On Friday, October 11, 2013, a 59-year-old shuttle car operator, with approximately 22 years of mining experience, was killed when a shuttle car struck him. The victim was in the crosscut between the No. 6 and No. 7 entries. This crosscut and adjoining entries were being used to gain access to rooms being mined on the right side of the section.

Best Practices

• Use proximity detection systems to protect personnel from accidents of this type. See the proximity detection single source page on the MSHA web site.
• Always ensure that visibility is not obstructed in the direction of travel and across the equipment being operated.
• Use transparent curtain for check and line curtains in the active face areas.
• Sound audible warnings when the equipment operator’s visibility is obstructed, such as when making turns, reversing direction, or approaching ventilation curtains.
• Come to a complete stop and sound an audible warning before proceeding through ventilation controls.
• Ensure the sound level of audible warnings is significantly higher than that of the ambient noise.
• Shine equipment lights in the direction of travel when operating haulage equipment.
• Never position yourself in an area or location where equipment operators cannot readily see you.
• Always communicate your position and intended movements to mobile equipment operators.

For more information related to struck-by equipment accidents, view the following link: MSHA – Safety Targets Programs – Hit By Underground Equipment at www.msha.gov

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

On Saturday, October 5, 2013, a 47-year-old laborer with approximately 15 years of mining experience, was killed when the battery powered personnel carrier he was driving overturned and pinned him underneath the vehicle.

Best Practices

• Operate all powered haulage, along with trailers and sleds, at speeds consistent with conditions and the equipment used.
• Control equipment so that it can be stopped within the limits of visibility.
• Maintain off-track haulage roadways from bottom irregularities, debris, and wet or muddy conditions that affect the control of the equipment.
• Sound audible warnings when making turns, reversing directions, approaching ventilation curtains, and any time the operator’s visibility is obstructed. Ensure the sound level of audible warnings is significantly higher than that of ambient noise.
• Maintain mechanical steering and control devices to provide positive control at all times.
• Provide all self-propelled rubber-tired haulage equipment with well-maintained brakes, lights, and warning devices.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

On Friday, October 4, 2013, a 62-year-old longwall maintenance coordinator, with 42 years of mining experience, was killed while supervising the face conveyor chain installation on a longwall set up. A battery-powered scoop was being used in conjunction with a sheave block and wire rope to pull the top conveyor chain through the pan line toward the tail drive. The chain became fouled and the victim positioned himself to observe the cause of the problem. As the scoop continued to tram, the sheave assembly and wire rope, which were under tension, came loose and propelled forward. The sheave assembly struck the victim.

Best Practices

• Ensure that chains, wire ropes, and hooks are properly attached or rigged.
• Ensure persons are positioned in a safe location before tension is applied when pulling or lifting with chains, wire rope, or other rigging. This includes staying out of a potential line of flight of components in case of an equipment failure.
• Inspect devices for signs of wear such as rust, metallic loss, fraying of rope, broken strands in cables, elongation of metal, etc.
• Never weld hooks on equipment in order to attach ropes or chains for towing or hoisting.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

On Tuesday, July 2, 2013, a 35-year old continuous mining machine operator (victim), with 11 years mining experience, was killed when he was struck by a battery-powered coal hauler and pinned between the coal hauler and the coal rib. The victim was taking a lunch break behind a line curtain the No. 4 entry and the intersection of the last open crosscut, which was in the haulage route to the continuous mining machine.

Best Practices

• Ensure that all persons are positioned to avoid danger from moving equipment. Never position yourself in an area or location where equipment operators cannot readily see you.
• Use proximity detection systems to protect personnel from accidents of this type. See the proximity detection single source page on the MSHA web site.
• Use transparent curtain for check and line curtains in the active face areas.
• Sound audible warnings when the equipment operator’s visibility is obstructed, such as when making turns, reversing direction, or approaching ventilation curtains. Assure that the sound level of audible warnings is significantly higher than that of the ambient noise.
• Energize the lights in the direction of travel when operating haulage equipment.
• Equipment operators should come to a complete stop and sound an audible warning before proceeding through ventilation controls.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

On Thursday, June 6, 2013, a 36-year-old conveyor belt foreman with 4 years of mining experience was killed while checking a belt wiper at the belt conveyor discharge. He was positioned at the end of an elevated catwalk parallel to the belt drive to check the wiper. When the victim contacted the guardrail at the end of the catwalk, it gave way and he fell below onto the moving belt conveyor.

Best Practices

• Check guards along belt conveyors for stability and good repair.
• Train all employees thoroughly on the dangers of working or traveling around moving conveyor belts.
• Install appropriately-designed railings, barriers, or covers at all required conveyor belt locations, and ensure it is maintained in structurally sound condition.
• Perform thorough workplace examinations. Inspect the work areas for all potential hazards including places that persons may fall from or through.
• Provide belt conveyor stop and start controls at areas where miners must access both sides of the conveyor. Provide these areas with adequate crossing facilities (e.g. cross-overs or cross-unders).
• Do not assume handrails or guards are strong enough to support you, and never lean against or support your weight on guarding.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).