Fall of Roof or Back

Fatality #45 for Coal Mining 2010

renewcomerLeave a comment

On October 11, 2010, a 56 year old roof bolting machine operator with 31 years mining experience was killed in a roof fall. The victim was standing beside the roof bolting machine when a portion of a rock brow fell from between the roof bolts and struck him. The rock was approximately 6 feet long and 3 feet wide, and varied in thickness from approximately 7 inches, up to 24 inches.

Best Practices

  • Remain alert for changing roof conditions, and remove hazards immediately.
  • Roof brows that are created by a sudden change in mining height can create unsafe roof conditions and may require removal and/or additional roof support.
  • Know and always follow your Approved Roof Control Plan.
  • Don’t leave freshly cut roof unbolted for long periods of time.
  • Use roof screen, large roof bolt plates, or other surface controls to prevent rocks from falling between supports.
  • Train all miners to identify unsafe roof conditions that are encountered daily.
  • Conduct thorough examinations in areas where miners will work or travel before and after work is completed.
  • Please see the following information related to roof bolter safety in the following links:

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

Fatality #11 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

renewcomerLeave a comment

On June 18, 2010, a 29 year-old contract miner with 6 years of experience was fatally injured at an underground silver mine. The victim was scaling loose ground in a stope when he was struck by falling material approximately 3½ feet long by 2½ feet wide by 2 feet thick.

Best Practices

  • Examine, sound, and test for loose ground in areas before starting to work, after blasting, and as ground conditions warrant.
  • Train all persons to scale loose material safely.
  • Communicate unsafe ground conditions to all affected miners.
  • Perform manual scaling from a location which will not expose persons to injury from falling material.
  • When manually scaling, use scaling bars of a length and design that will allow the removal of loose material without exposing persons to the risk of injury.
  • Install ground support where conditions warrant.

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

Fatality #8 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

renewcomerLeave a comment

On May 26, 2010, a 28 year-old contract miner with 10 weeks of mining experience was fatally injured at an underground uranium mine. The victim was scaling a rib when he was struck by falling material approximately 11 feet high, 15 feet wide and 4 inches to 30 inches thick.

Best Practices

  • Always examine, sound and test for loose ground in areas before starting to work, after blasting, and as ground conditions warrant.
  • Train all persons to scale loose material safely.
  • Always perform manual scaling from a safe location.
  • When manually scaling, use scaling bars of a length and design that allow the removal of loose material without exposing the persons performing the work.
  • Install ground support in ribs where conditions warrant.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf), Spanish Fatalgram (pdf)

Fatality #34 & 35 for Coal Mining 2010

renewcomerLeave a comment

On April 28, 2010, the mine roof collapsed at approximately 10:00 p.m., resulting in fatal injuries to a 27-year old continuous miner operator with 3.5 years total mining experience and a 28-year old miner helper with 2 years total mining experience. The roof fall occurred while the miners were loading rock out of a completed extended cut. The fall measured a maximum of 19’9″ in width and 10′ in height. The length of the fall was approximately 70 to 75′ in length, extending toward the face.

Best Practices

  • Assess and examine the adequacy of roof control systems and mining layout for local geology. Know and follow the approved roof control plan.
  • Always conduct a thorough visual examination of the roof, face and ribs immediately before work is performed and thereafter as conditions dictate.
  • When adverse or subnormal roof conditions are present, the mining cut depth should be limited to 20 feet or less. Be alert to changing roof conditions at all times.
  • Ensure that any past roof control issues or history of adverse conditions in adjacent previously mined areas are communicated to all miners and foremen.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report (pdf)

Fatality #12 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2009

renewcomerLeave a comment

On June 20, 2009, a 52-year old equipment oiler/greaser with 24 years of experience was fatally injured at an underground salt mine. He was cleaning equipment when a large roof fall occurred.

Best Practices
  • When ground conditions create a hazard to persons, install effective ground support before other work is permitted in the affected area.
  • Design, install, and maintain a support system to control the ground in places where persons work or travel.
  • Examine and test ground conditions in areas where work is to be performed prior to work commencing and as ground conditions warrant during the shift.
  • Be alert to any change of ground conditions.
  • Identify and scale loose ground from a location which will not expose persons to falling material.

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