Coal

Fatality #8 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c08On 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.”

Best Practices
  • Maintain control of equipment at all times during operation.
  • Ensure seat belts are provided, maintained, and worn at all times when equipment is in operation.  Incorporate engineering controls that require seat belts to be properly fastened before equipment can be put into motion.
  • Conduct pre-operational checks to identify and fix any defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.
  • Know the truck’s capabilities, operating ranges, load limits and safety features.
  • Provide and maintain adequate berms on the banks of roadways where a drop-off exists.
  • Ensure all grades and haulage roads are appropriate for the haulage equipment being used.
  • Train miners to understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Monitor work habits routinely and examine work areas to ensure that safe work procedures are being followed.

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

Fatality #7 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c07On 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.

Best Practices
  • Establish policies and procedures for safely clearing plugged material in a feeder hopper or crusher.
  • Consult and follow the manufacturer’s recommended safe work procedures for conducting the task.
  • Ensure that persons are task trained and understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • De-energize and lock-out/tag-out all power sources before working on equipment.
  • Ensure moving parts on machinery are blocked against motion before beginning maintenance or repairs.
  • Ensure that blocking material is competent, substantial, and adequate to support and stabilize the load.
  • Maintain equipment in safe working condition.  Ensure safety devices are working properly.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards.
  • Monitor all personnel, with an emphasis on miners new to a task, routinely to determine that safe work procedures are followed.

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

Fatality #6 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c06On Wednesday, May 14, 2014, a 25-year-old roof bolter operator with 1 year and 44 weeks mining experience was killed when he was pinned between a roof-bolting machine and the coal rib. The victim and another roof bolter operator were in the process of tramming the roof-bolting machine in the outby direction in the No. 3 entry on the No. 1 Longwall Tailgate. They had trammed the roof bolting machine from the 151 crosscut to approximately the 89 ½ crosscut when the accident occurred. The victim was found on the left side of the roof-bolting machine between the machine and the coal rib.

Best Practices
  • Ensure everyone, including the equipment operator, is outside the machine-turning radius before starting or moving equipment.
  • Walk behind moving mobile equipment when traveling in the same entry and maintain a safe distance between yourself and any equipment that is moving.
  • Never position yourself in an area or location where equipment operators cannot readily see you.
  • Develop policies and procedures for starting and tramming self-propelled equipment.  Train all miners that would be exposed to the hazards.
  • When moving self-propelled machines where the left and right traction drives are operated independently, low tram speed should be used.
  • Never defeat any of the machine controls.  Ensure that all operating devices function as designed.
  • Install and maintain proximity detection systems to protect personnel and eliminate accidents of this type. See the proximity detection single source page on the MSHA website.

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

Fatality #4 & #5 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c0405On Monday, May 12, 2014, a 48-year-old continuous mining machine operator with 26 years of mining experience, and a 46-year-old mobile roof support operator/roof bolter with 3½ years of mining experience, were fatally injured as a result of a coal rib burst. The section crew was retreat mining in the #6 entry of the 4 East Mains Panel. They were mining the second lift of the left pillar block when the accident occurred.

Best Practices
  • Conduct frequent and thorough examinations of the roof, face, and ribs.  Be alert for changing conditions.  When hazardous conditions are detected, danger off access to the area until it is made safe for work and travel.
  • Ensure that the approved roof control plan support provisions are suitable for the geological conditions at the mine and that the plan is followed.
  • Train all miners in the requirements of the approved roof control plan and instruct miners to follow the plan at all times.
  • Ensure that the pillar dimensions and the mining method are suitable for the conditions, and that roof and rib control methods are adequate for the depth of cover.  Consider the potential effects of any mines above or below the active workings.
  • Develop a map of geological features and unusual conditions in order to develop the best mining plan that addresses the potentially adverse roof and rib conditions that may be present.

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

Fatality #3 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c03On Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at approximately 1:45 a.m., a 41-year-old mechanic trainee with 23 weeks of mining experience was killed while working on a belt feeder. The victim was cutting through the inner left side plate of the crawler assembly that connects the hopper jack assemblies to the crawler frame. When the cut was completed, the crawler assembly pivoted upward, pinning the victim between the crawler track and the frame of the feeder.

Best Practices
  • Ensure that all stored energy is released or controlled before initiating repairs.
  • Securely block equipment against all hazardous motion at all times while performing maintenance work. Take extra precautions if it is possible for the equipment to move in multiple directions.
  • Always be aware of your location in relation to machine parts that can move.  Examine work areas for hazards that may be created as a result of the work being performed.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work.  Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed to ensure miners are protected.
  • Study the manufacturer’s maintenance manual for safety precautions and recommended blocking securing procedures BEFORE initiating repairs.
  • If specified, always use the manufacturer’s safety device(s) or features for securing components against motion.
  • See additional information on blocking against motion here.

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

Fatality #2 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c02On Friday, February 21, 2014, a 24-year-old continuous mining machine operator with 5½ years of mining experience was killed when he was pinned between the end of the boom of a continuous mining machine and the right coal rib. The miner was tramming the remote controlled continuous mining machine in the last open crosscut toward the Number 1 entry.

Best Practices
  • Install and maintain proximity detection systems to protect personnel and eliminate accidents of this type. See the proximity detection single source page on the MSHA website.
  • Ensure everyone, including the equipment operator, is outside the machine turning radius before starting or moving equipment.
  • Develop policies and procedures for starting and tramming self-propelled equipment and especially remote controlled continuous mining machines. Implement measures to assure their use which includes training all miners that are exposed to the hazards.
  • Avoid the “RED ZONE” areas when operating or working near a continuous mining machine especially when setting over or place changing a remote controlled continuous mining machine.
  • When moving continuous mining machines where the left and right traction drives are operated independently, use the low tram speed.
  • Assign another miner to assist the continuous mining machine operator when it is being moved or repositioned.
  • Frequently review, retrain, and discuss avoiding the “RED ZONE” areas.

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

Fatality #1 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c01On Friday, January 16, 2014, a 20-year-old general inside laborer with 2 years of mining experience was killed when he was struck by a feeder. The victim was standing between the coal rib and the feeder when the securing post dislodged, allowing the tailpiece unit to shift and pin him between the rib and the frame of the feeder. The victim had just finished connecting a chain between the feeder and the tailpiece when the accident occurred.

Best Practices
  • De-energize and lock out the conveyor belt before repositioning the tailpiece.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect persons.
  • Use equipment or material capable of supporting the tailpiece.
  • Ensure any bracing, such as a post, is hitched into the rib properly.
  • Ensure the tailpiece is anchored securely before re-energizing the conveyor.
  • Operate the belt before allowing miners around the repositioned tailpiece. Keep miners at a safe distance and avoid pinch points until it is determined that the tailpiece is secure.

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

Fatality #20 for Coal Mining 2013

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ftl2013c20On Saturday, November 23, 2013, a 32-year-old longwall shieldman with 5 years of mining experience was killed when he was struck by high pressure hydraulic fluid from a panline valve bank. The victim was advancing shields and the panline when a hydraulic hose extending from the panline to a shield was pinched between a shield pontoon and the mine floor. As the shields and panline advanced, a fitting on the hydraulic hose broke where it was attached to a panline valve bank.

Best Practices
  • Keep all high pressure hydraulic hoses free from pinch points, sharp edges, and abrasive areas.
  • Use whip checks to prevent excessive free motion of hoses at connection points.
  • Ensure proper hose routing to eliminate abrasion damage and exposure to ignition and electrical sources.
  • Do not locate high pressure hoses in travel ways or in areas where miners are regularly exposed to them.
  • Replace hydraulic hoses with hoses identical (length, diameter, pressure rating, etc.) to the original hose.
  • Always assure pressure is removed from any hoses being replaced.
  • Always check for defective hydraulic hoses and replace damaged hydraulic hoses immediately.
  • Train miners on the dangers associated with hydraulic hoses on long wall faces and in proper maintenance procedures for the hydraulic system.

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

Fatality #19 for Coal Mining 2013

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ftl2013c19

On November 4, 2013, a 36 year-old longwall chief, with 16 years of experience, was killed while shoveling loose coal and rock between the coal face and the pan line on a longwall section. The victim received crushing injuries when a solid piece of coal and cap rock fell from the coal face, striking and pinning him against the face side of the pan line. The coal/rock combination measured approximately 4 feet and 10-inches long, by 2 feet and 3 inches wide, and up to 24 inches thick.

Best Practices

  • Conduct a thorough examination of the roof, face, and ribs, including a visual examination and a sound and vibration test prior to miners being assigned to work or travel through an area.
  • Correct hazardous roof, face, or rib conditions before any work or travel is permitted in the affected area.
  • Use a bar of suitable length and design for removing loose or unconsolidated material.
  • Support the exposed longwall roof, face, and ribs by mechanical means in the immediate work area.
  • Train all miners in hazard recognition and safe work practices that are assigned to perform work on the longwall face.
  • Apply additional safety precautions in areas where geological changes and anomalies in strata are present.
  • Post a certified foreman at the work area when maintenance is being performed.
  • De-energize the face conveyor, notify the headgate operator, and disconnect power at the control station while work is being performed on the face conveyor (pan). Do not energize the conveyor until all persons are off the face side of the conveyor and the conveyor is supported adequately from inadvertent movement.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #18 for Coal Mining 2013

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ftl2013c18On Friday, October 11, 2013, a 59-year-old shuttle car operator, with approximately 22 years of mining experience, was killed when a shuttle car struck him. The victim was in the crosscut between the No. 6 and No. 7 entries. This crosscut and adjoining entries were being used to gain access to rooms being mined on the right side of the section.

Best Practices

  • Use proximity detection systems to protect personnel from accidents of this type. See the proximity detection single source page on the MSHA web site.
  • Always ensure that visibility is not obstructed in the direction of travel and across the equipment being operated.
  • Use transparent curtain for check and line curtains in the active face areas.
  • Sound audible warnings when the equipment operator’s visibility is obstructed, such as when making turns, reversing direction, or approaching ventilation curtains.
  • Come to a complete stop and sound an audible warning before proceeding through ventilation controls.
  • Ensure the sound level of audible warnings is significantly higher than that of the ambient noise.
  • Shine equipment lights in the direction of travel when operating haulage equipment.
  • Never position yourself in an area or location where equipment operators cannot readily see you.
  • Always communicate your position and intended movements to mobile equipment operators.

For more information related to struck-by equipment accidents, view the following link: MSHA – Safety Targets Programs – Hit By Underground Equipment at www.msha.gov

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