Coal

Fatality #5 for Coal Mining 2015

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c05.jpgOn May 28, 2015, a 45-year-old surface foreman with 27 years of experience was killed when he was crushed between the frames of a road grader and a tractor that was transporting a base power module for a highwall miner.  The foreman was in the process of connecting a chain between the two machines when the road grader rolled back and crushed him.

Best Practices

  • Never position yourself between equipment that is not blocked and secured from movement.
  • Turn the engine off, place the transmission in gear, set the park brake, and always ensure equipment is securely blocked against motion, before performing repair or maintenance work, which includes connecting tow bars.
  • Use a tow bar with adequate length and proper rating when towing heavy equipment.  A chain should never be used to tow mobile equipment.
  • If mobile equipment must be towed, the equipment should be on level firm ground and secured from movement prior to connecting the equipment.
  • Ensure miners are adequately trained on proper towing procedures.
  • Ensure mobile equipment operators are aware of your location at all times.
  • Maintain communications with mobile equipment operators while working in close proximity to equipment.  Utilize radios to communicate when visual contact cannot be maintained.
  • Maintain equipment braking systems in good repair and adjustment.  Do not depend on hydraulic systems to hold mobile equipment stationary.
  • Conduct pre-operational examinations to identify and repair defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #4 for Coal Mining 2015

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c04On Monday, March 16, 2015, a 34-year-old section foreman with 10 years of mining experience was killed when a coal/rock rib approximately 90 inches long, 45 inches high, and 15 to 18 inches thick fell and pinned him against the side of a shuttle car.

Best Practices

  • Be aware of potential hazards at all times when working or traveling near ribs.
  • Avoid areas of close clearance between ribs and equipment.
  • 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.
  • Install rib bolts on cycle and in a consistent pattern for the best protection against rib falls.
  • Train all miners to conduct thorough examinations of the roof, face, and ribs where persons will be working and traveling.  Correct all hazardous conditions before allowing persons to work or travel in such areas.
  • Be alert for changing conditions.  Report abnormal roof or rib conditions to mine management.
  • Adequately support or scale any loose roof or rib material from a safe location.   Use a bar of suitable length and design when scaling.
  • Danger off hazardous areas until appropriate corrective measures can be taken.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #3 for Coal Mining 2015

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c03On March 8, 2015, a 45-year old assistant longwall coordinator with twelve years of experience was killed while working a longwall section.  The victim was shoveling loose material between the longwall face and the pan line when a large piece of rock, 12 feet long by 5 feet wide by 1 foot thick, fell from the face and struck him.

Best Practices

  • Conduct thorough and more frequent examinations of the roof, face, and ribs, when abnormal conditions are present.  Watch for frequently changing conditions.
  • Scale hazardous roof, face, or rib conditions and adequately support the areas before any work or travel is permitted.  Ensure that a bar of suitable length and design is used when removing loose or unconsolidated material.
  • Install longwall shield extensions to cover a portion of the face and minimize unsupported areas.
  • Implement policies, programs, procedures, and controls to protect miners working in the face conveyor areas.
  • Reinstruct all miners in hazard recognition, adequate support methods, and safe work practices when abnormal conditions or circumstances are present on the longwall face.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #2 for Coal Mining 2015

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c02.jpgOn February 20, 2015, a 29-year-old roof bolter helper with 3 years and 48 weeks of mining experience was killed when a piece of rock approximately 3 feet wide, 11½ feet long, and 3 to 16 inches thick fell and pinned him against the top of the drill canopy of a roof bolting machine.  The roof bolting machine was positioned to install the next row of permanent supports when the accident occurred.

Best Practices

  • Visually examine the roof, face, and ribs immediately before any other work is started in the area.
  • Be alert to changing conditions, especially after activities that could cause roof disturbance.
  • While under supported roof, perform sound and vibration tests where roof supports are to be installed.
  • Establish in the roof control plan a bolt installation pattern that effectively supports the roof strata.
  • Adequately support or scale down any loose roof or rib material from a safe location.
  • Ensure that ATRS systems on all roof bolting machines are maintained in good working condition.  Ensure the ATRS sets firmly against the mine roof, as specified by the manufacturer, before installing new roof supports.
  • As much as possible, stay under the roof bolting machine’s drill canopy when working in the area between the ATRS and the last row of permanent roof supports.
  • Take additional measures when hazards associated with draw rock are encountered, such as mining shorter cuts and decreasing roof bolt spacing.
  • When using roof screen, implement work procedures that incorporate positioning and securing the mesh from a safe location.
  • Know and follow the approved roof control plan.  Install and examine test holes regularly to check for changes in roof strata.
  • Add additional supports at any indication of adverse roof conditions.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #1 for Coal Mining 2015

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c01.jpgOn Wednesday, January 28, 2015, a 43-year-old continuous mining machine operator with 10 years of mining experience was killed when he was pinned between the conveyor boom of a remote controlled continuous mining machine and a coal rib.  The victim was operating the continuous mining machine from a remote position in the entry and was preparing for the next mining cycle when the accident occurred.

Best Practices

  • Install and maintain proximity detection systems to protect personnel and eliminate accidents of this type. See the proximity detection information page on the MSHA website (Proximity Detection Single Source).
  • Avoid “RED ZONE” areas when operating or working near a continuous mining machine, especially when moving a remote controlled continuous mining machine.  Frequently review, retrain, and discuss avoiding “RED ZONE” areas (http://www.msha.gov/Alerts/20040407REDZONE2.pdf).
  • Ensure all miners, including the continuous mining machine operator, are outside the machine’s turning radius before starting or moving equipment.
  • Stay behind moving mobile equipment when traveling in the same entry, and maintain a safe distance from any moving equipment.
  • Use low tram speed when moving a continuous mining machine where the left and right traction drives are operated independently.  The continuous mining machine pivots quickly when the tracks tram over raised areas of the mine floor.
  • Never turn your back to a self-propelled machine or get into an area where it can swing into you.
  • Develop and follow effective policies and procedures for starting and tramming self-propelled equipment.  Train all miners regarding these policies and procedures.
  • Ensure that the continuous mining machine operator has full visibility of the area while tramming equipment.
  • Assign another miner to assist the continuous mining machine operator when the machine is being moved or repositioned.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #15 for Coal Mining 2014

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c15On Tuesday, December 16, 2014, a 34-year-old repairman, with approximately 15 years of mining experience, was killed when struck by a ram car while he was walking inby toward the face of the No. 7 entry. The ram car operator moved the ram car into the No. 7 entry with the batteries positioned outby the face area and then traveled towards the face area, striking the victim with the left side, trailer end of the ram car.

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.
  • Ensure that visibility is clear in the direction of travel and across the equipment being operated.
  • Use transparent curtain for checks and line curtains in the active face areas.
  • Sound audible warnings if the equipment operator’s visibility is obstructed, when making turns, reversing direction, or approaching ventilation curtains.  Ensure the sound levels of audible warnings are significantly higher than ambient noise.
  • Come to a complete stop and sound an audible warning before moving equipment through ventilation controls/curtains.
  • Operate lights in the direction of travel when operating haulage equipment.
  • Position yourself in an area or location where equipment operators can readily see you and confirm eye contact with the operator.
  • Require the use of personal strobe lights for any foot traffic inby the tailpiece.  Position personal strobe lights on the back of hard hats or equivalent areas and use reflective materials to ensure maximum visibility.
  • 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)

Fatality #14 for Coal Mining 2014

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14c14On Monday, November 10, 2014, at approximately 9:35 p.m., a 49-year-old section foreman with 27 years of mining experience was killed when he was struck by a large rock that measured 5 feet by 3 feet by 13 inches thick.  The victim was operating the roof bolting machine on the 2 North section in the No. 2 entry at the time of the accident.  The rock fell inby the last full row of permanent roof supports and between the automated temporary roof support (ATRS) and the left rib.

Best Practices
  • Perform a visual examination of the roof, face, and ribs immediately before any other work is started in the area.
  • Be alert to changing conditions, especially after activities that could cause roof disturbance.
  • While under supported roof, perform sound and vibration tests where roof supports are to be installed.
  • Adequately support or scale down any loose roof or rib material from a safe location.
  • Ensure that ATRS systems on all roof bolting machines are maintained in good working condition and set firmly against the mine roof before installing new roof supports.
  • Ensure ATRS are set within 5 feet of permanent support as well as within 5 feet of the rib line.
  • Stay under the roof bolting machine canopy when working in the area between the ATRS and the last row of permanent roof support.
  • Ensure that the approved roof control plan is followed and is suitable for the geologic conditions encountered at the mine.  If conditions change and cause the plan to no longer be suitable, the plan must be revised to provide adequate support for the control of the roof face and ribs.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #13 for Coal Mining 2014

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FTL14c13aOn Saturday, October 18, 2014, at approximately 10:05 p.m., a contractor truck driver with over 5 years of truck driving experience was killed while operating a rock truck. The driver was removing top soil ahead of the East Elk Pit when he drove off a highwall and fell approximately 240 feet.

Best Practices
  • Operate equipment in a manner that is consistent with conditions of roadways, grades, clearance, visibility, traffic, and the type of equipment used.
  • Standardize and post traffic rules, signals, and warning signs.
  • Provide and maintain adequate berms and other barriers that are at least mid-axle high on the banks of roadways where a drop off exists.
  • Train all employees on the equipment they operate, on safe job procedures, hazard recognition, and on hazard avoidance.
  • Maintain control of equipment at all times during operation.  Know the truck’s capabilities, operating ranges, load-limits, and safety features.
  • Monitor work activities and examine work areas to assure safe work practices are followed.
  • Monitor contract employees adequately at all job sites to ensure that safe work procedures are being followed.
  • Conduct pre-operational checks to identify and repair any defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #12 for Coal Mining 2014

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FTL14c12aOn Tuesday, October 7, 2014, a 31-year-old utility worker, with 13 years of mining experience, was killed after he crawled 37 feet into an entry mined with a highwall mining machine to retrieve a broken cutter-head-chain from the mining machine. A rock, 8 feet wide, 6 feet long, and 16 inches thick fell on him. He was initially transported to a local hospital and was being airlifted to a larger medical facility when he died.

Best Practices
  • Never go under unsupported roof.
  • Never enter a hole mined with a highwall mining machine or auger without a specific, detailed, and approved plan to do so.
  • Develop a plan to remotely retrieve any part of a highwall mining machine caught or left in an entry.  The plan must specify methods which do not expose miners to hazards.  Train all personnel in such plans.
  • Know and follow the provisions of the established Ground Control Plan.
  • Establish Ground Control Plans for highwall mining operations that ensure safety and address web spacing, depth of penetration, and confined work areas.
  • Keep all equipment in proper working order by establishing and implementing maintenance schedules.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)