Mining Incidents

Moss Mine & Mill Metal/Non-Metal

Controlled by Imerys S A
Kings Mountain, Cleveland County, NC  ·  Active
MSHA Mine ID: 3100273

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Fatalities
0
Total incidents
26
Years on record
2000–2022
Latest incident
Jan 2022
Compliance record
MSHA citations since 2000
142
citations
34
significant & substantial
$34,416
proposed penalties
$33,506
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 4,546 0 0 0.0
2025 Q3 5,219 0 0 0.0
2025 Q1 5,466 2 0 365.9
2024 Q4 2,014 0 0 0.0
2024 Q3 195 0 0 0.0
2024 Q2 195 0 0 0.0
2024 Q1 5,651 4 0 707.8
2023 Q4 4,365 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

26 on file

2022 · 1 incident

January 22, 2022 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Imerys Mica Kings Mountain Inc · Fall to the walkway or working surface

Icy conditions. Was getting the plants ready to start up and slipped on some black ice and fell. Asked EE if EE wanted to go to see a doctor and said EE was fine. Next day said EE's back was sore and we sent EE to see a doctor

2020 · 1 incident

May 20, 2020 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Imerys Mica Kings Mountain Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Hearing loss in right and left ear

2019 · 1 incident

July 17, 2019 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Imerys Mica Kings Mountain Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Hearing Shift on the left ear.

2018 · 1 incident

August 22, 2018 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech DISORDERS (REPEATED TRAUMA)
Imerys Mica Kings Mountain Inc · (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Hearing Shift on the right ear

2017 · 1 incident

September 13, 2017 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Imerys Mica Kings Mountain Inc · Struck by falling object

The employee was cutting a piece of tubing 1 1/2 with a portable band saw off the back of the welding truck and when EE cut thru the tubing EE lost control of the handle on the band saw and dropped the saw and when EE did the blade cut the skin on the left hand index finger. EE received first aid here at the plant and was taken to the Hospital to get stitches

2014 · 1 incident

January 21, 2014 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Imerys Mica Kings Mountain Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee used a pipe as a cheater bar to turn a valve, instead of asking a coworker or his supervisor to assist. While gripping the pipe and turning the valve handle, the pipe slipped and he inadvertently pulled the pipe into his upper left rib area. Placed on modified duty.

2012 · 1 incident

May 19, 2012 NC · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman ELECTRICAL
Imerys Mica Kings Mountain Inc · Flash burns (electric)

Employee was changing a fuse in a de-energized electrical panel when an arc flash occurred. Employee received burns to hands, chin, and forearms.

2010 · 2 incidents

November 5, 2010 NC · Metal/Non-Metal quality control technician, laboratory technician, laboratory assistant HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Imerys Mica Kings Mountain Inc · Over-exertion in lifting objects

Partial tear of rotator cuff and tendon, possibly due to lifting a 25pound, five gallon bucket of material to empty into a dumpster. EE was placed on work restrictions on 11/30/10.

April 14, 2010 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Imerys Mica Kings Mountain Inc · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Greasing plant conveyor when he stepped in a soft spot, causing his left toes to sink in the mud. He went to his doctor on 04/16/2010 and they said he had a hair line fracture, but no treatment was needed. When we found out we sent him to the company doctor on 4/20/2010. The company doctor said the same as his doctor and gave him a special boot to wear until it healed.

2009 · 1 incident

May 18, 2009 NC · Metal/Non-Metal belt foreman, maintenance foreman, maintenance supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Imerys Mica Kings Mountain Inc · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Maintenance was moving a two piece stand that is used to support the Rod Mill when removing front bearing and mill head. The employee had left hand on the top piece and as he started to move into place, it shifted and slid off the bottom frame. The fall of the top section caused the empoloyee's left hand to strike against the rod mill shell, causing a severe laceration.

2008 · 2 incidents

August 8, 2008 NC · Metal/Non-Metal prep plant foreman, supervisor, mill plant supervisor, kiln supervisor HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Imerys Mica Kings Mountain Inc · Struck by falling object

Employee was assisting a plant mechanic in replacing a tail pulley and bearing assembly on a mill feed conveyor belt. As the two employees were setting the assembly in place on the conveyor frame, one end of the assembly slipped and fell onto the victims middle finger on his right hand.

June 16, 2008 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Imerys Mica Kings Mountain Inc · Struck by flying object

Maintenance Mechanic was working in the Sand drying/screening plant. The mechanic was removing a bearing from a magnetic seperator. While attempting to remove the bearing, by tapping with a hammer, a sliver of metal flew into the his left eye. The employee was treated and released from the local ER and returned to work that afternoon.

2007 · 2 incidents

September 2, 2007 NC · Metal/Non-Metal FIRE
Kings Mountain Mining LLC · Accident type, without injuries

Ignition source unknown. Fire occurred in the wet processing section. A slurry pump, electrical wiring & switchgear and the building were damaged. No employees were working. Citizen driving by on Battleground Avenue observed and called 911. Local fire department responded and Plant Manager was notified. Plant Manager called the MSHA Hotline.

August 2, 2007 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Kings Mountain Mining LLC · Struck by falling object

Lifted end of shaft on a grinder and the weight dropped and cut left hand's index & middle fingers. Taken to ER and stitches were required to close the wound.

2006 · 2 incidents

July 2, 2006 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Kings Mountain Mining LLC · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was cleaning work area at the end of his shift when he felt something in his left eye. Employee received medical treatment, including prescription eye ointment to prevent possible infection. No lost time or restricted duty.

May 7, 2006 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Kings Mountain Mining LLC · Over-exertion (Not Elsewhere Classified)

Employee was walking from Rod Mill area to the Spiral building. A wooden walkway was between building, it had been misting rain earlier in the morning. The employee mis-stepped on the wooden walkway and twisted his ankle. The employee was taken to local hospital for x-rays and released. Report indicates no fracture of the ankle. Return to work date unknown at this time.

2005 · 1 incident

January 5, 2005 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator MACHINERY
Oglebay Norton Specialty Mineral · Struck by falling object

Employee was cutting steel with shearing machine. He had a piece leaning against the machine. The shearing machine caught and kicked out the leaning piece onto the top of his right foot, just behind steel toe.

2004 · 2 incidents

August 17, 2004 NC · Metal/Non-Metal weighman, scale person HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Oglebay Norton Specialty Mineral · Over-exertion in lifting objects

AT 6:45 AM EE WENT TO PICK UP A 5 GALLON BUCKET TO POUR WATER OUT. WHEN EE PICKED UP BUCKET HE FELT SOMETHING PULL IN LOWER BACK AREA, BUT STAYED UNTIL 3PM.

January 15, 2004 NC · Metal/Non-Metal haul/off road/coal/ore/pit/quarry/rock/rubber tire truck driver, transportation truck driver SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Oglebay Norton Specialty Mineral · Fall to the walkway or working surface

A CUSTOMER-CONTRACTED LONG HAUL DRIVER FELL WHILE ACCESSING HIS FLATBED TRUCK ONTO HIS HANDS AND KNEES, SUFFERING ABRASIONS AND CONTUSIONS ON HIS PALMS AND KNEES. DUE TO THE NATURE OF HIS EMPLOYMENT, WE COULD NOT COLLECT THE FOLLOWING DATA: FULL NAME, SSN, DOB, RTW DATA, AND EXTENT OF INJURIES FROM HOSPITAL.

2003 · 2 incidents

November 4, 2003 NC · Metal/Non-Metal front-end loader, scraper-loader operator, pan operator, payloader, scraper rig operator SLIP OR FALL OF PERSON
Oglebay Norton Specialty Mineral · Fall from machine

WHILE CLIMBING DOWN LADDER ON THE LOADER OPERATOR SLIPPED THE WET STEP. HE WENT TO GRAB WITH HIS FREE LEFT ARM THE HAND RAIL AND THEREBY PULLED HIS ARM MUSCLE. A SPLINT WAS PLACED ON HIS ARM A ND REFERAL TO AN ORTHO DR WAS MADE FOR 14 NOV 03

May 26, 2003 NC · Metal/Non-Metal warehouseman, bagger, palletizer/stacker, store keeper, packager, fabricator, cleaning plant operator HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Oglebay Norton Specialty Mineral · Over-exertion in lifting objects

WHILE TRYING TO MOVE A FULL BULK BAG OF MICA EE FELT PAIN IN HIS LEFT SHOULDER. UPON EXAMINATION BY THE DOCTOR HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A SPRAINED SHOULDER. HE AS FULLY RECOVERED.

2001 · 3 incidents

August 31, 2001 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech MACHINERY
Oglebay Norton Specialty Mineral · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EE WAS WORKING ON LOW HEAD AT WET GRINDING PLANT WHEN HE CUT HIS RIGHT THUMB ABOVE THE LAST KNUCKLE AND BELOW TIP OF THUMB.

May 11, 2001 NC · Metal/Non-Metal ELECTRICAL
Oglebay Norton Specialty Mineral · Accident type, without injuries

EMPLOYEE WAS OPERATING A KOMATSU WHEEL LOADER WHEN CAB BEGAN TO FILL WITH SMOKE. EE DISMOUNTED AND NOTICED A FIRE HAD STARTED IN BACK OF LOADER.HE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHICH RESPONDED AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND NO PROPERTY DAMAGE, OTHER THAN TO LOADER. CAUSE APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE.

March 26, 2001 NC · Metal/Non-Metal maintenance man, mechanic, repair/serviceman, boilermaker, fueler, tire tech, field service tech HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Oglebay Norton Specialty Mineral · Struck against stationary object

EE HAS DE-ENERGIZED ELEC. POWER SOURCE & LOCKED OUT GRINDER MACHINE FOR PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE INSPECTION. UPON REMOVING THE INSPECTION DISCHARGE HOUSING AND REMOVING/CLEANING OUT EXCESS MICA MATERIAL HE STRUCK HIS UNGLOVED RIGHT THUMB AGAINST THE SHARP EDGED BLADE OT THE GRINDER MACHINE CAUASING A LACERATION INJURY.

2000 · 2 incidents

October 23, 2000 NC · Metal/Non-Metal electrician, lineman HANDTOOLS (NONPOWERED)
Oglebay Norton Specialty Mineral · Struck by... (Not Elsewhere Classified)

EMPLOYEE WAS ASSISTING AN INTERNAL LINER ON A PUMP. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE HAD PRIED THE LINER LOOSE WHEN INJURED PLACED A RATCHET DRIVE HANDLE IN THE OPEN SPACE TO HOLD IT WHILE THE OTHER EMPLOYEE REPOSITIONED HIS PRYBAR. HE APPLIED PRESSURE AND THE DRIVE SLIPPED AND STRUCK HIS UPPER LIP CAUSING A LACERATION WHICH NEEDED STITCHES.

October 14, 2000 NC · Metal/Non-Metal miner, nec HANDLING OF MATERIALS
Oglebay Norton Specialty Mineral · Struck by falling object

THE EE WAS FLIPPING OVER A STEEL PLATE ON A WORK TABLE WHEN IT FELL AND STRUCK HIM ON THE TOP OF HIS LEFT FOOT. HE SUSTASINED A FRACTURE OF THE FIRST LEFT METATARSAL BONE.