• About
  • Log on
  • Register
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Safety Resources
    • Incident Alerts
    • HiPos Report
    • Guidance
    • Good practice
    • Toolbox talks
    • Hot Topics
    • Other resources
    • Videos
    • Safequarry App
  • The Fatal 6
    • Overview
    • 1. Contact with moving machinery and isolation
    • 2. Workplace transport and pedestrian interface
    • 3. Work at height
    • 4. Workplace Respirable Crystalline Silica
    • 5. Struck by moving or falling object
    • 6. Road traffic accidents
  • Vision Zero
    • Overview
    • Employee Guide
    • Core Values
    • Fatal 6
  • Safer By
    • Overview
    • Safer by competence
    • Safer by association
    • Safer by design
    • Safer by partnership
    • Safer by sharing
    • Safer by Leadership
  • Public Safety
    • Summary
    • Stay Safe
    • Cycle Safe
  • Health & Wellbeing
    • Quarries Partnership - Dust
    • Mental Health & Wellbeing
    • COVID - Safer by Sharing
    • COVID MPA Resources
  • Awards
    • Enter
    • Event
    • Sponsorship
    • Guides
    • Videos
    • Entries
  • News
  • My Information
    • My Saved Files
    • My CPD Report
  • Home
  • Safety Resources
    • Incident Alerts
    • HiPos Report
    • Guidance
    • Good practice
    • Toolbox talks
    • Hot Topics
    • Other resources
    • Videos
    • Safequarry App
  • The Fatal 6
    • Overview
    • 1. Contact with moving machinery and isolation
    • 2. Workplace transport and pedestrian interface
    • 3. Work at height
    • 4. Workplace Respirable Crystalline Silica
    • 5. Struck by moving or falling object
    • 6. Road traffic accidents
  • Vision Zero
    • Overview
    • Employee Guide
    • Core Values
    • Fatal 6
  • Safer By
    • Overview
    • Safer by competence
    • Safer by association
    • Safer by design
    • Safer by partnership
    • Safer by sharing
    • Safer by Leadership
  • Public Safety
    • Summary
    • Stay Safe
    • Cycle Safe
  • Health & Wellbeing
    • Quarries Partnership - Dust
    • Mental Health & Wellbeing
    • COVID - Safer by Sharing
    • COVID MPA Resources
  • Awards
    • Enter
    • Event
    • Sponsorship
    • Guides
    • Videos
    • Entries
  • News
  • My Information
    • My Saved Files
    • My CPD Report

The Health and Safety Hub for the Mineral Products Industry - aggregates, asphalt, cement, concrete, contracting, dimension stone, lime, precast concrete, masonry, mortar, readymix, recycling, silica sand, transport & logistics

  1. Home
  2. Incident Alerts
  3. Incident View

Incident alert

Fatal 5 - Operator hit by small media ball injuring tooth

What Happened

A contractor was in the vicinity of media ball grading activities at a Cement Plant when a small media ball was displaced whilst cleaning and contacted one of his front incisor teeth.  This tooth was subsequently cracked.  He continued to work on site with no restrictions; however, following a dental visit and a review of reporting requirements, it has been determined that this incident falls into the category of a medical treatment case.

INCIDENT FACTS

  • The IP (injured person) was engaged in fork truck duties moving media barrels.
  • Another employee was cleaning the media grading machine.
  • The IP had finished moving the media barrels and disembarked from the fork truck.
  • The IP walked over to the vicinity of the media grading machine.
  • Whilst the cleaning operation was being undertaken, a trapped media ball fell through the chute and contacted the hammer being used, expelling it from the chute in the direction of the contractor who was passing by, around 8ft away.
  • The small media ball hit the IP in the mouth, causing a crack to the tooth.
  • The IP reported the incident.

The image above shows a reconstruction of the operators positioning at time of incident, they were 2.5 metres apart. Access to the area was being controlled. .





Learning and discussion points

HOW COULD THIS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED

Although the likelihood of this incident occurring was extremely low, it is acknowledged that space constraints on site and the design of the media grader could impact its operation during wet weather (as the task is completed outdoors). The UK experienced the wettest weather in decades during the week in question. Consequently, cement accumulated on the discharge chutes, and the operator had to break it up by tapping a hammer on the coating. This action led to a trapped media ball falling through the chute and making unexpected contact with the hammer, causing it to be expelled from the chute towards the contractor.

To address this issue, newer grading machines with improved designs, less susceptible to material buildup during adverse weather conditions, will be hired for future use. 

Adhering to the ERIC-P principle, this change in equipment is expected to eliminate or significantly reduce the potential for a similar occurrence.

ERIC-P  Eliminate, Reduce, Isolate, Control, Protect.

Learning points / Actions images





convert this page to a pdf
See full details Go back to search critera
Location: CEMENT PLANT  
Alert Status:
Normal
Activity: MAINTENANCE & HOUSEKEEPING   Date Issued: 03/04/2024 16:14:39
Sub Activity: MILLS   Incident No: 03704
About
Mineral Products Association, 1st Floor, 297 Euston Road, London NW1 3AD
Tel: 0203 978 3400
Email: info@mineralproducts.org
MPA Logo
Contact
  • Privacy
  • Developed by OFEC
↑