Mining Incidents

Sandy Ridge Mill Metal/Non-Metal

Letohatchee, Lowndes County, AL  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 0100093

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
39
Years on record
2000–2023
Latest incident
Apr 2023
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
180
citations
54
significant & substantial
$121,686
proposed penalties
$61,274
paid to date
Source: MSHA violations data, updated weekly.
Quarterly safety rates
Citations per million employee-hours, as reported to MSHA
Quarter Hours worked Citations S&S Per 1M hrs
2025 Q4 9,764 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 5,113 2 1 391.2
2025 Q1 3,381 2 0 591.5
2024 Q4 5,286 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 10,057 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 8,148 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 8,844 0 0 0.0
2023 Q4 5,517 0 0 0.0
Quarters under 100,000 reported hours are greyed: too few hours for a stable rate.
No fatalities recorded at this mine.

Reportable incidents

39 on file

2023 · 2 incidents

April 10, 2023 AL · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer ELECTRICAL
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Flash burns (electric)

An equipment operator in the mine suffered a burn on right hand from an electrical arc flash. During shift start up at the pre-shift huddle, the operator was attempting to plug a 220-volt floor standing space heater into an outlet when it flashed, resulting in a burn to the operator's palm.

January 24, 2023 AL · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer MACHINERY
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

At 8:30 am, a Heavy Equipment Operator who has worked at Sandy Ridge for 8 years with 10 months experience in the mining department was starting a 4-horsepower gasoline powered water pump when EE strained EE's lower back while pulling on the engine starting pull cord.

2015 · 1 incident

October 19, 2015 AL · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Struck against stationary object

The employee was beating the cone at the bottom of tank #6 to loosen mud that had accumulated at the bottom of the tank. The head of the hammer glanced off the side of the tank. Because of this, he hit his left hand on the guard rail of the catwalk. This caused severe pain, numbness, and swelling in his left hand.

2014 · 1 incident

August 11, 2014 AL · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Fall onto or against objects

While employee was stepping from a platform to load a truck his right foot slipped off the side of the truck causing his right arm come in contact with a guard rail. This caused a contusion on the elbow area and the employee was suffering from pain.

2013 · 2 incidents

August 19, 2013 AL · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver HANDLING OF MATERIALS
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was attempting to pull a metal basket out of a trailer he was loading with bentonite clay. While doing so he injured his right bicep. The basket was in bad condition and a new basket was already being contructed by a contractor. Employee should not have been using the damaged basket.

March 11, 2013 AL · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Over-exertion in pulling or pushing objects

Employee was trying to maneuver a 400 pound air compressor when he felt a sting in his lower part of his back.

2012 · 1 incident

July 16, 2012 AL · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee stated that he stepped backwards to the right side at the same time when he twisted his right ankle.

2011 · 2 incidents

September 8, 2011 AL · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

An employee had his annual hearing test conducted on 8/23/11. On 9/8/11 information came back that he had a Standard threshold Shift (STS). On 9/12/11 employee was retested. On 9/27/11 results came back from resulting in a STS in his right ear. The employee works in an office and wears hearing protection whenever he goes in the plant.

February 17, 2011 AL · Metal/Non-Metal greaser, grease man, oiler, lube man, dragline oiler SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON

An employee was climbing an extension ladder, when the ladder lost it's footing and slid to the ground with the employee landing on his right ankle, causing a bad sprain.

2010 · 1 incident

June 30, 2010 AL · Metal/Non-Metal laborer, blacksmith, bull gang, parts runner, roustabout, pick-up man, pitman FIRE
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Contact with hot objects or substances

Subject was cutting a bolt off the bottom of a screw hopper when the hot bolt fell on the floor igniting the material cellflo that had spilled and accumulated causing a fire. The subject was taken to the emergency room where he was treated for 1st and 2nd degree burns. He was released the next day.

2009 · 2 incidents

November 18, 2009 AL · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Around 11:30 am the subject was at the back of the maintenance shop telling another employee that he felt dizzy and had a sharp pain in his left arm and shoulder. Ambulance was called and he was taken to the hospital.

May 27, 2009 AL · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON

Employee reported that his foot slipped off a rung of a fixed ladder while he was carrying a sample jar causing him to fall about 7 or 8 feet to the ground landing on his feet and legs first then falling on his back.

2008 · 1 incident

June 9, 2008 AL · Metal/Non-Metal ledgeman/hand, quarry man SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Fall onto or against objects

An employee was cleaning the pan conveyor when the clay shifted under his feet causing him to fall first onto the pan conveyor, hurting his back and he said he did this x3.

2007 · 3 incidents

June 1, 2007 AL · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Employee walked into the office and told his supervisor that he was feeling some pain in his lower back and that he had started feeling some pain after running the 100 pound bag load on Thursday.

February 6, 2007 AL · Metal/Non-Metal FIRE
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Accident type, without injuries

On 2/6/07 around 11:30am, the #1 dryer was shut down to make some adjustments on the PLC Controllers. Around 11:45, plant people noticed flames coming out of the ID Fan Piping, at that time we got the fire hose located in the dryer room and began to spray the fire. The fire dept was called out to assist, fire was extinguished around 12:20pm. No one was hurt.

January 29, 2007 AL · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Struck by flying object

On January 29, 2007 around 3:25 pm Loader operator noticed that one of the teeth on the front end loader's bucket was bent. He then took a hammer and tried to straighten the tooth when a piece of metal flew off the tooth and struck him in the right leg just to the left of the knee cap.

2006 · 2 incidents

October 7, 2006 AL · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Ee was running 100 lbs bags when one of the bags got twisted up on the conveyor he stopped the conveyor and moved the stuck bag, his lower part of his back began to hurt.

February 17, 2006 AL · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Struck against stationary object

EE WAS WORKING ON THE UNDERSIDE OF A 1845 CASE UNILOADER AND BUMPED HIS RIGHT HAND AGAINST THE MACHINE. NO ACTION WAS TAKEN AT THAT TIME. ON 2/19/06 EE NOTICED THAT HIS RIGHT HAND BELOW HIS PINKIE HAD SWOLLEN. ON 2/20/06 HE CAME TO WORK & HIS HAND WAS STILL SWOLLEN. HE SOAKED IT THE NEXT NIGHT. X-RAY ON 2/22/06 REVEALED FRACTURE.

2005 · 5 incidents

November 28, 2005 AL · Metal/Non-Metal FIRE
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Accident type, without injuries

Employee arrived at work around 12:00 am; he noticed on the surveillance camera that the crude stockpile showed gray color on the screen. He thought it had fallen down; he then took off the dryer area and saw a flame coming from a pile of coal under the coal bin tank. At that time two employees came up and together they put out the fire with water. It took about1:20 minutes.

April 12, 2005 AL · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator OTHER
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Bodily reaction, (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was climbing the ladder on the Cat Loader he operates. He dropped his portable radio and while holding on with his right hand reached to pick it up with his left hand. He jerked his right arm causing pain in his right shoulder.

January 5, 2005 AL · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was loading 50 lb. bags when he noticed pain in his back and left leg.

2004 · 4 incidents

June 11, 2004 AL · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Struck against stationary object

Employee was engaging the PTO valve and left hand slipped off valve striking hand on metal frame of driver's seat.

January 6, 2004 AL · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Fall to the walkway or working surface

EMPLOYEE WAS CLIMBING DOWN A LADDER AND HIS LEFT FOOT SLIPPED. HE FELL & TWISTED HIS LEFT KNEE.

2003 · 4 incidents

September 9, 2003 AL · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS CARRYING AN OXYGEN BOTTLE & FELT SOMETHING PULL IN LEFT GROIN.

August 22, 2003 AL · Metal/Non-Metal NO VALUE FOUND

EE WAS CLEANING IN FRONT OF THE BAG PACKER WHEN HE TURNED TO THE LEFT TO PLACE A SHOVEL OF CLAY INTO A CLAY DISPOSAL HOPPER, THIS CAUSED PAIN INTHE LOWER LEFT BACK AREA.

April 15, 2003 AL · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Fall onto or against objects

EMPLOYEE WAS CLIMBING DOWN A LADDER INTO A RAILCAR WHEN HE SLIPPED AND LEFT HAND STRUCK A WALL CAUSING A CONTUSION.

February 24, 2003 AL · Metal/Non-Metal bulldozer operator, universal operator, heavy equipment operator, operating engineer HANDLING OF MATERIALS
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Struck against stationary object

EE WAS WORKING IN TUNNEL, BENDING OVER HE BACKED INTO AN OBJECT CAUSING LOWER BACK PAIN. *** EE DID NOT REPORT TO EMPLOYER UNTIL 3/10/03.

2002 · 2 incidents

February 23, 2002 AL · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE'S HAND SLIPPED OFF PIPE AND GOT CAUGHT IN ROTARY LOCK.

2001 · 4 incidents

November 6, 2001 AL · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Over-exertion in lifting objects

EE LEANED OVER TO PICK BAG OF MATERIAL OFF FLOOR& BACK STARTED HURTING.

October 12, 2001 AL · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Caught in, under or between (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS TRYING TO UNSTOP A PIPE & A TRAP DOOR CLOSED ON HIS RIGHT THUMB CAUSING A LACERATION.

June 16, 2001 AL · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech EXPLODING VESSELS UNDER PRESSURE
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS WORKING ON HEAD PULLEY AND HAD A CAN OF ANTI-SIEZE SPRAY. WHEN EE PUSHED VALVE ON CAN TO SPRAY, THE CAN EXPLODED WOUNDING EMPLOYEE'S RIGHT HAND.

2000 · 2 incidents

June 17, 2000 AL · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
American Colloid Company Mineral Group · Fall onto or against objects

EMPLOYEE STEPPED ON A GRATE AND IT TURNED UP, CAUSING HIM TO SLIP AND FALL INJURING HIS LEFT ANKLE.