Author: renewcomer

Fatality #16 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

renewcomerLeave a comment

On October 24, 2012, a 52-year old utility miner with 19 years of experience was killed on the surface of an underground limestone mine. He was operating a forklift, traveling on a decline toward the mine entrance, when the forklift went out of control. The forklift struck a concrete support for the belt conveyor and overturned, killing him.

Best Practices

  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and ensure the service brakes are properly maintained and will stop and hold the mobile equipment prior to operating.
  • Ensure that mobile equipment operators are adequately task trained in all phases of mobile equipment operation before performing work.
  • Ensure the load is stable and secured on the forks of the forklift.
  • When descending a grade, operate the forklift with the load in the upgrade position.
  • Maintain control of self-propelled mobile equipment while it is in motion.
  • Operating speeds shall be consistent with conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Operate equipment within its designed limitations. Slow down or drop to a lower gear when necessary. Post areas where lower speeds are warranted.
  • Always wear a seat belt when operating self-propelled mobile equipment.

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

Fatality #15 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

renewcomerLeave a comment

On October 10, 2012, a 55-year old contract painter with 35 years of experience was killed at a kaolin and ball clay operation. He was standing on the bottom of a 40-foot high, 50-foot diameter tank that was open to the atmosphere and covered with mesh cloth material. He was spraying coal tar on the inside walls of the tank and was found unconscious by coworkers. He was recovered by emergency personnel and pronounced dead at a hospital.

Best Practices

  • Develop, implement, and maintain a written Hazard Communication (HazCom) program.
  • Ensure that a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is accessible to persons for each hazardous chemical to which they may be exposed.
  • Review and discuss MSDS control section recommendations with employees that may be exposed to hazardous chemicals. Establish and discuss safe work procedures before starting any work and identify and control all hazards.
  • Train all persons to recognize and understand safe job procedures, including the physical and health hazards of chemicals that are being used and the proper use of respiratory protection, gloves, body suits, hearing, and eye & face protection.
  • Ensure that adequate ventilation is provided to all work areas.
  • Ensure that persons are not required to perform work alone in any area where hazardous conditions exist that would endanger their safety.
  • Conduct air monitoring with calibrated instruments to ensure a safe working atmosphere. Air monitoring should be done prior to workers entering the confined work space and continuously till the workers have exited the enclosed area. Atmospheric monitoring at minimum includes Oxygen, LEL and all potential toxic gases in the work place.

Based on MSHA’s investigation and the finding of the death certificate, MSHA later concluded that the miner died from natural causes and that the fatality is not chargeable.

Useless Machine Kits and Free Plans

renewcomerLeave a comment

Those of you who have been in my class have seen this little toy. I have it labeled “LOCK-OUT/TAG-OUT NOT REQUIRED even though it’s an electrical device, because it’s smarter than most. It doesn’t do much, but as I say, I’m easily amused. In fact, all it does if you flip the toggle switch on the top is turn itself back off… hence the safety without LOTO. Turn it on and a little plastic piece comes out, turns itself back off and then quickly retreats into the box for the next round.

You can buy kits or find your way to free plans here. There are also some entertaining videos to watch of useless boxes in action.

Use this file to print your own label.

Fatality #16 for Coal Mining 2012

renewcomerLeave a comment

On Wednesday, September 26, 2012, a 32-year old section foreman with 12 years of experience was killed by a roof fall at Kopper Glo Mining’s Double Mountain Mine. He was operating the continuous mining machine to excavate a roof cavity in preparation for the installation of a belt conveyor drive. The foreman was positioned approximately 8 feet inby the last row of permanent roof support when a section of the unsupported roof, approximately 6½ feet long, by 6 feet wide, by up to 8 inches thick fell, striking the victim and pinning him to the mine floor.

Best Practices
  • Always post the end of permanent roof support with a readily visible warning or physical barrier to impede travel beyond permanent roof support. This serves to alert all miners as they approach a danger zone.
  • Never travel beyond permanent roof support.
  • Never expose any portion of your body inby the last row of undisturbed permanent roof supports.
  • Make frequent, thorough roof examinations and be aware of changing roof conditions at all times.
  • Give extra attention to the roof after activities that cause roof disturbance.
  • Take extra precautions when cutting out roof support or mining above the normal roof line, such as mining a shorter depth of cut, then install two rows of roof bolts before continuing to mine.

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

Fatality #15 for Coal Mining 2012

renewcomerLeave a comment

On Thursday, September 13, 2012, a 61-year-old general inside laborer with 38 years of mining experience was killed when he was struck by a section of mine roof. The victim was removing a roof bolt from an older area of the mine which was no longer in contact with the mine roof. A section of mine roof fell, striking the victim.

Best Practices
  • Before performing work in any area of the mine, observe the roof and ribs for hazardous conditions and correct hazards immediately.
  • Install additional roof supports prior to removing old supports.
  • Perform sound and vibration testing before installing or removing permanent roof supports.
  • Only remove roof supports under the direction of a manager or foreman.
  • Use roof screen (wire mesh) to control loose roof in long-term travel roads.
  • Take extra precautions when working or traveling in older areas of the mine, paying particular attention to deteriorating roof conditions.
  • Make frequent roof examinations and be alert to changing roof conditions at all times. Give extra attention to the roof after activities occur that could cause roof disturbance.

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

Hazard Alert: Working in Confined Spaces

renewcomerLeave a comment

Working in confined spaces can be very dangerous. A confined space is an area with poor or no airflow. Examples of
confined spaces include:

  • Tanks
  • Bins
  • Covered Pits
  • Silos

Poor airflow allows accumulation of dangerous gases in confined spaces. Before a miner enters a confined space, the
atmosphere needs to be checked for adequate oxygen concentration and the accumulation of flammable or harmful gases.

MSHA has issued a hazard alert. Download the alert here (pdf).

Fatality #14 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

renewcomerLeave a comment

On September 26, 2012, a 79-year old foreman with 56 years of experience was killed when he was run over by the dozer he had been operating. The victim exited the cab and was positioned on the left track checking the engine throttle linkage when the dozer moved forward.

Best Practices
 

  • Inspect equipment before placing it in operation for the shift.
  • Correct safety and operational defects on equipment in a timely manner to prevent the creation of a hazard to persons.
  • Establish safe work procedures and identify and remove hazards before beginning a task.
  • Prior to beginning work, ensure that persons are task-trained and understand the hazards associated with the work being performed. Know and follow safe work procedures before beginning repairs.
  • Block dozer against motion by lowering the blade and ripper to the ground and setting the parking brake. Set the transmission lock lever to ensure the transmission is in neutral.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Monitor personnel routinely to determine that safe work procedures are followed.

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

Fatality #13 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

renewcomerLeave a comment

On September 22, 2012, a 34-year old contract laborer with 6 days of experience was killed when he fell through a 6 ft. X 8 ft. hole that was partially covered with 2″ X 4″ boards and ¾ ” thick plywood. He fell into a chute landing on a belt conveyor 30 feet below. The victim was assigned fire watch duties on a welding/cutting operation that was taking place on the floor above him.

Best Practices
 

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures. Identify and control all hazards. Train all persons to recognize and understand safe job procedures before beginning work.
  • Always use fall protection when working where a fall hazard exists.
  • Protect openings near travelways through which persons may fall by installing appropriately designed railings, barriers, or covers.
  • Keep temporary access opening covers secured in place at all times when the opening is not being used. Replace deteriorated floor plating and grating.
  • Ensure that areas are barricaded or have warning signs posted at all approaches if hazards exist that are not immediately obvious.

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

Fatality #12 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

renewcomerLeave a comment

On August 17, 2012, a 58-year old equipment operator with 19 years of experience was killed at a cement operation. The victim was working on the roof of a 189-foot tall silo when the roof collapsed. Rescuers responded immediately and recovered the victim on September 4, 2012.

Best Practices
 

  • Routinely inspect the entire silo including walls, top, hopper(s), feeders, conveying equipment, liner, roof vents, etc. Look for structural damage, exposed rebar, stress cracks, corrosion, concrete spalling/cracking, signs of overfilling, top lifts, dust spills from seams during loading, damage to climbing devices, etc. The structure should be inspected by a professional engineer knowledgeable in silo design and construction.
  • Ensure a competent person conducts examinations to identify hazards.
  • If damage is discovered, prohibit use of and access on the silo and in the surrounding area until repairs are complete and/or a registered professional engineer has declared it structurally safe to use.
  • Modifications or equipment additions to a silo should be under the direction of a professional engineer.
  • Ensure process controls and dust collector baghouses are in working order to prevent overpressure, overfilling, or excessive vacuum. Dust leaving a silo may indicate structural damage or equipment malfunction.
  • Ensure aeration systems and other means of enhancing hopper flow are in working order so asymmetric flow patterns do not develop within the silo and damage the walls, hopper, and roof.
  • Provide silo level probes/weight measuring technology for /equipment to monitor silo material filling and discharge in the silo and keep it in working order.

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