Mining Incidents

Fire CreekMetal/Nonmetal

Controlled by Hecla Mining Company
Cresent Valley, Lander County, NV · Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 2602691
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
39
Years on record
2011–2020
Latest incident
Dec 2020
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

39 on file

2020 · 5 incidents

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

The Operator applied air to the jackleg's feed leg too quickly while driving a rock bolt, EE lost control of the machine and lost EE's footing, IE fell with the machine in hand to the ground, resulting in EE's left index finger getting pinched between the jackleg and the feed leg.

Accident type, without injuries

Doing a work place exam it was noticed the ground had moved. We notified MSHA and a K order was issued and a remediation was made.

Struck by falling object

Operator was setting hand outside compartment when a rock approximately 2x4x1 inches come out of back wire hitting EE's right little finger.

Struck by falling object

Employee lost footing while running a jackleg, falling back with equipment landing on left foot. The ground conditions were muddy.

2019 · 3 incidents

Struck by flying object

On November 28, 2019, employee was adjusting the vent on the air conditioner when a piece of dust blew into their eye. Employee was not wearing safety glasses to prevent injury.

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

While jackleg bolting in the 5650 JN the machine was over head, EE un-chucked the steel and lost control of the machine. When the machine broke loose it pinched EE's thumb in the pinch point, smashing it.

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

IW was grouting a finished hole through a packer when the pressure started to push the packer out of the hole. IW took a 36"" pipe wrench and attached it to the packer to try and hold it from coming completely out. The packer then surged out of the hole and pinched Left middle finger between the wrench and foot clamp. This caused a laceration that required sutures.

2018 · 4 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

While completing a post blast examination a ground failure was discovered in the area where the blasting occurred at the 5600 Joyce South. Deteriorating ground conditions over time combined with recent blasting of material contributed to the failure.

Fall onto or against objects

The employee got off the van and went to clock in, in the operations building. When EE went to walk up the stairs to go to the dry and change out for the shift, EE slipped / missed the 2nd step, hitting shin on the 3rd step and cut toe.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee had placed a bag of rock salt on top of the barrel and took razor knife to cut the bottom of the bag. When ee went to Cut the bag, it slipped off the top of the barrel. EE went to grab the bag with left hand and the knife was in right hand with the blade out, lacerating thumb

Struck by falling object

Miner had just driven a split set bolt and was taking off EE's long driver when the driver slid down EE's hand and piece of banding used to hold the driver in place cut through EE's glove, lacerating the palm of EE's hand.

2017 · 4 incidents

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

The employee was in the man basket and had just turned off an air line valve and locked it out. They went to the next location to check for any stored energy in the air line and when the basket was lowered to the ground the employee's hand was caught in-between the man basket and the forklift backlash guard.

Contact with heat

Employee was operating D-4 to lower sill, when employee became over heated. Employee dismounted thee dozer and was found by another employee on the ground unconscious.

Struck by falling object

Employee was bolting ribs in sill with a jack-leg and lost EE's footing and EE and the jack-leg fell against the rib and the drill ended up landing on EE's finger against the rib which caused a laceration to EE's Right middle finger which required sutures.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was walking back to the truck when employee slipped on ice and fell on back.

2016 · 8 incidents

Struck against stationary object

While removing a ratchet strap, the employee received a cut to left palm. The cut required 6 stitches to close.

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

The miner was tearing down jack leg after bolting up the heading and was having a hard time trying to break the wing nut loose on the air hose with wrap wrench. The miner grabbed the wrap wrench with both hands and hit the wing nut causing knuckle to be smashed between the wrench and wing nut.

Struck by falling object

Employee was adding a can of paint to paint stick to mark the face for drilling, a piece of the face peeled off and struck employee on the right side of the hardhat and caused a laceration to the right side of scalp, the laceration required stitches.

Struck by falling object

The employee was mucking the heading when the LHD EE was operating slid into the RIB, causing the canopy of the LHD to hit the RIB. The canopy broke loose a rock that fell into the operators seat of the LHD, landing on the employees right side.

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

Drill crew were adding a drill rod and reaming in. Helper was moving the water swivel into position to screw into the rod when the driller actuated the wire line causing the stuffing box mechanism to travel up and pinch the helper's finger between the box and the roller frame.

Struck against stationary object

The employee went to move the Jackleg closer to the RIB to avoid running over the jackleg with mobile equipment. As EE positioned the leg up against the RIB left wrist struck a sharp rock cutting left wrist. The sharp rock was about 1.5 feet above the sill.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was tightening up a worn lifter spring for the core lifting shoe while holding the shoe in left hand. The flathead screwdriver that was being used to narrow the gap broke off at the tip causing the tool to go through the opposite end and impacted employee's left palm.

Struck against stationary object

The employee was at the 5320 supply lay down loading 4-foot split set bolts into the LHD bucket when EE's hand caught the banding that holds the bundles of bolts together.

2015 · 7 incidents

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

While operating a jack leg drill the miner pulled the 6 foot steel from the hole and as the machine pivoted down it caught his gloved hand between the drill and the leg of the machine. This caused a fracture to the tip of his left ring finger and a laceration that required 2 stitches.

Accident type, without injuries

The miner was hauling in road base to the 5340-Karen North heading, after mucking out the mud. On his next trip into the work area he found the left RIB came in. The miner than reported this to his supervisor.

Struck against stationary object

The employee was pulling the jackleg drill steel out of the hole he just finished drilling. His elbow hit the opposite RIB, causing a small cut.

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

As the employee was climbing into the back seat of the haul truck, he lost his balance and grabbed the door jam. The haul truck door closed on his left hand.

Fall onto or against objects

Employee was climbing up a small muck pile. While he was climbing up pile, he slipped and landed on his right side causing a laceration to his forearm caused by a sharp rock.

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

Employee was drilling 2' down holes with a plugger when the steel became plugged. Employee turned machine upside down to rattle steel to unplug it and grabbed hold of the rotating steel and his glove became entangled on the drill steel. Employee forcefully pulled his hand out of his glove which caused a fracture to his right index finger and a dislocated middle finger.

Struck by falling object

Mechanic was on a loader when the mine had a blast and a small rock fell through the wire and hit him in the neck. He finish servicing, not thinking much about the cut and when he got to the shop he reported it and it was decided to take him to the Hospital to have it checked. Resulted in a few stitches.

2014 · 3 incidents

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

The employee was exiting the men's dry, after going down the stairs he planted his left foot to turn and go to van.

Struck by falling object

The employee was loading a face round. Some clay type of material fell from the back, knocked his hard hat off and struck his head. The loose material fell because there was a space between the back and mesh. Because it was clay, it broke into small pieces that fit through the mesh.

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

While replacing the reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, the employee's right hand was caught between the RO housing and the membrane filter. Three middle fingers were pinched. The employee was taken to a local hospital immediately after first aid. Five stitches were received to close cuts from the accident. Follow-up X-rays were taken, but no bone fractures were observed.

2013 · 1 incident

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While adjusting the forks on a forklift, the employee pinched his right pinky finger between the fork and the frame. This resulted in a 1 laceration to the tip of his finger.

2012 · 3 incidents

Accident type, without injuries

Rehab bolting was underway in the main decline at Klondex's Fire Creek Project when a large rock on the spring line started to move. MSHA was notified and the investigation was started. The ground was a highly altered clay zone and SMD had started to re-support the area due to movement the day before.

Fall from machine

Employee was working on a set of multi media filter that were on a utility trailer. He was standing on the piping that connected the filters together, slipped and fell hurting his right knee, neck and back.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Worker was pulling liner when the built in handles ripped and employee fell backwards landing on left arm

2011 · 1 incident

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cutting liner with hook blade knife. Liner was cold and harder to cut than normal. Employee slipped and cut his left thigh.