On October 19, 2020, (at a Littleton, CO mine with 2 employees*) an excavator’s bucket struck a plant operator (58 years old with 8 weeks of experience*) who was standing on the cross beam of a grizzly hopper screen.
Best Practices:
• Never swing buckets over work areas or operator’s compartments.
• Maintain communication between equipment operators and miners on the ground.
• Maintain control of equipment while it is in operation.
• Train miners to safely perform their tasks.Additional Information:
This is the 22nd fatality reported in 2020, and the seventh classified as “Machinery.” (* Italicized details added by safeminers.com)
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
On August 21, 2020, a (customer*) truck driver (at a Gilmore City, IA mine with 32 employees*) sustained fatal head injuries while he was deploying the automatic tarp on his fifth-wheel side-dump trailer.
Best Practices:
Additional Information:
This is the sixth fatality classified as “Machinery” in 2020. (Fatal Alert posted by MSHA 11/30/20.* Italicized details added by safeminers.com)
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
Stepping into OSHA-land for a moment, a news release several days ago stated “U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA Announces $2,851,533 in Coronavirus Violations.” Whether your job is in an OSHA or MSHA jurisdiction, OSHA provides some helpful enforcement and safety publications. Here are links to:
Common COVID-19 Citations (pdf)
I’ve added a new dashboard to the Resource Page to help trainers classify and analyze fatalities. Starting with 2020 all mining fatalities are listed here along with basic information on what was mined, the victim’s job, age, and experience, and whether the victim worked for a contractor or not. The date on the chart links to the fatality while the rest will show you all fatalities that are classified like what you clicked on.
Check it out here.
Because of the pandemic there are many efforts to use heaters to allow people to be in outdoor areas for dining and other social activities longer into the colder season. In response the National Fire Protection Association has issued an informative two page fact sheet that includes helpful safety information if you use propane heaters on the job or anywhere.
October 30th was set aside as Mine Rescue Day (MRD) in 2013 as a time to recognize the dedication and sacrifice of volunteers who risk their own lives to save other miners.
Throughout our nation’s history, members of the mining community have been called upon to rescue their fellow miners from emergency situations in coal and metal and nonmetal mines, whether trapped by fires, explosions, roof falls, flooding or harmful gases.
On Mine Rescue Day, we salute these brave individuals who give their time and risk their lives in the service of others. – MSHA
On October 14, 2020 (at a South Carolina mine with 49 employees*), a lead person (61 years old with 17 years experience*) was killed when his pickup truck was struck by a haul truck.
Best Practices:
Additional Information:
This is the 20th fatality reported in 2020 and the fifth classified as “Powered Haulage.” (Italicized details added by safeminers.com)
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
