Mining Incidents

K-T Feldspar Plant and MineMetal/Nonmetal

Spruce Pine, Mitchell County, NC · Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3101334
Fatalities
0
Total incidents
42
Years on record
2000–2023
Latest incident
Sep 2023
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

42 on file

2023 · 2 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Employee was walking on a catwalk and hit EE's left arm on a piece of sharp metal being used as a screen.

Struck by falling object

While carrying a piece of 2"" steel pipe a miner lost footing and fell to the ground. The pipe EE was carrying also fell striking EE in the head just above the left eye.

2022 · 1 incident

Over-exertion in lifting objects

The employee was picking up boxes when EE felt a pinch in EE's back. The pain got worst as the day went on. On 06/18/2022 EE reported it to management. On Monday 06/20/2022 EE went to the doctor and was wrote out of work for a pulled muscle.

2021 · 1 incident

Struck by flying object

A maintenance worker reported getting dust in both eyes at some point during the prior workday. EE was taken to Urgent Care as soon as reported. Employee's eyes were flushed with water. Prescription eye drops were given and used. On the next working day, the employee stated ""EE was fine now."" No lost time occurred.

2020 · 5 incidents

Struck against stationary object

While cleaning up debris after a maintenance task, old steel was being picked up and placed on a fork lift. As the employee picked up a piece of discarded metal there was on unseen ""burr"" attached to the backside. It cut through a leather glove and lacerated the little finger on the employee's right hand

Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee was stacking 50 lb. bags and felt pain in EE's right shoulder. EE later reported it to EE's supervisor.

Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee reported that on the 8/10/2020 they were mounting a forklift, using the grab handle and steps provided on machine. As they swung around into the seat they felt a pain in lower back. The employee reported this to supervisor on 08/13/2020 at 7:30 am. The employee normally works 2nd shift. Employee went immediately to the company physician.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

A maintenance worker was stepping over a pipe while attempting to remove it from a scrubber box. EE's left foot slipped and EE's knee buckled. EE has missed no time as EE was put on light duty. EE is wearing a knee brace.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Operator had just gotten out of machine turn to walk away and lost balance. This resulted in them shifting all their weight onto left ankle. They heard and felt a ""pop"" and reported it right away.

2019 · 1 incident

Caught in, under or between running or meshing objects

Employee reached into an observation port to see if material was flowing. EE left hand (fingers) contacted an energized rotary valve. Causing a pinch injury to 3 fingers

2018 · 3 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

An employee was using a box cutter to remove packing material from belt. EE inadvertently made contact with EE's left leg. It resulted in a 3/4"" cut to EE's inner thigh.

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

Placed hand by rack and left tip of middle finger was smashed.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

While unclogging a chemical supply line material inadvertently contacted miners left eye. Causing a chemical burn to the eye

2015 · 2 incidents

Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE was transferring inventory to shelf and strained lower back

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

The ladder way access to the railcar/tanker truck loadout had a pinch point near the handle.

2011 · 1 incident

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

While in the process of tightening a nut on a motor base, employee felt pain in lower right back area.

2010 · 2 incidents

Fall down stairs

Snow covered steps/eyes not on task.

Struck by flying object

Upon initially performing maintenance at RE machines at dryer in plant, employee apparently got a dust particle in the eye. Eye was treated with solution at local clinic. Employee returned to work immediately afterwards.

2009 · 5 incidents

Struck against stationary object

Employee was loosening a tight nut on the shaker feeder at the jaw crusher, when the nut suddenly came loose. The employee's right forearm struck against a nearby piece of of angle iron and the employee sustained a small cut and bruising.

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

Employee sustained laceration to ring finger of right hand, when a part he was manually handling with another employee slipped from his grip and caught his finger between the part and the timber pallet on the floor. Employee received 5 stitches. Returned to work with no restrictions same day, no lost time.

Struck by falling object

Employee was under machine laying on his back looking up to loosen the drive belt during repair of excavator/rockbreaker. He knocked some loose sand away from the drive belt and sand fell in his left eye. Physician removed a small piece of embedded metal from the employee's left eye and prescribed a preventative antibiotic.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee felt a pull in his right knee when he stepped down from the last rung of a fixed ladder to uneven ground. The employee strained the same knee again on 6/8/09 when he stepped into a depression in the floor that was covered by sand. The employee did not report either incident until 6/8/09. The employee was given a brace for his knee by the physician.

Fall from scaffolds, walkways, platforms

Employee was installing a conditioner onto float platform. Handrails had been removed for access of conditioner. Employee lost his footing while removing a 4 inch pvc pipe and fell approximately 6 feet to bottom floor. Head struck concrete floor causing concussion and head injury. Employee was working 5 feet from edge of platform which was clearly marked with caution tape.

2008 · 4 incidents

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

While changing a RE belt, employee used a pry bar to raise roller and roller slipped, striking his left thumb. Stitches were required, thus causing a reportable accident.

Fall to lower level, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee's task was drilling. He stopped drilling and went into the woods to relieve himself. He then stood on a rock to look around and fell as he jumped off the rock breaking his left wrist

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee struck himself with knife causing a cut 1/2 inch wide while cutting belts from main dust collector fan at bagging and loading. Conditions contributing to accident would be fatigue and complacency with knife. Reportable due to stitches

Fall to the walkway or working surface

Employee tripped and fell, striking right shoulder on platform. Employee tripped on foundation of seat used during his task.

2004 · 1 incident

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE was replacing an air slide. Due to length of airslide ee had cut the equipment into two 8 foot sections in order for easier handling and for discarding roof. The air slide struck the ee's foot when it was removed from the roof.

2003 · 3 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

PULLING/LIFTING IN ORDER TO CHANGE BELT ON ELEVATOR. PULLED OR STRAINED MUSCLE IN LOWER BACK. WENT TO DOCTOR 10/27/03 AND GIVEN PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION & RESTRICTED DUTY.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS HANDLING 4"" BY 6"" TIMBERS (WOOD BEAMS) AND MASHED FINGER. REPORTABLE DUE TO MODIFIED WORK DUTY.

Struck against a moving object

EE WAS TRAVELING DOWN STEEP GRADE IN FRONT END LOADER, WHEN ENGINE FAILED. THE BRAKES & STEERING FAILED WHEN ENGINE STALLED. EE STRUCK A FORKLIFT AT BOTTOM OF GRADE. REPORTABLE DUE TO RESTRIC TED DUTY VIA DR.

2002 · 1 incident

Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS CUTTING SMALL TREE DOWN TO CLEAR AREA. WHILE UNDER SUPERVISION THE EE FELL. THE TREE, HOWEVER WHEN IT CAME TO REST IT STRUCK THE EE'S LEFT ANKLE. EE DID NOT SEE DR THINKING IT W AS ONLY BRUISED UNTIL 6-7-02. REPORTABLE DUE TO BREAK.

2001 · 5 incidents

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS PULLING PIPE DOWN IN FLOTATION BLDG FOR EQUIPMENT CHANGEOVER. THE PIPE POPPED OUT DUE TO TENSION AND THE FLANGE STRUCK THE EE IN THE RIGHT SIDE RIBS.

Struck by falling object

EMPLOYEE WAS INSTALLING LIGHT FIXTURE IN BAGGING/LOADING BATHROON. USED BOLT TO SECURE AN END OF 8' LIGHT FIXTURE WHILE PREPARING TO SECURE THE OTHER END. THE BOLT WORKED OFF THIS ALLOWING THE FIXTURE TO FALL WHICH STRUCK THE EMPLOYEE.

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS CLOSING DOOR TO RAILCAR PRIOR TO LOADING.THE DOOR JAMMED WHILE CLOSING CAUSING HIM TO PULL HIS GROIN MUSCLE ALONG HIS RIGHT LEG. REPORTABLE DUE TO RESTRICTED DUTY.

Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS USING UTILITY KNIFE TO CUT TIE WRAPS FROM PIPE. THE KNIFE SLIPPED CUTTING THE EMPLOYEE'S LEFT INDEX FINGER. REPORTABLE DUE TO STITCHES RECEIVED.

Absorption of radiations, caustics, toxic and noxious substances

EE DISCOVERED OLD SULFURIC ACID LINE ENTANGLE ON THE FLOAT PADDLE SHAFT. EE CUT LINE FREE FROM SHAFT NOT KNOWING THE LINE WAS AN OLD SULFURIC ACID LINE. WHEN THE PIPE WAS CUT, TENSION ON THE L INE CAUSED THE PIPE TO STRIKE THE EE'S FACE & SPLASHED ACID ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS FACE AND INTO RIGHT EYE. EE DID HAVE SAFETY EQUIPMENT IN USE AT TIME OF INCIDENT AND USE PROPER SAFETY PRO

2000 · 5 incidents

Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS INSIDE DEYER SCRUBBER WELDING A PATCH. DUE TO SMALL AREA IN WHICH EE HAD TO WORK, BODY WEIGHT WAS SHIFTED DIRECTLY OVER RIGHT FOOT AND LEG. FOOT WAS ASLEEP AFTER TASK AND CONTINUED SO O VER THE WEEK-END. TOOK TO CO DR ON 20 NOV 00 ANDPLACE ON RESTRICTED DUTY DUE TO INFLAMMED DISC IN LOWER BACK.

Struck by flying object

EE WAS TURNING WELDING HELMET DOWN ONTO FACE WHEN A FOREIGN OBJECT ENTERED INTO RIGHT EYE. REPORTABLE DUE TO PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION.

Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS HELPING REMOVE RODS FROM RODMILL. WHILE PUTTING RODS ON FORKLIFT HIS SMALL FINGER WAS PINCHED CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. REPORTABLE DUE TO STITCHES RECEIVED.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EE FELL DUE TO ICY CONDITIONS WHICH EXISTED DUE TO SEVERE WINTER STORM. EE WAS DOING NORMAL STARTUP PROCEDURES & FELL INJURING LEFT ARM. DR.'S VISIT RESULT IN RESTRICTED DUTY.

Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE WAS WASHING OUT WORK AREA WITH WATER HOSE. EMPLOYEE SLIPPED AND CAUGHT HIMSELF WITH HIS LEFT ARM HURTING HIS LEFT SHOULDER. DOCTOR VISIT RESULTED IN RESTRICTED DUTY.