Since 2000, 83 training citations or orders were issued to Metal/Nonmetal mine operators related to workplace examinations following fatal and non-fatal accident investigations.
MSHA has issued an alert to miners to conduct workplace examinations to protect miners. The alert, in the form of a one page poster includes regulation 30 CFR § 56.18002 along with definitions of competent person and working place.
Download the poster here.
On July 21, 2014, a 28-year-old assistant plant manager with 11 years of mining experience was killed at a sand and gravel dredge operation. He was riding in an aluminum boat that became stuck in low water on top of 480 volt energized power conductors. The victim was electrocuted when he exited the boat, attempting to pull slack on the power conductors.
Best Practices
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 186 citations, 25 orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at 11 coal mines and two metal and nonmetal mines in June.
The monthly inspections, which began in force in April 2010 following the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine, involve mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns.
Since April 2010, MSHA has conducted 780 impact inspections and issued 12,627 citations, 1,170 orders and 54 safeguards.
Click here for: MSHA report with spreadsheet (pdf).
On Monday, June 23, 2014, at approximately 7:35 p.m., a 58–year-old truck driver, with 5 years of mining experience, was killed when the haul truck he was operating traveled through a berm and descended approximately 75 feet into a spoil “V.”
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).
On Wednesday, June 4, 2014, a 25-year-old contract equipment operator with 24 weeks of experience was killed when he was crushed between the hood and frame of an impact crusher. The victim had just finished clearing a large rock from the crusher area when the accident occurred.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).
On June 18, 2014, a 41-year-old production supervisor with 19 years of mining experience was killed at a sand and gravel mine. The victim and two contract workers were attempting to remove an impeller that was seized onto the threaded shaft of a centrifugal pump. After several failed attempts to unscrew the impeller, heat from a torch was applied to the enclosed hub on the impeller. While applying heat, the hub exploded and metal fragments struck the victim.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).
On June 2, 2014, a 36-year-old shaft repairman with 18 years of experience was killed at an underground silver mine. Two miners were working in a shaft standing on a work platform attached to a skip. The skip was hoisted and the victim was crushed between the skip and the shaft timber.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)
On May 9, 2014, a 20-year-old groundman with 9 weeks of experience was killed at a sand and gravel mill. The victim was unloading a rail car using a mobile rail barge truck conveyor and was caught in the feed end of the conveyor.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).
On May 1, 2014, a 57-year-old co-owner with 1 year of experience was killed at a gypsum mine. The victim was driving an all terrain vehicle on the mine site to place signs around the perimeter of the mine. He lost control of the vehicle while traveling on a steep hill and it overturned onto him.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 172 citations, 21 orders and two safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 10 coal mines and two metal and nonmetal mines in May.
MSHA began an impact inspection on May 13 at BCJ Sand and Rock Inc. in Butte County, California. MSHA inspectors issued 19 citations and 17 orders to the mine operator.
Among the hazardous conditions cited was the operator’s failure to properly store an oxygen cylinder, which created a potential fire or explosion hazard. The mine operator failed to repair a haul truck operating with six severely damaged tires. The plant manager, who is considered a miner, continued to access the mine site without receiving the mandatory new miner training, despite being previously cited for this violation. The mining company continued production operations in the face of an unwarrantable failure order that had not been abated, and it also allowed miners to clean the tail pulley of the main feed conveyor while the belt was in motion, a hazard that can injure or kill miners.
Click here for: MSHA report with link to spreadsheet (pdf).