The accident occurred while performing maintenance on a forklift. Injury occurred when the forklift apparently moved, crushing the miner between forklift and wooden support column. Specific details are currently under investigation.
HOCKLEY MINEMetal/Nonmetal
- Fatalities
- 1
- Total incidents
- 71
- Years on record
- 2000–2025
- Latest incident
- Jun 2025
Fatalities at this mine
1 recordedReportable incidents
70 on file (excluding fatalities above)2025 · 3 incidents
Employee was walking behind the block press fencing (newly installed) and tripped on an 8x8 timber that is in the process of being removed. Employee fell onto left forearm on the ground and tried to catch themselves with right hand against the robot fencing. When trying to catch themselves they strained the right inner forearm/elbow.
Employee was assisting in moving a portable gravity roller conveyor. Was carrying one end walking forward and the other employee was carrying the other end walking backwards. The conveyor snagged the floor and stopped suddenly, causing employee to jar EE's shoulder.
2024 · 3 incidents
Only two points contact. Wrong ladder for task. Four fractured ribs.
We began pulling miners out of the mine due to inclement weather and the power to the whole area went down trapping the miners in the cage
Hoistman was switching from medium grade salt to stock grade salt. As the skip was starting to dump they noticed that the dump pocket was still full of medium. With the door open they tried to lower the skip to close the door and it became bound up.
2023 · 2 incidents
EE was working Saturday when leaving the maintenance trailer, EE was locking the door when a bee stung EE just below the left eye, and two more bees stung EE on either side of the bridge of EE's nose. EE ran to the loading dock area, talked to another EE, clocked out at the loading dock, then made EE's way to EE's truck. By the time EE got home EE's left eye was swollen.
Employee was using an air hose to blow off equipment when employee felt something go in left eye, employee was taken to the clinic where eye was flushed and was given prescription eye drops.
2022 · 1 incident
Employee was at break after stacking salt block and noticed that knee was hurting. EE was taken to the doctor and was diagnosed with left knee sprain, and was put on restricted duty.
2021 · 3 incidents
Employee was going down the stairs when left knee slipped forward and felt a pain on knee. Resulting in a sprained knee.
Employee lost balance getting off of the CAT loader and hit right thumb up against the rib which resulted in a sprained thumb.
Employee felt lower back pain after driving the forklift all day on a bumpy road.
2020 · 4 incidents
We were replacing the Cuttler Hammer electric brake that did not function as expected. The brake released and allowed the cage to drop pulling the salt skip onto the headframe crushing the bonnet.
Employee lifted a 50lb block of salt and felt a sharp sting in EE's back. Employee was taken to the clinic and was given a prescription.
Contractor was changing the blade on the utility knife. When putting in the new blade EE's hand slipped and cut the back of EE's hand. EE was taken to the ER where EE was bandaged up. EE was released for work the same day with lifting restrictions.
Contractor truck driver was climbing down off the back of tractor trailer when they fainted and fell backwards, driver was taken to the hospital where treated for a concussion.
2019 · 2 incidents
Miner's son called the plant on 9-14-19 to say the miner was having brain surgery to resolve a brain bleed from a bump on the hard hat on miner's head at work on 9-11-19. Miner worked all shifts from 9-11 until 9-13 without reporting incident or issues. Accident still under investigation.
Installed a new skip and had clearance problems and hung up. Unable to bring workers up using the main hoist. Pulled workers out using the emergency escape shaft.
2018 · 5 incidents
Employee was walking from the office to vehicle at the end of shift when ee twisted right knee.
Employee was shoveling along the belt line in a tunnel, the next day ee reported shoulder was sore.
The supervisor was holding a hydraulic valve (approx 6 lbs) for a measurment when it slipped. The supervisor tried to catch it and felt a pain go from fingers into forearm.
The miner was moving an 80# bag of salt and said felt a pull in shoulder
An office worker was leaving for the day and stepped on a small stone in the gravel parking lot twisting ankle. Worker was transported to the hospital and a CT scan indicated a broken tibia and fibula.
2017 · 1 incident
The miner was doing shaft work and had gone to the bottom to take a break. When ee returned the crew had moved the cage up one level about 10' so ee took a different route up to join the crew. EE climbed through some timbers and framing and lost grip falling back about 2' hitting a piece of iron work. EE was wearing proper PPE.
2016 · 1 incident
The miner was helping install bolts on equipment and felt a pull in EE's chest. EE reported the incident but thought EE was ok so no doc visit. Monday EE still had pain so went to doc. The doc was not sure if it was a pulled muscle or something else that just showed up when pulling on the wrench. EE was released for light duty until final determination.
2015 · 5 incidents
EE was stacking 50# bags and felt a ""pull"" in his stomach. over the weekend he developed some discomfort in his groin area.The incident was not reported until mid morning of 12/07/2015. The doc reported it as a muscle sprain and put him on light duty for 4 days.
Rock fell striking man cutting his head and abrading his upper back
Miners were working in the mine when one of the ITX gas detectors went into alarm with 2ppm SO2. Not knowing the source the mine was evacuated as a precautionary measure and MSHA notified. Subsequent checks with a Dragger hand pump and other investigation we determined that it was a false reading related to ITX SO2 calibration.
EE was changing out pump on fuel truck when he slipped and fell causing injury to right cheek and forehead.
Employee suffered an umbilical hernia while working on the 5th Floor-to-Silos catwalk rebuild. Primary strenuous activity was the lifting of lumber. There was no specific moment that he can pinpoint as to when it actually occurred.
2014 · 8 incidents
Employee was struck in the face with a crowbar while attempting to remove counterweights from counterweight compartment of man cage. Another counterweight inside compartment fell on top of crowbar, lifting opposite end of bar and striking employee. Suffered a cut to the lip, broken tooth, and contusion on the cheek.
While scaling ceiling and removing large rock, smaller rock fell, hit front of hard hat and pushed safety glasses into bridge of nose, resulting in a contusion.
A roof fall occurred in the screening plant in the mine. There were no injuries on any kind, no restriction to travel in normal work areas, no change in ventilation and as we understand definitions in 50.2 no reason to complete a 7000-1. MSHA did issue a 103j order on 09/29/204. Termination of citation/order #8854245 was issued on 05/04/2015.
The plant mgr noted smoke coming from the shaft and notified MSHA. The smoke was from a planned detonation of det cord tails - plant mgr was not previously informed. There were no miners underground and as we understand definitions in 50.2 no reason to complete a 7000-1. MSHA did issue a 103j order on 08/30/2014, MSHA ventilation study conducted on 10/06-09/2014.
While holding a rubber hose at an open end with gloved right hand, and another person operating a pressure washer with tip of wand at the same end of rubber hose, the wand tip came into close proximity of the hand, penetrated the glove and cut the thumb. Two sutures were used to close the wound.
Small particulate blew into left eye, became irritated and was rubbed. Eye was flushed with eye wash solution, but irritation persisted. Incident was not reported until following day when Supervisor noticed swelling of the eye. Infection was apparent. Physician examined the eye and found very small particulate, and removed by flushing. Medication was prescribed.
Right index finger was smashed and cut when a 75 lbs. hydraulic cylinder on a front-end loader shifted and fell on the finger while attempting to remove the part for maintenance. Examination showed slight fracture at the finger tip. Cut was cleaned and bandaged. Antibiotics were prescribed.
Employee injured back when struck by pallet of plywood when forklift tail-swing bumped into the stack on opposite side. Soreness only symptom. Internal First Aid report was submitted. Returned to work next scheduled day. Nearly two months later, he saw a doctor with soreness in back. Occupational doctor released employee to work with lifting and bending restrictions on 4/10/14.
2013 · 5 incidents
Strain to the right shoulder occurred while holding on to the AMFO tote's bottom liner outlet in an attempt to stop the leakage of AMFO while transferring from large to small tote bag.
Employee was diagnosed with a hernia when he saw a doctor for a physical checkup. His new-employee physical from 9/18/13 did not diagnose the hernia. After interviewing him, he said that he felt a pull in the groin area while moving a pallet on 11/25/13. He did not report the incident prior to his diagnosis. We assume this is the date of his injury.
Employee hurt back outside of work and claims work aggravated injury.
The operator pulled a 80 bag and felt a slight pain in his stomach. The injury was not reported until the end of the shift the next day. He said he was ok but was sent to the doctor on 3-1-2013 for evaluation and was put on restricted duty.
EE was working on the press when he felt a slight pull in his groin. He reported the incident to his supervisor and did not request a doctor visit at the time. EE reported pending surgery to the company on Feb 12th 2013 and was sent to the company doctor and was released on restricted duty.
2012 · 5 incidents
The operator was inspecting a pneumatic bulk truck when he slipped and bruised his right ankle. No doctor visit required = he said he was ok and has done the same job until 6/27/2012 when he requested a doc visit because the ankle was still a little sore. When the incident occurred he was wearing proper PPE.
EE has been going to his own doctor for 11 to 12 years for hand pain and was recently diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Our first report of injury was completed on 5-18-2012 and the issue was determined to be work related (workmans comp)a few weeks ago. The main office HR was handling the paperwork and the plant was not notified until 6/25/2012 of the change to workmans comp.
EE was breaking a rock with a hand held pneumatic hammer when the rock split his hand slipped and was caught between the two halves. His hand was slightly bruised and was taken to the doc for evaluation. He was given pain meds and told to return to work. He went to the clinic the next day for DA test and was put on restricted duty for 5 days.
The operator was stacking 50# blocks when he felt a pull in his back. The operator was questioned the next morning and he said he was ok and could work. Late into his shift on 5-2-2012 he said that he was hurting.
The operator was conducting cleanup work on a belt conveyor. He pulled the belt around by hand & caught his finger between the belt and the pulley which rolled somewhat less than 1/4 turn. Operators in the area said the conveyor was off and not running. It appears that his pulling momentum caught tip of the finger between the belt and the roller mashing it.
2011 · 5 incidents
EE was cleaning up a salt spill in the product reclaim tunnel when he felt a pull in his right calf
A utility operator was pushing trash down into the trash compactor holding hopper and felt a pull in the upper back
Man was scaling in the face when the scale dropped it pulled the 10' fiberglass scaling bar from his hands and the bar landed on instep of his right foot.
Operator was breaking a salt rock with a pneumatic hammer - the rock broke causing the operator to shift trapping his finger between the hammer and the conveyor side rails. Mashed left middle finger tip which required medical attention.
Operator was wearing safety glasses with side shields but small particles managed to get into his left eye. No LTI or Restricted duty. Prescriptions for eye drops only.
2010 · 1 incident
Operator had leaned an 8 foot ladder against a wall to clean windows. The wall had a removable panel to facilitate cable changes on the hoist. The ladder slipped when the panel moved, causing the operator to fall.
2009 · 1 incident
The employee strained back when lifting up 80# bags.
2008 · 2 incidents
Employee was stacking bags, caught foot between pallets twisting right knee.
2007 · 1 incident
Employee was dismounting CAT and slipped on step. Held on with both arms, then fell towards the ground. He fell from the 4th step.
2006 · 4 incidents
9/13/06, employee was transporting a piece of PVC pipe on freight elevator. As elevator moved, the pipe slid or rolled into the his left calf and he received a laceration. He treated himself, did not miss any work. On 9/20/06, he told leadman that it was getting infected and he needed to see a Dr. He was treated by Dr on 9/22/06, Dr. has not released him to RTW until 10/02/06.
Employee was inspecting bulk truck and shoe got caught on latch. He fell and hit knee.
Coming down stairs, he slipped and hurt left ankle.
He was sweeping and cleaning up the bagging area and just twisted wrong.
2005 · 1 incident
Employee was lifting 80 lb bag of salt and felt pain in his right shoulder.
2003 · 1 incident
MOVING EQUIPMENT, EE'S FINGER WAS PINCHED BETWEEN TRAILER TONGUE AND ROCK SALT.
2002 · 1 incident
EE HAD PAIN IN HIS RIGHT ARM WHILE STACKING BAGS.
2001 · 3 incidents
EE REACHED AND PULLED ON A 50# SALT BLOCK.
EE WAS WORKING ON OPEN MOUTH BAGGER AND GOT FINGER PINCHED.
EMPLOYEE SLIPPED ON BULT LOADING SCALE AND HIT LEFT KNEE ON CONCRETE FLOOR.
2000 · 2 incidents
EMPLOYEE WAS PULLING BAGS OFF OF CONVEYOR BELT AND PULLED MUSCLE.
EE REPORTED ON 5-22-00 THAT HE STEPPED OUT OF THE PICKUP TRUCK AND SPRAINED HIS LEFT ANKLE ON 4-25-00. ON 6-2-00 EE REPORTED THAT HIS LEG WAS HURTING. DR INFORMED HIM THAT HE HAD A RUPTURED DI SC IN HIS BACK.