Author: renewcomer

Fatality #1 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Thursday, January 27, 2011, a 19 year old underground miner with fifteen weeks of mining experience was killed when he became caught between the “V” shaped coal discharge guides adjacent to the discharge roller of the section conveyor belt. Both belt conveyors were operating at the time of the accident.

Best Practices

  • Train all employees thoroughly on the dangers of working or traveling around moving conveyor belts.
  • Never attempt to cross a moving belt conveyor, except at suitable cross-overs or cross-unders.
  • Install proper belt cross-overs and/or cross-unders at strategic locations, when height allows.
  • Be aware of locations where new miners are working or intend to travel.
  • Provide belt conveyor stop and start controls at areas where miners must access both sides of the conveyor. These areas should be provided with adequate crossing facilities (e.g. cross-overs or cross-unders).
  • Install adequate guarding at all conveyor belt pinch point locations.

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

MSHA Alert – Mine Deaths are NOT Inevitable

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ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today issued a fatality alert to the mining community profiling the causes of and circumstances surrounding the 71 fatal accidents that occurred last year.

“2010 will be remembered for the dramatic explosion that killed 29 men at the Upper Big Branch Mine and for the deaths of 42 other miners across the nation whose lives ended in needless tragedy,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “We can – and must – honor all of these miners by increasing our efforts to ensure safe and healthy workplaces for our nation’s miners.”

Click here for: MSHA Press Release (pdf).

Mining Health and Safety Scholarship

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The Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association scholarship program and encourage new generations to enter the mine safety and health profession. A financial award is given to deserving candidates to help defray their educational costs in a field related to mining health and safety.

This scholarship program is open to persons who are pursuing careers in the mining industry, safety and health-related fields.

Scholarship awards are available in the following categories:

  1. High school graduates (graduating seniors) enrolled in a college or university degree program.
  2. Undergraduate students currently enrolled in a college or university degree program.
  3. Graduates of a college or university pursuing a graduate degree.

Applicant must satisfy each of the following criteria:

  1. Provide a transcript of grades for the last 3 years of completed education (i.e. high school or college level)
  2. Complete the Financial Disclosure Information section to verify financial status and expenses of all persons living in the applicant’s household.
  3. Submit a 100-300 personal word essay on “Why I am pursuing a degree in mining or in a mine safety/health-related field.”
  4. Provide a list of Extracurricular Activities and/or a list of other Academic Achievements.
  5. Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (green-card holder).
  6. Complete application and submit it with all required documents by March 31, 2011.

Click here for: Joseph A Holmes Safety Association Scholarship web page and application.

Fatality #24 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On December 29, 2010, a 41 year- old laborer with 4 years of experience died at a dimension stone operation. The victim was replacing a hydraulic lift arm cylinder on a skid steer loader. The lift arms suddenly lowered, pinning him against the frame of the machine.

Best Practices

  • Establish safe work procedures and identify and remove hazards before beginning repair or maintenance tasks. 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 repair or maintenance tasks.
  • Prior to performing repair or maintenance tasks, turn the power off and block any raised component against accidentally lowering.
  • Assign a sufficient number of persons to repair or maintenance tasks to ensure the tasks can be safely performed.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing repair or maintenance tasks.
  • 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 #23 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On December 23, 2010, a 35 year- old contract blaster with 12 years of experience died at a crushed stone operation. After firing the blast, he immediately walked into the blast site to examine the shot material. The victim was approaching the edge of the shot material when the ground collapsed, engulfing him in the water-filled pit.

Best Practices

  • Conduct effective workplace examinations in areas where contractors are working. Identify all hazards, and take action to correct them.
  • Establish mining plans based on geological evaluations and implement procedures to effectively protect all persons.
  • Establish methods to identify subsurface cavities and voids such as advance drilling and geophysical surveys (ground penetrating radar – GPR), electrical resistivity, or other available methods.
  • Wait at least 15 minutes or longer before conducting post-blast inspections. Take additional time if geological anomalies or other hazards are identified during drilling or blasting.
  • Keep a safe distance from cracks or any other signs of unstable ground conditions.
  • Tie off using a secure anchorage zone.
  • Wear a life jacket where there is a danger from falling into water.

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

Partnership Produces Resources for Aggregate Miners and Contractors

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MSHA and the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association have teamed up to produce a web page on MSHA’s site that provides everything an aggregate miner or contractor needs to know… even if the disclaimer is needed to say it’s still your responsibility to be sure you are compliant in every way. It’s SAFETY PRO IN A BOX!

These are not new materials, but it’s certainly helpful to have them accessible from one page, something SafeMiner.com tries to do all the time. There are Web Education and Training Resources, Paperwork Requirements, and links to MSHA Handbooks, the Instructor Guide Series, Streaming Media Clips, and more!

But why am I telling you what’s there when you can check it out here!

Now about whether you can actually put a Safety Professional in a box or not without providing confined space training… Ha! SafeMiners.com will provide a permanent link to the site under our Resources Tab, so you can always find one in a box if yours is out wandering around.

Fatality #22 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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2010 MNM Fatality 22On December 17, 2010, a 35 year- old truck driver with 11 weeks of experience died at a crushed stone operation. The victim was standing on a belt conveyor, working inside a chute, when the belt conveyor started. He was pulled out of the chute and conveyed under two other chutes located on the same belt conveyor. After the belt conveyor was shut down, the victim was found under a third chute.

Best Practices

  • Establish safe work procedures before conducting specific tasks on belt conveyors and ensure that the safe work procedures are followed.
  • Train persons to recognize the hazards of working near belt conveyors.
  • Deenergize and block belt conveyors against motion before working near a chute, drive, head, tail, and take-up pulleys.
  • Lock-out/tag-out all energy sources to belt conveyors before working on them.
  • Sound audible warnings or alarms prior to starting belt conveyors.
  • Maintain communications with all persons performing the task. Before re-starting belt conveyors, ensure that all persons are clear.

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

Fatality #21 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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M/NM Fatality #21On November 30, 2010, a 33 year- old mechanic with 14 years of experience died at a crushed stone operation. The victim and a coworker were working under the rear portion of a ten-wheeled truck that was suspended by rigging attached to a hoist. The chain holding the truck slipped off the hook and the truck fell, killing the victim and injuring the other person.

Best Practices

  • Establish safe work procedures before a task is performed and ensure that the safe work procedures are followed.
  • Train persons to recognize the hazards of working under suspended loads.
  • Securely block equipment against hazardous motion while performing maintenance work.
  • Train all persons regarding the proper selection and use of lifting devices and rigging equipment.
  • Use lifting devices and rigging that are compatible with the load being lifted.

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

Fatality #48 for Coal Mining 2010

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On Saturday, December 4, 2010, a 32 year old contract truck driver with four years of experience was killed in a Powered Haulage accident on a coal mine haul road. The loaded truck struck the left berm on the elevated roadway and over-turned on the road, trapping the victim under the cab.

Best Practices

  • Never operate a truck or other mobile equipment without using a seat belt.
  • Know the truck’s capabilities, operating ranges, load-limits and properly maintain the brakes and other safety features.
  • Construct roadway berms to appropriate strengths and geometries to prevent driving through them or driving up onto them.
  • Train all employees on proper work procedures, hazard recognition and avoidance, and proper use of roadway berms.
  • Observe all speed limits, traffic rules, and ensure that grades on haulage roads are appropriate for haulage equipment being used.
  • Always select the proper gear and downshift well in advance of descending the grade.
  • Monitor work habits routinely and examine work areas to ensure that safe work procedures are followed
  • Maintain control of equipment at all times, making allowances for the prevailing conditions (low visibility, inclement weather, etc).
  • Maintain equipment braking and steering systems in good repair and adjustment.
  • Do not attempt to exit or jump from a moving vehicle

For more information that can be used to prevent this type of accident refer to: MSHA – Safety Targets Program – Operating Surface Equipment (Coal) Safety Target Package – Trucks

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

Highwall Safety Alert

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Winter months can bring drastic changes to the stability of highwalls due to freezing and thawing. Water accumulates in crevices of rocks and then freezes. The ice acts as a wedge to expand the crevice opening. The ice thaws and the cycle begins again which in turn compromises the stability of the highwall that can result in highwall failure.

MSHA has issued a Safety Alert that can easily be printed out and posted or used in a toolbox talk.

Click here for: MSHA Safety Alert: Highwall Stability