Month: April 2017
Fatality #2 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2017
On March 14, 2017, an independent owner/operator truck driver, walked behind his raised end-dump trailer, while dumping his load and was engulfed by sand.
Best Practices
- Conduct pre-operational checks to identify any defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.
- Ensure workers who operate heavy equipment are adequately informed, instructed, trained and supervised.
- Do not position yourself near a truck that is actively dumping, or near a truck while it is raising its bed.
- Ensure that the tailgate is unlocked before elevating the cargo box to the dump position.
- Do not attempt to dump the material if it sticks in the bed. Stuck material can imbalance the load and affect the stability of the truck. Always deflate trailer air springs prior to raising the dump body.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
Fatality #5 for Coal Mining 2017
On February 23, 2017, a 62-year-old section foreman was seriously injured by falling roof rock in the No. 3 entry of the active working section. The rock fell from between roof bolts and was approximately 3 feet by 2 feet by 3 to 4 inches thick. First-aid was administered and the injured miner was transported to a medical center. Due to medical complications from the injuries he sustained, the victim died on April 6, 2017.
- Install the most effective roof “skin” control technique, screen wire mesh, when roof bolts are installed. Most roof fall injuries are caused by rock falling from between roof bolts (failure of the roof skin).
- Conduct thorough examinations of the roof, face, and ribs where persons will be working and traveling; including sound and vibration testing where applicable.
- Scale loose roof and ribs from a safe location. Danger-off hazardous areas until appropriate corrective measures can be taken.
- Be alert for changing conditions and report abnormal roof or rib conditions to mine management and other miners.
- Correct all hazardous conditions before allowing persons to work or travel in such areas. Install and examine test holes regularly for changes in roof strata.
- Propose revisions to the roof control plan to provide measures to control roof skin hazards.
- Know and follow the approved roof control plan and provide additional support when cracks or other abnormalities are detected. Remember, the approved roof control plan contains minimum requirements.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
Fatality #4 for Coal Mining 2017
On Wednesday, March 30, 2017, at 2:09 am, a 33-year-old miner (auger operator/foreman) was fatally injured at a surface auger mine. The miner was struck by a rock that fell from the bottom section of the highwall while changing worn cutter-head bits located at the front of the auger machine. The rock was approximately 4 feet by 5 feet by 30 inches in size.
- Follow the approved ground control plan at all times to ensure the safe control of highwalls.
- Ensure that miners at all times work, travel, and operate mining systems/equipment at a safe distance from the toe of the highwall.
- Position and reposition the auger machine canopy as needed to protect miners near the toe of a highwall from falling material.
- Assign a spotter during maintenance or other activities to evaluate the ground conditions when miners are positioned near the toe of the highwall.
- Miners should not work or position themselves between equipment and the highwall in such a manner that the equipment hinders escape from falls or slides.
- Safely examine a highwall from as many perspectives as possible (bottom, sides, and top) before work begins. Use adequate lighting during non-daylight hours to conduct examinations and to illuminate work areas.
- Conduct additional examinations as necessary, especially during periods of changing weather conditions.
- Examine areas at the back of the top and the face of the highwall for hazards presented by cracks, sloughing, loose ground, and large rocks.
- Observe and notify miners of highwall hazards immediately. Remove highwall hazards or barricade hazardous areas to keep miners away.
- Train all miners to recognize hazardous highwall conditions.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
Fatality #3 for Coal Mining 2017
On February 27, 2017, a 43-year-old plant attendant, with approximately 13 years of experience, was fatally injured when he fell through a 27-inch opening in a plate press. The victim had climbed a ladder to repair a damaged plate when he fell about 19 feet onto a moving refuse belt. The victim was found in a transfer chute, approximately 55 feet down the belt from where he had fallen.
- Provide and maintain safe access to all work areas. Train miners on how to safely access all work areas.
- Protect and guard all openings through which persons may fall. Use fall protection, maintaining 100 % tie off, when fall hazards exist. See Fall Prevention Safety Target Package.
- Establish specific policies and procedures for the use of fall protection.
- Ensure workers are trained in the use of fall protection. Monitor work practices to ensure fall protection is being properly used.
- Conduct a risk assessment of the work area prior to beginning any task and identify all possible hazards. Use the SLAM: Stop, Look, Analyze, and Manage approach for work place safety.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).