No single thing would reduce injuries and fatalities in the workplace more than if all workers would refuse to perform unsafe actions. I’m convinced that sometimes workers are convinced by pressure from their companies or peers to do so. Other times they voluntarily do so because they mistakenly think it is the only way to accomplish the task. In the end workers doing things they know to be unsafe is often deadly. The best tool provided to each and every worker is the ability to request enforcement inspections from federal and state agencies and flatly refuse to participate without fear of reprisal as is provided under whistleblower protections. In mines we refer to the rights and responsibilities of miners, but this protection is provided in many areas. July 30 was Whistleblower Protection day and a video by Department of Labor Secretary Walsh and links to more information are provided here. – Randy
Announcements
Powered Haulage Stand Down
So far this year, nine miners have been killed and 185 have been injured in accidents involving powered haulage equipment such as shuttle cars, scoops, locomotives, front end loaders and more. Year to date, this is the highest number of powered haulage fatalities since 2006. The safety of mining’s most precious resource – the miner – is a critical mission at the Mine Safety and Health Administration. That’s why we are hosting a national Stand Down for Safety Day on July 20 focused on powered haulage and vehicle rollovers to help educate miners, save lives and prevent injuries. on July 20, all levels of MSHA enforcement staff will visit mines to meet with miners and operators to emphasize the need for adhering to best safety practices for powered haulage, vehicle rollovers, and miner training to reduce fatalities and injuries.
Get the Shot – 5 Reasons
Click here to read a personal account from MSHA on why YOU should get the Covid vaccine. I did. – Randy
COVID19 Protection for Miners
MSHA has issued guidance intended for miners and operators in coal, metal, or nonmetal mines to help them identify risks of being exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, at work and to help them determine appropriate control measures to reduce such risk. This guidance contains recommendations, as well as descriptions of mandatory safety and health standards. It is not a standard or regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations. The recommendations are advisory in nature, informational in content, and are intended to assist operators in recognizing and abating hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm from the spread of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) as part of their obligation to provide a safe and healthful mine.
Operators should implement COVID-19 Prevention Programs at each mine. Operators may consider a stand-alone program or additions to existing training and education programs. The most effective programs engage miners and miner representatives in the program’s development, and include the following key elements:
- Conducting a hazard assessment of the mine site;
- Identifying a combination of measures that limit the spread of COVID-19 in mine settings;
- Adopting measures to ensure that miners who are infected or potentially infected are separated and sent home from the mine; and
- Implementing protections from retaliation for miners who raise COVID-19-related concerns.
Spring Thaws Go Virtual
The traditional Spring Thaws held around the country are virtual this year so you may be able to attend them even if they aren’t in your area. Spring Thaws are held by mining industry hosts to:
• increase awareness and recognition of mining hazards.
• improve hazard correction.
• encourage safe work practices.
At these events, safety professionals from mining and equipment companies, associations, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration share information on a range of mining hazards. While MSHA does not sponsor these events, they encourage miners to take advantage of those offered in your area, in-person or virtual.
You can see the schedule on MSHA’s web site here.
MSHA COVID Tips
Celebrate National Miners Day
Each year on Dec. 6, we celebrate National Miners Day to recognize and applaud the skill, dedication and hard work miners put into providing many of the products essential to fulfilling America’s most vital needs. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to every working miner in our nation. – David Zatezalo, MSHA – Continue reading here…
Happy Thanksgiving
New Fatality Dashboard
I’ve added a new dashboard to the Resource Page to help trainers classify and analyze fatalities. Starting with 2020 all mining fatalities are listed here along with basic information on what was mined, the victim’s job, age, and experience, and whether the victim worked for a contractor or not. The date on the chart links to the fatality while the rest will show you all fatalities that are classified like what you clicked on.
Check it out here.
National Safety Stand Down
Join the Annual OSHA Stand Down for Falls in the Workplace this week. “Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 320 of the 1,008 construction fatalities recorded in 2018 (BLS data). Those deaths were preventable. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries.” [OSHA]
Get training materials and videos at OSHA’s site here.