Serious Injury for Metal/Nonmetal Mining

mnm-serious-accident-alert073015Potash Facility – A miner was entangled in the belt system while unloading a rail car into a belly dump haul truck using a portable conveyor system. The miner was released from the hospital without any apparent broken bones or lacerations. A similar accident occurred at a sand and gravel mine in 2014, however that accident resulted in a fatality. [2014 #12 MNM]

Best Practices

  •  Ensure that persons are trained, including task training, to understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use methods to properly protect persons.
  • Conduct work place examinations before beginning any work.
  • Position mobile conveyors to eliminate exposure of moving parts before operating.
  • Identify hazards around conveyor systems, design guards, and or emergency stop systems before putting into operation.
  • Always provide and maintain guarding sufficient to prevent contact with moving machine parts.
  • Do not wear loose fitting clothing when working near moving machine parts.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Provide and maintain a safe means of access to all working places.

Click here for: MSHA Alert for Posting (pdf)

June 2015 Impact Inspections

MSHA-logoThe U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced that federal inspectors issued issued 139 citations, three orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections in June at 10 coal mines and five metal and nonmetal mines. MSHA conducted impact inspections at mines in Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

Begun in force in April 2010, the monthly inspections involve mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns.

Click here for: MSHA link to spreadsheet (pdf).

Fatality #9 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2015

m09On June 30, 2015, a 65-year old equipment operator with 19 years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel surface mine. The victim was operating a front-end loader and was removing material from a sand bank when the bank collapsed and engulfed the machine and entered the operator’s cab causing the victim to be asphyxiated.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect persons.
  • Task train all persons to recognize all potential hazardous conditions that can decrease bank or slope stability and ensure they understand safe job procedures for elimination of the hazards.
  • Observe and evaluate all pit, highwall, slope, and bank conditions prior to beginning work and throughout the shift to ensure safety. Be especially vigilant for these conditions after each rain, freeze, or thaw.
  • Provide equipment cabs strong enough to resist burial pressure.

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

Fatality #8 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2015

m8On June 12, 2015, a 66-year old contract service mechanic with 42 years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel surface mine. The victim reported to several witnesses that he had hit his head earlier in the shift and afterward was found unconscious.  The victim was transported to the hospital where he died the next day.

Best Practices

  • Wear a hard hat to protect your head from injuries resulting from impact with other objects.
  • Maintain proper lighting in work areas.
  • Use the proper tools for the job.
  • Discuss work procedures; identify all potential hazards; and ensure the job is done safely.
  • Ensure that persons are trained, including task-training, to understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.

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

Fatality #7 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2015

m07On May 28, 2015, a 61-year old water truck operator with 2 years of experience was killed at a surface gold mine. The victim was killed when a water truck ran over a portable toilet that was occupied by the victim.

Best Practices

  • Locate portable toilet facilities in areas inaccessible to mobile equipment.  Always be aware of equipment operating in close proximity to your area.
  • Ensure that all persons are clear before moving equipment.
  • Sound your horn to warn  persons prior to moving mobile equipment  and wait a few moments to give them time to get to a safe location.
  • Communicate with mobile equipment operators before getting on or off of equipment and ensure they acknowledge your presence.
  • Establish rules and use signs or signals warning of hazards at locations where pedestrians and mobile equipment are both performing tasks.

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

Fatality #6 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2015

m06On March 23, 2015, a 48-year old mine operator with 20 years of experience was killed at a dimension stone operation.  The victim was operating a walk-behind masonry saw, positioned between the saw and a ledge, when he tripped and fell.  The victim and the saw went over the 4½-foot ledge, resulting in the saw falling on him.

Best Practices

  • Identify all hazards and use appropriate controls to protect miners prior to conducting any work.
  • Ensure that operators are in a safe position and have control of their equipment at all times.
  • Keep workplaces free of tripping hazards.
  • Use barricades or railings at edges of drop-offs where persons are in danger of falling.
  • Equip walk behind masonry saws with automatic shut off devices to stop the engine if the operator cannot maintain control of the equipment.
  • Design bench top stone cutting patterns to ensure the saw operator is not positioned between the saw and the drop off edge.

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

Fatality #7 for Coal Mining 2015

c07On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, a 52-year-old contract truck driver was killed while driving a fuel truck on a mine haulage road.  The tandem axle truck was found on its top near the bottom of a long descending grade which included a sharp curve to the right.  The fuel truck was fully loaded with approximately 3,500 gallons of diesel fuel.  After interviews, investigators could not determine if the victim was wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident.

Best Practices

  • Always wear your seatbelt while operating mobile equipment.
  • Incorporate engineering controls that require seat belts to be properly fastened before equipment can be put into motion.
  • Monitor employees regularly to ensure seat belts are worn.
  • Maintain full control of equipment at all times while it is in motion.  Take into account weather and road conditions (steep grades, inclement weather, low visibility, etc.).  Ensure work areas are properly illuminated at night.
  • Never exceed a vehicle’s design capabilities, operating ranges, load limits, and safety features.  Always select the proper gear and shift to this lower gear well in advance of descending grades.
  • Maintain equipment braking systems in good repair and adjustment.  Never rely on engine brakes and transmission retarders as substitutes for keeping brakes properly maintained.
  • Conduct thorough pre-operational examinations to identify and repair defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.
  • Post conspicuous signs along haulage roads to inform operators of speed limits, approaching grades and curves, and the use of an appropriate gear to maintain a safe speed.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #6 for Coal Mining 2015

c06On Sunday, May 31, 2015, a 59-year-old mine examiner with 32 years of mining experience was found unconscious, unresponsive, and lying in a travel way.  The victim had been driving a diesel mantrip to travel to a set of seals to examine them.  The victim was located along the east coal rib, and the front right corner of the mantrip was in contact with the west rib just inby the location of the victim.

Best Practices

  • Operate all mobile equipment at speeds that are consistent with the type of equipment, roadway conditions, grades, clearances, visibility, and other traffic.
  • Always wear a seatbelt.
  • Maintain full control of the equipment while it is in motion.
  • Standardize and establish traffic rules, including speed limits, signals, and warning signs, at the mine.
  • Limit speed to safe levels by installing positive controls on personnel carriers and mantrips.
  • Install safety devices to keep miners from falling or being thrown out of moving vehicles.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)