Mining Incidents

SX-EWMetal/Nonmetal

Controlled by Freeport-McMoRan Inc
Hurley, Grant County, NM · Abandoned
MSHA Mine ID: 2900762
Fatalities
1
Total incidents
39
Years on record
2000–2012
Latest incident
Jan 2012

Fatalities at this mine

1 recorded
Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

THE EE WAS ATTEMPTING TO IDENTIFY LEAKS IN A PONTOON ON A PUMP BARGE. APPARENTLY HE CONNECTED A COMPRESSOR TO THE END PLATE OF THE PONTOON VIA A THREADED NIPPLE, A HOSE WITH A VALVE AND AN AIR PRESSURE GAUGE. THE END OF THE PONTOON RUPTURED AND APPEARS TO HAVE HIT THE EMPLOYEE IN THE HEAD. BECAUSE THERE WERE NO WITNESSES, THE EXACT PROCEDURE & POSITION OF EE'S BODY DURING THE

Reportable incidents

38 on file (excluding fatalities above)

2012 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee had finished inspecting equipment and was walking when his ankle buckled causing it to twist. Employee tried to walk off the injury as he continued to work, toward the end of his shift he noticed more discomfort. Employee was looked at and placed on restrictive duty.

2011 · 3 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

While walking to personal vehicle in the employee parking lot, the employee's states his ankle gave way causing him to fall and land on his elbow.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee found a leak on inlet line to cell, locked out line and began to repair it. As he cut the 2"" PVC line, the lined rocked back and forth, causing the glued part attached to the valve to come off, spraying employee in the face with solution. He was taken to the doctor, given a prescription and returned to work.

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

An SXEW employee was unloading a pump off of the warehouse pickup with a forklift as a warehouse employee spotted from the side of the pickup. While pulling the pallet, the pump got hung up and the second employee tried to prevent the pump from tipping, got his arm caught between the pump and truck bed, fracturing his wrist. ONGOING

2010 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

A maintenance technician was in the process of loosening a hose on a pump. As the mechanic pulled on the wrench, the fitting came loose unexpectedly and the mechanic felt a pop and pain in his right shoulder. He was taken to his physician, given restricted duty til 10/08/10. On 10/08/10, he returned to the physician, restricted duty was extended pending an MRI. ONGOING.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was exiting his vehicle in the employee parking lot when he arrived for work and poked himself in the eye with his newspaper. This caused a painful scratch on his eyeball. He was taken to the emergency room, antibiotic ointment and a patch were administered, and he was told to take the rest of the day off. He was released to work on his next regular shift.

Contact with hot objects or substances

Tig Welding rod slid off left hand coming into contact with the right forearm, burning through several layers of clothing and burned employee's forearm.

2009 · 2 incidents

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

Employees were evaluationg the weight of the stainless steel pipe material when it rolled around and the employee's right hand made contact with the pickup tailgate, lacerating the end of his middle finger.

(Not Elsewhere Classified)

UNDER INVESTIGATION - Employee alleges that light from lightning caused a seizure. Employee was taken to the hospital emergency room and taken off work.

2008 · 6 incidents

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was servicing equipment, he was pulling fuel hose from service truck to loader, when he felt a pain in his lower right back and hip.

Inhalation of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

Employee drives a pickup around property checking all offsites for concerns. Is in and out of the vehicle. Employee was experiencing chest pains and headache. He was taken to the local hospital and diagnosed with elevated carbon monoxide levels. When the pick up cab was monitored, it confirmed the diagnosis.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was pulling (hanger) bars when he first felt the pain in his lower back. When he got on the forklift is when he was in a lot of pain. He was taken to the doctor, and taken off work for 72 hours, until seen by PCP. PCP extended the time off. Currently ONGOING.

Struck by flying object

While employee was setting up to unload lead anodes, he felt somthing in his left eye. The eye was flushed immediately, and he was taken to the clinic where the optometrist removed a foreign object from his eye and he was released to work.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was fusing pipe and tripped on a rock. When he fell his hand got caught between a pipe and the ground spraining his left wrist.

Struck against stationary object

Employee stepped on a rock and twisted her right ankle.

2007 · 4 incidents

Struck by flying object

Unhooking drisco pipe from a loader, energy from the pipe being rolled up caused the pipe to unwind, once turned loose hitting employee in the right knee. She initially refused professional medical care, requesting medical care on 11/26/07.

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

Employee parked her truck on a slope. When exiting the vehicle the door closed on her right hand.

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Loading 8"" valves into a pickup truck, felt pain on his left side of body.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee was doing site inspections checking an electrical box on a post on an incline. When she was coming down, her feet went out from under her and she slid, hitting her arm and shoulder. EE was diagnosed with a torn ligament on 2/25/08 scheduled surgery 3/17/08. No time lost yet. Employee had refused medical treatment until that time - a regular annual exam. Ongoing

2005 · 2 incidents

Fall onto or against objects

EE WAS OPERATING THE EAST CRANE COMING BACK WITH STARTER SHEETS DURING THE HARVEST. HE SLIPPED ON THE GRATING WHICH WAS WET AND INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN. THE EE FELL BACKWARDS AND STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE BUSS BAR WHICH CONNECTS THE TANKHOUSES. HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A BRUISE TO THE HEAD AND SHOULDER AND TAKEN OFF WORK. ONGOING

Fall down stairs

During cathode harvest in the east tankhouse, he was descending the stairs when his pant leg caught on a grating clip and he fell down the stairs, straining his right shoulder. He was taken to ER, given medication for pain. On March 3, at follow-up, doctor pulled him off work until an MRI with orthopedic surgeon could evaluate his condition, approx. 4 weeks.

2004 · 4 incidents

Struck by falling object

TWO EMPLOYEES WERE REMOVING A CATHODE SLIPPER FROM THE BOTTOM OF AN ELECTROWINNING CELL. ONE WAS IN THE CELL HOLDING THE CATHODE AND PLACING TONGS ON THE CATHODE WHILE THE SECOND WAS OPERATING THE CRANE. THE OPERATOR PUT TENSION ON THE TONGS AND THE EMPLOYEE IN THE CELL STARTED TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY. THE TONGS SLIPPED AND THE CATHODE FELL STRIKING HIS LEFT FOOT, BRUISING IT.

Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

EE WAS CLOSING ONE OF THE LATCHES ON THE ANODE STRONGBACK. WHEN HE PULLED ON THE HANDLE, HE FELT A SHARP PAIN IN HIS LEFT SHOULDER. DIAGNOSIS: DISLOCATED SHOULDER.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE STEPPED ON EDGE OF GRATING AND TWISTED RIGHT ANKLE.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS ASISTING WITH REPOSITIONING OF A HARVEST CATHODE IN THE CELL CUPBOARD. THE SUSPENSION LOOP ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE FROM THE EE FAILED OR SHIFTED. THIS CAUSED THE CATHODE TO DROP, COMPRESSING THE FIRST 2 FINGERS OF THE EE'S L. HAND BETWEEN THE SUSPENSION LOOP & THE HANGER BAR. GIVEN RESTRICTED DUTY; NEXT MORNING COMPLAINED OF BACK PAIN, RETURNED TO PHYSICIAN.

2003 · 4 incidents

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE WAS CHANGING INTO HIS WORK CLOTHES, WHEN HE FELT SOMETHING BITE OR STING HIM ON THE RIGHT HAND. HE SHOOK HIS HAND BUT DID NOT SEE ANYTHING. EE WAS TAKEN INTO THE HOSPITAL AND GIVEN PRESCRI PTION LEVEL DOSAGE OF AN OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATION. EE WAS SCHEDULED FOR TRAINING THE FOLLOWING MORNING AND DID NOT COME IN COMPLAINING OF PAIN.

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

EE WAS TRYING TO ADJUST HANGER BAR ON STRONGBACK THAT HAD BEEN LOCKED. AS HE ADJUSTED ONE SIDE, THE OPPOSITE SIDE CAME OFF CAUSING THE BAR TO GO UPWARDS, SMASHING HIS FINGER BETWEEN THE BAR & STRONGBACK. THE LACERATION REQUIRED EIGHT SUTURES & A SPLINT. HE WAS RELEASED TO RETURN TO WORK WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS FOR HIS NEXT WORK SCHEDULE.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE REPORTED SKIN DERMATITIS ON HIS LOWER LEFT LEG ON 7/26/03. HE STATED THAT HE THOUGHT HIS LEG MAY HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH SOLUTION WHILE CLEANING A MIX BOX ON 7/22/03. HE WAS TREATED WITH ANTIBIOTICS AND GIVEN A FULL RELEASE TO WORK.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

THE EE INDICATED ON 3/16/03 THAT HE HAD RECEIVED DUST IN HIS EYE WHILE CHANGING AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET IN THE TANKHOUSE. HE STATED THAT HE FELT THE OVERHEAD CRANE WORKING NEARBY WHICH CAUSED DUS T FROM A SUPPORT BEAM ABOVE HIM TO FALL AND ENTER INTO HIS EYE. THE EE DID NOT REPORT THE INCIDENT THAT DAY, UPON REPORTING, HE WAS TAKEN TO A DR. & DIAGNOSED W/A MINOR CHEMICAL BURN.

2002 · 5 incidents

Struck against stationary object

THE EMPLOYEE WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE DOOR ON A NEW STORAGE CONTAINER. THE DOOR WAS JAMMED & NOT CLOSING PROPERLY. THE EMPLOYEE WAS EXERTING A LOT OF FORCE WHEN THE LEVER FINALLY GAVE, CAUS ING THE EMPLOYEE TO STRIKE THE BACK OF HIS RIGHT HAND ON THE DOOR LATCH.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE HAD JUST PULLED A SAMPLE AND TURNED TO WALK TO THE CENTER AISLE. HIS RT. FOOT WENT BETWEEN THE GRATING AND THE ANODE, CAUSING THE EE TO FALL BACK. EE STATED HE FELT PAIN IN HIS LOWER BACK , HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A LUMBAR STRAIN.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE CAME IN CONTACT WITH A MIXTURE OF PREGNANT LEACH SOLUTION (PLS) AND ORGANIC, WHILE ATTEMPTINGTO DRAIN AND CLEAN THE EIA SETTLER. THE EXPOSURECAUSED EE TO DEVELOP CONTACT DERMATITIS (RASH).

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE CAME IN CONTACT WITH A MIXTURE OF PREGNANT LEACH SOLUTION (PLS) AND ORGANIC, WHILE ATTEMPTINGTO DRAIN AND CLEAN THE EIA SETTLER. THE EXPOSURECAUSED EE TO DEVELOP CONTACT DERMITITIS (RASH).

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE CAME IN CONTACT WITH A MIXTURE OF PREGNANT LEACH SOLUTION (PLS) AND ORGANIC, WHILE ATTEMPTINGTO DRAIN AND CLEAN THE EIA SETTLER. THE EXPOSURECAUSED EE TO DEVELOP CONTACT DERMITITIS (RASH).

2001 · 2 incidents

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE WALKING ON A CONCRETE FLOOR, SLIPPED AND FELL.

Struck by falling object

THE EE STATED HE SAW SOME B0 STARTER SHEETS THAT WERE BUNCHED UP ON ONE CORNER. HE WAS GOING TO REJECT THEM AND AS HE PICKED UP THE BUNDLE, ONE SHEET FELL AND STRUCK HIS LEFT KNEE.

2000 · 2 incidents

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

THE EMPLOYEE NOTICED A RASH ON HIS RIGHT HAND AFTER REMOVING RUBBER GLOVES.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

MOVING METAL PIPE, 1"" IN DIAMETER.