.Then middle of palm started hurting & could not bend the middle finger on L. hand. Diagnosis is trigger hands tendonitis. EE was given injections & work restrictions of no lifting more 20 lbs with L hand. She did not notify EP until 6/08/06. She was able to work their regular job until the dr put her on rest.
While filling a 50 lb bag of diatomaceous earth, the top seam of the bag ripped open and caused product to get into the employee's right eye. Object was removed by medical staff but employee was diagnosed with Keratitis of the right eys
2005 · 6 incidents
Miner was repetitively twisting to lift 50 lb. bags to refeed into kiln.
""Horseplay"" Employee was arm wrestling with another employee and he fractured his right humerus bone. Doctor put his right arm in a hard cast.
Right foot slipped off the bottom rung of ladder on 966 Cat Loader and employee twisted his right hip. Employee was diagnosed with a sprained/strained right hip and was given 4 days of restricted work duties.
While on break in the lunchroom, the employee had a panic attack and was taken to the ER. The doctor's diagnosis was anxiety and hyperventilation triggered by wearing a half mask respirator.
Employee was clearing out the chute feeding the soda ash hammermill when his middle finger came in contact with a hammer and amputated 3/8"" off of the tip of his middle finger on his right hand
Employee was driving a sit-down lift truck and when he turned the steering wheel to the right, he heard and felt his left elbow pop. Diagnosis is an elbow sprain. Work restriction of no lifting with left arm of more than 10-15 lbs.
2004 · 5 incidents
Employee strained his right shoulder when he lifted a 45 lb from the floor to a chest high pallet. Doctor released him on 12-27-04 w/o restrictions or medical treatment. Went to another doctor on 5-19-04 and was given an injection to relieve pain in his shoulder
While crushing ore samples with a 35 lb. rolling pin, the employee tried to lift the pin up while she was bent over at the waist, which caused her to feel a sharp pain in her lower back. Doctor prescribed light duty, moist heat, physical therapy, and muscle relaxers
While removing the JLG manlift from a tight area of which the boom of the manlift was caught under a pipe flange, when the basket was moved sideways it slipped from under the flange and caused the basket to lift up and pushed the employee's upper left back into the corner of an I-Beam. The employee sufered a puncture wound to his latissimus dorsi muscle in his upper left back.
WHILE WALKING UNDER MILL #1 ORE PAN FEEDERS, A GUST OF WIND CAME UP AND BLEW DUST UNDER THE EMPLOYEE'S SAFETY GLASSES AND INTO HIS LEFT EYE. THE EMPLOYEE FLUSHED HIS EYE WITH SALINE SOLUTION A ND WENT HOME FOR THE DAY. THE NEXT MORNING, HIS EYE WAS RED & IRRITATED SO WE FLUSHED IT OUT & TOOK HIM TO THE ER. THE DR COULD NOT FIND ANY FOREIGN OBJECTS BUT HE DID HAVE CONJUNCTIVITIS CAU
EE NEEDED TO SHUT DOWN THE PALLETIZER QUIKLY, BUT WHEN SHE TYRNED TO GO TO SHUT DOWN THE SWITCH,SHE SLIPPED ON THE METAL GRATING AND THEN TRIPPED AND FELL ONTO THE GRATING. SHE HAS A CONTUSION ON THE LOWER LIP, LEFT KNEE, AND HER RING FINGERON RIGHT HAND.
2003 · 10 incidents
WHILE THE EE WAS WORKING AT THE REFEED STATION, BREAKING 50# BAGS OF PRODUCT INTO THE BIN FOR THE REPROCESSING, HE WAS MOVING A BAG FROM THE PALLET TO PUT ONTO THE GRATING FOR THE REFEED BIN BUT HE DID NOT LIFT THE BAG HIGH ENOUGH AND HE STRUCK THE BACK OF HIS RIGHT HAND ON THE EDGE OF THE REFEED STATION BIN. EE IS ON RESTRICTED DUTY AT THIS TIME.
AFTER PUTTING A NEW CHAIN ON THE #2P-101A SCREW SPROCKET, EE WAS INSTALLING THE GUARD OVER THE CHAIN & SPROCKET & HE WAS BENT OVER SLIGHTLY BECAUSE THERE IS AN I BEAM 12"" ABOVE THE GUARD & WH ILE HE WAS TIGHTENING THE BOLTS ON THE GUARD HE WAS IN AN AWKWARD POSITION WHICH CAUSED HIM TO STRAIN HIS LOWER BACK
WHILE EE WAS DRIVING HIS FORKLIFT IN FRONT OF THE MAINTENANCE SHOP, A STRONG GUST OF WIND CAME UP AND BLEW DUST FROM THE #1 MILL AREA INTO HIS LEFT EYE. HE FLUSHED HIS EYE WITH SALINE SOLUTION & WENT TO THE DOCTOR ON 10/30/03. DIAGNOSIS WAS SUBCONJUNCTIVAL HEMORRHAGE OS & TREATMENT WAS EYE MOISTURIZING GTTS. EE WAS RELEASED TO FULL DUTY & CAME BACK TO WORK ON HIS NEXT SCHEDULED WOR
EE STATED HER LEFT FOOT SLIPPED ON THE GRATING WHILE SHE WAS PLACING AN EMPTY PAPER BAG ON THE LEFT HAND PACKER SPOUT IN #1 PACKAGING AREA. WHEN SHE TRIED TO CATCH HERSELF FROM FALLING, SHE TWISTED HER LEFT HIP AND LOWER BACK. EE SHOWED UP FOR WORK THE NEXT DAY AND WAS TOLD TO GO TO THE DOCTOR.
EE WAS LIFTING AND CARRYING 50 LB. BAGS OF FINISHED PRODUCT FROM THE STAGING AREA TO THE BAG CONVEYOR WHICH IS LOCATED 6-10' FROM THE CONVEYOR. EE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HER LEFT WRIST AND DISCO NTINUED THE TASK.
EE WAS TAKING COVER OFF P4 TO CHECK WATER LEVEL AND HOT WATER COVERED BOTH ARMS.
EE STATES THAT SHE HAS PAIN & NUMBNESS WITH SWELLING IN HER HANDS WHEN SHE PACKS AND LIFTS #50 BAGS ONTO CONVEYOR BELTS.
EE WAS CUTTING OPEN A BOX OF BAGS, PULLING KNIFE TOWARDS HIMSELF. THE KNIFE SLIPPED AND HE CUT HIS LEG JUST BELOW THE KNEE.
PALLET IN PALLET DISPENSER WAS AT AN ANGLE, PUT HAND IN TO STRAIGHTEN, PALLET MOVED AND CAUGHT EE'S HAND. HE PULLED HIS HAND OUT AND STRUCK IT ON A METAL FRAME CAUSING A CUT AND BRUISING ON RI GHT HAND.
WHILE INSTALLING A SLIDER ON A FORKLIFT, PRESSURE WAS APPLIED WITH THE HYDRAULIC RAM. THE SLIDER STARTED TO POP UP AND EMPLOYEE TRIED TO HOLD IT DOWN WITH HIS FINGER AND THE FORKS SHIFTED CUTT ING THE TIP OF THE RIGHT INDEX FINGER OFF.
2002 · 5 incidents
EMPLOYEE WAS CUTTING OFF #3 KILN SEALS, GRABBED A PIECE OF METAL WITH LEFT HAND, CUTTING LEFT INDEX FINGER THROUGH WELDING GLOVES.
EMPLOYEE STATES THAT WHILE CLEANING A BULK CAR SOMETHING BLEW INTO HIS EYES.
EE SLIPPED ON THE LAST 4 STAIRS IN THE PACKING AREA.
EMPLOYEE STATES THAT WHILE BUILDING A BACK DROP GUARD FOR A LADDER IN #3 MILL, HE GOT A FOREIGN OBJECT STUCK IN HIS LEFT HAND BETWEEN THE THUMB AND INDEX FINGER.
EE STATES THAT WHILE PULLING BAG OUT OF PALLETIZER, SHE SPRAINED HER WRIST.
2001 · 7 incidents
WHILE REMOVING A SEAL VALVE, CHANNEL IRON THAT THE RSV WAS SITTING ON SLIPPED OFF OF THE HANDRAIL, CATCHING EMPLOYEE'S RIGHT HAND UNDERNEATH.
EE STATES THAT WHILE EXITING #1 P-6, SHE TWISTED HER KNEE.
WHILE PUSHING A ROLL OF WIRE BACK ON THE FORKS OF A FORKLIFT SHE FELT SOMETHING POP IN HER BACK.
EMPLOYEE STATES HE WAS THROWING 45# BAGS ON TOP OF A PALLET WHEN HE HEARD HIS SHOULDER POP.
WHILE GETTING INTO THE BOBCAT, EMPLOYEE SLIPPED, FALLING ON HIS SIDE IN THE ENTRY OF THE BOBCAT.
EE STATES THAT WHILE INSTALLING THE TOP HALF OF THE #3-0-2 DRIVE GUARD, HIS FINGER GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN TWO PIECES OF METAL.
WHEN PUTTING UP NEW PALLET AND TAKING UNUSED PALLET DOWN EE GOT TANGLED UP IN CHAIN AND WITH FORK TAKING PALLET DOWN, CHAIN WAS PUTTING HIS FINGER THROUGHT POST HOLE.
2000 · 5 incidents
EE STATES WHILE OPENING A BALE OF BULK BAGS, WITH RAZOR KNIFE, IT SLIPPED CUTTING HER LEFT INDEX FINGER
EE STATES THAT WHILE REMOVING THE #2 CLASSIFIER, HE BANG HIS RIGHT HAND ON ONE OF THE BLADES.
EE STATES THAT WHILE DUMPING THE MOP WATER, SHE FELT HER LOWER BACK POP.
EE STATES THAT WHILE MOVING FEED/AIR HOSE TO ANOTHER HATCH, SHE WAS FORCED BACK BY THE WEIGHT OF HOSE. THIS PUT A STRAIN ON HER SHOULDER.
EE STATES THAT WHILE WORKING ON THE P5B MOTOR, HE WAS CUTTING ELECTRICAL TAPE WITH HIS POCKET KNIFE. HE SLIPPED, CUTTING HIS LEFT WRIST.