Author: renewcomer

MSHA to kick off annual ‘Stay Out – Stay Alive’ public safety campaign

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ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration, along with Kansas City Chiefs running back Thomas Jones, will kick off its annual “Stay Out – Stay Alive” public safety campaign on Friday, May 6. Jones, the son of coal miners from southwestern Virginia, is the national spokesman for “Stay Out – Stay Alive,” which was established in 1999 to warn outdoor enthusiasts – especially children – about the dangers of exploring and playing on mine property. Each year, dozens of people are injured or killed in recreational accidents at active and abandoned mines around the country.

Jones will take part in a media conference call with MSHA Assistant Secretary Joseph A. Main and then visit a Crofton, Md., elementary school to address students.

Prior to these May 6 activities, Jones is scheduled to meet on May 5 with various members of Congress to discuss his role as campaign spokesman.

Click here for: Stay Out Stay Alive Web Page

MSHA announces results of March impact inspections

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MSHA announced that federal inspectors issued 134 citations, orders and safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at eight coal mines and eight metal/nonmetal mines last month. The coal mines were issued 55 citations, four orders and one safeguard; the metal/nonmetal operations were issued 69 citations and five orders.

Click here for: MSHA Press Release (pdf).

Fatality #3 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On February 24, 2011, a 56 year- old equipment operator with 10 years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel operation. He was cleaning a tramp metal magnet on a belt conveyor when it started.

Best Practices

  • Establish policies and procedures for conducting specific tasks on belt conveyors.
  • Ensure that persons are task trained and understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Deenergize and block belt conveyors against motion before working near a drive, head, tail, take-up pulleys, and magnets.
  • Lock-out/tag-out all power sources before working on belt conveyors.
  • Maintain communications with all persons performing the task. Before starting belt conveyors, ensure that all persons are clear.
  • Provide and maintain a safe means of access to all working places.
  • Sound an audible alarm if the entire length of the belt conveyor is not visible from the starting switch.

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

Fatality #2 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On March 2, 2011, a 51 year- old contract superintendent with 24 years of experience was killed at a phosphate rock operation. The victim was attempting to join two ends of 24-inch diameter pipe. Two excavators were being used to position the pipe in the saddle of a pipe fuser when the pipe slipped out and struck him.

Best Practices

  • Establish safe work procedures and identify and remove hazards before beginning a task. Follow the equipment manufacturer’s procedures for the work being performed to ensure that all hazards have been addressed.
  • Train persons to recognize the hazards associated with performing a task.
  • Repair broken or damaged equipment immediately.
  • Block material against motion to assure energy cannot be released while the task is performed.
  • 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 #3 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Friday, February 11, 2011, a 55 year old miner with 30 years of mining experience was killed when the fuel and grease service truck he was operating collided head on with a scraper. The two pieces of equipment were traveling in opposite directions. The impact resulted in a fire that engulfed the fuel truck.

Best Practices

  • Inform others when driving a vehicle into a work area.
  • Optimize traffic rules to maximize safe road travel.
  • Obey established traffic rules and signage that apply to the area.
  • Follow established communication procedures.
  • Ensure signage is in place and easily observed.
  • Maintain control of equipment at all times.
  • Ensure all safety systems are maintained, including brakes and steering.

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

Fatality #1 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On February 12, 2011, a 41 year- old grader operator with 15 years of experience was killed at a phosphate rock operation. The victim and a coworker were standing and talking when he was struck by a grader that was backing up. The accident occurred in a staging area where equipment operators were inspecting their equipment before the shift.

Best Practices

  • Train all persons to recognize work place hazards and to stay clear of normal paths of travel for mobile equipment.
  • Regularly monitor work practices and reinforce their importance. Take immediate action to correct unsafe conditions or work practices.
  • Designate a specific area, clear of mobile equipment, where persons can meet before the shift starts.
  • Install cameras and collision avoidance systems on mobile equipment to protect persons.
  • Ensure that illumination is adequate at the work site.
  • Before moving mobile equipment, look in the direction of travel, use all mirrors, cameras, backup alarms, and installed proximity detection devices to ensure no one is in the intended path.
  • Sound the horn to warn persons of movement and allow time to move to a safe location.
  • Communicate with mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence.
  • Wear high visibility clothing when working around mobile equipment.
  • Consider use of wearable strobes when near mobile equipment.

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

Joseph Main Addresses House of Representatives Subcommittee

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Head of MSHA, Joseph Main, addressed the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Workforce Protections to report on progress with investigation at Upper Big Branch since the explosion there last April and express his opinion of a need for further legislation.

You can read a PDF file of the statement or listen to a conference call after the testimony with members of the Press asking questions.

Click here for: Statement Given (pdf), Post Hearing Conference Call (wav).

Fatality #2 for Coal Mining 2011

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On February 3, 2011, a 49 year old dozer operator, with 2 years mining experience, was killed at a surface area of an underground coal mine. The accident occurred at an access road leading to a gas well plugging site. The victim parked on a grade and dismounted the dozer to assist a truck driver connect a winch cable from the dozer to the water truck. The dozer drifted backward into the water truck, pinning the victim between the truck and the dozer. The parking brake was not set and the blade was not lowered on the dozer.

On March 25, 2011, MSHA Solicitors made a determination that this fatality is not under MSHA jurisdiction, and therefore, not chargeable to the mining industry.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that equipment operators are trained and knowledgeable about equipment operation and the associated hazards.
  • Perform pre-operational equipment checks for defects and repair any defects found before operating equipment.
  • Analyze the job for what needs done and look for what could go wrong. More information can be obtained here: http://www.msha.gov/SLAMRisks/SLAMRISKS.pdf
  • Block dozers against motion by lowering the blade, setting parking brakes, and shutting off the machine.
  • Position equipment on flattest grade possible to connect equipment for towing, and consider positioning the tow machine at a distance and angle that would prevent a rollback collision.
  • Stay in equipment, if equipment has the potential to move.

Additional safety information can be found on Safety Target Packages:

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)


MSHA Fatality Summaries for 2010

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MSHA has posted Fatality Summaries for both the Coal and Metal/Nonmetal Industries. Each summarizes the various task and equipment groupings. The coal report includes information on each of the 19 fatalities that occurred in addition to the 29 killed in the Upper Big Branch explosion. It also include a look at the most common causes of all coal fatalities from 2001 to 2010 and provides suggested best practices. Also included are two Mine Safety Alerts for Powered Haulage and Roof Falls.
The Metal/Nonmetal report includes the same type of information for that industry with a number of colorful posters highlighting Machinery, LOTO, and Contractor Safety.