Author: renewcomer

Fatality #10 for Coal Mining 2012

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On Monday, June 25, 2012, at approximately 11:45 AM, a 33-year-old outby foreman with 7 years of experience was killed while installing additional rib/roof support in the No. 5 belt/track entry. The victim was wedging a timber against the mine roof to support the rib, when a section of the left hand rib rolled on top of him. The rock was approximately 14 feet long, 4 feet high, and 17 inches thick.

  • Conduct thorough pre-shift and on-shift examinations of the roof, face, and ribs. A thorough exam must be conducted before any work or travel is started in an area and thereafter as conditions warrant.
  • Support any loose roof or rib material adequately or scale loose material from a safe location before working or traveling in an area.
  • Danger-off areas that have hazardous roof or rib conditions until they are made safe.
  • Take additional safety precautions when mining heights increase because rib fall injury rates increase substantially as the mining height increases.
  • Use rib bolting to control unstable ribs. Rib bolts provide the best protection against rib falls and are most effective when installed on cycle and in a consistent pattern.
  • Be alert to changing geologic conditions which may affect roof/rib conditions.
  • Ensure that the Approved Roof Control Plan is followed and is suitable for the geologic conditions encountered.
  • Revise the Approved Roof Control Plan as needed when adverse conditions are encountered.

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

Fatality #9 for Coal Mining 2012

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On May 24, 2012, a 43-year-old shaft worker with 39 weeks of mining experience died from injuries he received on May 15, 2012. The victim was helping pour concrete in a 30-foot diameter shaft that was under construction. The victim and his coworkers were using a hose to direct concrete into forms that lined the shaft wall. The hose was overloaded as concrete came out of the hopper too fast, which caused the hose to surge. This sudden movement of the hose knocked the victim and his coworkers off their feet, resulting in a fracture to the left leg of the victim. The victim was treated at a local hospital and released. On May 24, 2012, he passed away at his residence as a result of complications of this injury.

Best Practices

  • Provide a means to control water, air, concrete, etc., lines when they are pressurized to prevent surges and other unintended movement.
  • Train miners on procedures and safety precautions to take if the discharge line becomes plugged or overloaded.
  • Provide positive communication between the worker controlling the flow and the workers manually handling the concrete hose.
  • Safety chains or guarding should be used at concrete hose discharge location.
  • Anchor the discharge line to prevent it from movement in the event of a surge.

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

May 2012 Impact Inspections

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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced that federal inspectors issued 158 citations, 26 orders and three safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at nine coal mines in May. In a separate two-day inspection blitz, MSHA inspectors targeted 40 underground coal mines formerly owned by Massey Energy, where they issued 225 violations. The incident that precipitated these inspections was a burned conveyer belt at Road Fork No. 51 Mine in Wyoming County, W.Va. No similar violations were found during the subsequent 40 inspections.

Click here for: MSHA report with spreadsheet (pdf).

Fatality #8 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

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On May 28, 2012, a 51-year old shift operator with 13 years of experience was killed at a cement operation. The victim was found near the plant’s crane bay building after being struck by a front-end loader. He was walking from the lunchroom toward the locker area.

Best Practices

  • Train all persons to stay clear of mobile equipment.
  • Be aware of the location and traffic patterns of mobile equipment in your work area.
  • Wear high visibility clothing when working around mobile equipment.
  • Before moving mobile equipment, look in the direction of travel and use all mirrors and cameras to ensure no persons are in the intended path.
  • Sound the horn to warn persons of intended movement and give them time to move to a safe location.
  • Operate the mobile equipment at reduced speeds in work areas.
  • Ensure that backup alarms and lights on mobile equipment are maintained and operational.
  • Post signs to warn persons in areas where mobile equipment travel.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #7 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

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On May 23, 2012, a 36 year-old foreman with about 9½ years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel operation. He was operating an excavator on a dike separating two ponds. The ground beneath the excavator tracks failed and the excavator toppled into one of the ponds.

Best Practices

  • Examine work areas to identify all hazards and remediate before starting any work.
  • Evaluate the stability of the ground (slopes and berms) prior to operating equipment near any drop off or edge.
  • Always be attentive to changes in ground conditions and visibility when operating machinery.
  • Perform the work at a safe distance away from the edge of a pond or where the stability of the ground may be unknown.
  • If a potential hazard is present, use long reach equipment to limit exposure and maintain a safe distance away.
  • Consider areas that have experienced previous slope failures to be unstable and do not approach until the area is evaluated for stability.
  • Wear flotation devices where there is a danger of falling into water.
  • Be alert to changes in ground conditions such as cracking, bulging, sloughing, undercutting, and erosion.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #6 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

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Best Practices

  • Ensure that mobile equipment operators are task trained adequately and demonstrate proficiency in all phases of mobile equipment operation before performing work.
  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and ensure the service brakes are properly maintained and will stop and hold the mobile equipment prior to operating.
  • Operators of self-propelled mobile equipment shall maintain control of the equipment while it is in motion.
  • Operating speeds shall be consistent with conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Ensure that equipment manufacturer’s load limits are not exceeded.
  • 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.
  • Ensure that equipment operators maintain adequate communications.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #8 for Coal Mining 2012

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On Thursday, May 17, 2012, at approximately 12:00 p.m., a 57-year-old mechanic was killed at a coal preparation plant. The victim was standing on a 14-foot fiberglass extension ladder when it became unstable and slid across an I-beam. He fell down an adjacent hoist well opening 39 feet to the concrete floor below. He was attempting to cut and remove a 12-inch hoist beam located above the third floor in the plant.

Best Practices

  • Use fall protection when working in an elevated position and securely tie-off where the danger of falling exists.
  • Ensure all workers are adequately trained in the use of fall protection and restraint devices.
  • Examine fall protection equipment and personal protective equipment before each use. Ensure that defective equipment is replaced.
  • Use a ladder only on a stable and level surface, unless it has been secured (top or bottom) to prevent displacement.
  • Properly position ladders to ensure that footing is secure, that the ladder is resting in a manner that prevents movement, and that the ladder is protected from being struck by moving objects.
  • Keep your body centered between the rails of the ladder at all times. Do not lean too far to the side while working.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf),  MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

April 2012 Impact Inspections

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The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced that federal inspectors issued 335 citations, orders and safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at eight coal mines and four metal/nonmetal mines in April. The coal mines were issued 254 citations, 19 orders and one safeguard, while the metal/nonmetal operations were issued 52 citations and nine orders.

Click here for: MSHA report with spreadsheet (pdf).