Author: renewcomer

2019 Fatality #8 / Coal #4

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On May 22, 2019, a 48-year-old continuous mining machine operator with 12 years of experience was severely injured when a section of coal/rock rib measuring, 48 to 54” long, 24” wide, and 28” thick, fell and pinned him to the mine floor. At the time of the accident, the victim was in the process of taking the second cut of a crosscut and was moving the mining machine cable that was adjacent to the coal/rock rib. The victim was hospitalized and due to complications associated with his injuries, passed away 8 days later.

Best Practices: 

  • Install rib bolts with adequate surface area coverage, during the mining cycle, and in a consistent pattern for the best protection against rib falls.
  • Follow the requirements in the approved roof control plan, and remember it contains minimum safety requirements.  Install additional support when rib fractures or other abnormalities are detected.  Revise the plan if conditions change and cause the support system to no longer be adequate.
  • Be aware of potential hazards when working or traveling near mine ribs, especially when geologic conditions (such as thick in-seam rock partings) could cause rib hazards.  Take additional safety precautions while working in these conditions.  Correct all hazardous conditions before allowing miners to work or travel in these areas.
  • Perform complete and thorough examinations of pillar corners, particularly where the angle formed between an entry and a crosscut is less than 90 degrees.
  • Adequately support loose ribs or scale loose rib material from a safe location using a bar of suitable length and design.
  • Task train all miners to conduct thorough examinations of the roof, face, and ribs where persons will be working or traveling and to correct all hazardous conditions before miners work or travel in such areas.  Continuously watch for changing conditions and conduct more frequent examinations when abnormal conditions are present.

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

2019 Fatality #7 / MNM #4

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Fatality #8

On May 18, 2019, a 34-year-old plant operator with 8 years of experience received fatal injuries when he was ejected from a man lift basket. The victim was tramming while elevated at 28 feet. The miner was wearing a fall protection harness with a retractable lanyard but it was not secured/tied off to the man lift basket. 

Best Practices: 

  • Always stay connected/tie off.  Always attach the lanyard of the approved fall protection device to the designated attachment point.
  • Use boom functions instead of tram functions to position the platform close to obstacles.
  • Ensure that persons are properly task trained regarding safe operating procedures before allowing them to operate mobile equipment.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Ensure that access gates or openings are closed.

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

2018 MNM Fatalities Compiled

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Each year I compile a pdf of all the fatalities into mnm and coal pdfs. (Starting with 2019 both will be in the same document since MSHA is combining them). I just completed the 2018 metal/nonmetal one. You can move from fatality to fatality with bookmarks that are built in or just search a word like “loader” and find all the references to that in all fatalities for the year. It is also posted in the Resources tab above where I’ll add some past years as I get time or requests.

2018 MNM Fatalities

2019 Fatality – Rescinded 6/6/19

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2019 Fatality #7

On May 13, 2019, a 57-year-old truck driver with 12 years of experience was fatally injured when his haul truck rolled over. The haul truck was ascending a haul road when it slowed, stopped, and rolled backwards over 300 feet. The haul truck then ran up a hill, which caused it to roll over.

Best Practices: 

  • Task train mobile equipment operators adequately and ensure each operator can demonstrate proficiency in all phases of mobile equipment operation before performing work.
  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any defects affecting safety in a timely manner prior to operating mobile equipment.
  • Maintain control of self-propelled mobile equipment while it is in motion.
  • Load trucks within the safe operating range based on the load rating of the truck, the road grade, and weather conditions.
  • Exercise caution when approaching grades and operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Maintain equipment in accordance with manufacturer’s service and maintenance schedules.

Rescission Date:  June 26, 2019

The Acting Chair of MSHA’s Chargeability Review Committee reviewed the death certificate, autopsy report, and MSHA’s accident investigation findings and determined that the miner died from natural causes.  The  fatality is not chargeable to the mining industry.

[Since MSHA in their infinite wisdom is no longer counting MNM vs. Coal that confuses the number on every fatality for 2019 after this. I have attempted to go back and change those already posted so they correspond to the numbers MSHA references, but you may notice some text within the fatalgram that references old numbers. – Randy]

MNM Fatality – May 13, 2019

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Fatality #6

On May 13, 2019, a 59-year-old supervisor with 40 years of experience was fatally injured when the stationary crane he was operating fell 85 feet into the quarry.

Best Practices: 

  • Ensure all safety devices are functional.
  • Conduct a visual inspection of the equipment, load, and rigging prior to placing equipment in operation..
  • Conduct a visual inspection of site conditions and potential hazards.

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

New MSHA Mine Data Retrieval System

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As someone who used the old system often I’ll hold judgement on the new until I’ve used it awhile or at least until it works. That’s assuming it’s not doing what it’s supposed to now because when I enter my own ID I get someone else’s information or none at all depending on what report I ask for. Either way, if you use this information you may want to study the manual, yes unlike most software that you just intuitively click on what you’d like to see, you better study this one. It’s here.

GHS Pictogram Quiz

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Clip from the NSC GHS pictogram game.

I’m continually surprised by how many workers in my class don’t know the GHS pictograms. Why is that an issue?

  1. They aren’t that difficult. There are only 9 (only 8 actually required by OSHA – the environmental one is optional) and many of them are familiar for decades.
  2. If they don’t know them your company is out of compliance. The deadline for the training was December 1, 2013, yes, 2013!
  3. Most importantly if they don’t understand the pictogram they probably don’t understand the hazard and don’t know how to safely handle the chemical. There are serious implications for their safety and the company’s bottom line.

National Safety Council has an interactive game to test their knowledge. You can have them play it online. You can see their score. Even though the program gets complimentary of any decent score, 100% is the only one that actually counts. You can refresh the page and do it over and over. Try it out here.

Reminder to Report Your Quarterly Mining Hours

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This is a friendly reminder to report your hours for January – March. If you don’t report them by today some inspector is bound to ask to see them and will issue you a fine. It’s easy to report them online… BUT WAIT! The MSHA site is down AGAIN for maintenance! It was down 5 days in February. Why can’t these guys keep the lights on. I have NEVER discovered any other site down for maintenance. I hope you don’t have to look up a number to report a serious accident or anything. If you do and they say you took too long to call or your quarterlies were filed late just show them this..

What I saw when I went to file my quarterly MSHA report.