Coal Fatality – 10/22/22

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On October 22, 2022, a mine examiner drowned in an underground sump.  The mine examiner was assigned to start pumps in the area.  The float switch box was found open with exposed electrical conductors inside the box.

Best Practices

  • Make sure miners de-energize, lock out, and tag out equipment before entering an area to perform repairs or maintenance.
  • Make sure miners have communication systems available when assigned to work alone.
  • Operators must conduct required examinations from safe locations to identify hazards, correct hazards, notify miners, and record hazards.

Additional Information

This is the 26th fatality reported in 2022, and the third classified as “Drowning.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

MNM Fatality – 10/17/22

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On October 17, 2022, a miner died when he fell approximately 90 feet from the walkway outside the plant’s mill building.

Best Practices

  • Train miners to be aware of fall hazards in their workplace.
  • Provide and maintain safe access to areas where miners work or travel.

Additional Information

This is the 25th fatality reported in 2022, and the third classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf)

Investigation determined that the fatality was not chargeable to mine operator.

New Year, New MSHA Web Page

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And that means broken links on SafeMiners.com. Yes, every time MSHA makes improvements to the look and function of their web page they change some of the file structure which means when you click on links from this page to MSHA’s you won’t go where expected and often get that dreaded “404 Error – the page you have requested was not found.” If the page displayed seems correct but doesn’t have the updated design “look” you may have wound up on an outdated page. Please let me know when either of these happens by emailing me at randy@completesafetysolutions.com with an explanation or copy of the link that didn’t work.

There’s no way to go back over 14 years of postings and fix everything, but I like to have things working… especially those that people actually use.

Oh, and… HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

December Fatality Updates

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Final Reports posted:

Fatalities awaiting Fatality Alert to be posted:

  • 10/17/22 MNM – Slip or Fall of Person
  • 10/22/22 Coal – Drowning
  • 11/5/22 MNM – Engulfment
  • 12/6/22 MNM – Powered Haulage
  • 12/16/22 MNM – Machinery

Fatalities awaiting Final Report to be posted:

November Fatality Updates

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Final Reports posted:

Fatalities awaiting Fatality Alert to be posted:

  • 10/17/22 MNM – Slip or Fall of Person
  • 10/22/22 Coal – Drowning
  • 11/5/22 MNM – Engulfment

Fatalities awaiting Final Report to be posted:

MNM Fatality – 10/7/22

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On October 7, 2022, a mechanic was fatally injured when he was engulfed in material after he entered an air separator to clear a blockage. 

Best Practices: 

  • Install mechanical flow-enhancing devices, such as mechanical vibratory devices, that can maintain material flow and prevent the need for miners to enter a confined space.
  • Mine operators should establish procedures to clear blockages and train all miners in the procedures.
  • Make sure miners wear a safety belt or harness equipped with a lifeline when entering a confined space, and that a second miner, similarly equipped, is attending the lifeline.

Additional Information: 

This is the 24th fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Confined Space.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 10/1/22

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On October 1, 2022, a miner died while using a crane to remove a haul truck engine.  The auxiliary line broke, causing the hook and ball assembly to fall and strike the miner.

Best Practices: 

  • Make sure cranes have functional anti-two blocking devices to automatically shut off the crane when the rigging on the hoist line gets close to the sheave at the end of the crane boom.
  • Make sure miners stay clear of suspended loads and use taglines when necessary for steadying or guiding suspended loads.
  • Make sure miners conduct thorough pre-operational inspections of all machinery, equipment, and tools prior to use.

Additional Information: 

This is the 23rd fatality reported in 2022, and the eighth classified as “Machinery.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

October Fatality Updates

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Final Reports posted:

  • None

Fatalities awaiting Fatality Alert to be posted:

  • 10/1/22 MNM – Machinery
  • 10/7/22 MNM – Falling Sliding Material Machinery
  • 10/17/22 MNM – Slip or Fall of Person
  • 10/22/22 Coal – Drowning

Fatalities awaiting Final Report to be posted:

MNM Fatality – 9/28/22

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On September 28, 2022, a miner died when he was engulfed in a collapsed stockpile.  The miner was working close to the toe of the stockpile to remove material off the top of a surge tunnel’s feeder to clear a blockage.

Best Practices: 

  • Operators should have procedures to safely clear blockages from feeders, and train miners to stay out of areas where there is a danger of falling or sliding material.
    • Equip feeders with mechanical clearing devices to prevent exposing miners to hazards of falling or sliding material.
  • Make sure miners trim stockpiles to prevent hazards.

Additional Information: 

This is the 22nd fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Engulfment.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

September Fatality Updates

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Final Reports posted:

  • 3/2/22 Coal – Fall of Face, Rib, Side, or Highwall [9/6/22]

Fatalities awaiting Fatality Alert to be posted:

  • 9/28/22 MNM – Falling Sliding Material
  • 10/1/22 MNM – Machinery
  • 10/7/22 MNM – Falling Sliding Material Machinery

Fatalities awaiting Final Report to be posted: