Coal

Fatality #4 for Coal Mining 2012

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On Saturday, March 10, 2012, at approximately 6:15 p.m., a 34-year-old section foreman with 11 years of experience was killed while operating a continuous mining machine in the No. 2 entry. He was struck by a section of rock that fell from the right-hand rib. The rock was approximately 10 feet and 6 inches long, 3 feet and 4 inches high, and 10 inches thick.

Best Practices

  • 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 before working or traveling in an area.
  • When hazardous roof or rib conditions are detected, areas should be dangered-off until they are made safe.
  • Rib bolts, installed on cycle and in a consistent pattern, provide the best protection from rib falls.
  • Assure that the Approved Roof Control Plan is followed and is suitable for the geologic conditions encountered. If adverse conditions are encountered, the plan must be revised to provide adequate support for the control of the roof, face, and ribs.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf),  MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #3 for Coal Mining 2012

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On Saturday, March 3, 2012, a 32-year old foreman was killed while attempting to install a canopy on a Joy 21 SC Shuttle Car. The canopy was suspended from the mine roof by a cable and chain. The foreman was seated in the operator’s compartment of the shuttle car beneath the suspended canopy. The canopy shifted and fell, striking the foreman in the head, causing fatal injuries. The victim had 11 years of mining experience, 2 years and 6 weeks experience at this mine, and 32 weeks of experience as a foreman.

Best Practices

  • Before performing a materials handling job, consider all hazards and implement formal procedures that address possible hazards.
  • Devise safe methods to complete tasks involving large objects, massive weights, or the release of stored energy.
  • Always de-energize equipment and block against motion.
  • Never use permanent roof support as a mechanism for lifting heavy objects. Install lifting points that are designed and manufactured to support the intended load.
  • Use only devices designed and rated for the suspension of heavy loads and do not exceed the rated capacity of your hoisting, towing, or rigging tools.
  • When working with or near extremely heavy objects/materials suspended overhead, use a positive means to prevent objects/materials from falling, or moving.
  • Never work in the fall path of objects/materials or massive weights having the potential of becoming off-balanced while suspended.
  • Train personnel to recognize hazardous work procedures, including working in pinch points where inadvertent movement could cause injury.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf),  MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #2 for Coal Mining 2012

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On Sunday, February 26, 2012, at 1:15 a.m., a 52-year-old deckhand with 4 years of mining experience was determined missing. He had been assigned the task of measuring the draft of a set of empty barges that were to be loaded. He had to cross from the dock to the first empty barge. Witnesses observed him on the empty barge walking up-river on the barge. He apparently fell from the barge into the water. Co-workers saw his cap in the water and immediately called for the rescue squad. The victim was found beneath the bow of the dock at approximately 2:30 a.m. The miner was wearing a flotation device, but the flotation device was not designed to keep an unconscious miner’s face above water.

Best Practices

  • Utilize electronic devices to determine the draft in barges.
  • Install and use lifeline tie-off systems to provide fall protection over water.
  • Utilize and maintain sufficient area lighting and personal lighting.
  • Set up a look out and communications protocol. Do not work alone.
  • Ensure safe access is provided where persons are required to work or travel. Watch footing and stay clear of ropes, cables, and other obstacles. Use de-icing material to clear ice from walkways. Maintain three points of contact where practicable.
  • Wear properly fitted personal flotation devices (PFD) that are designed to keep an unconscious miner’s face above water.
  • Utilize wearable electronic emergency warning systems to immediately notify others of a fall into water. These devices can be equipped with water activated strobe lights and global positioning system (GPS) tracking.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf),  MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #1 for Coal Mining 2012

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On January 18, 2012, a 44-year-old utility/diesel tram operator with 1 year and 8 months mining experience, died from injuries he received on January 11, 2012. The miner was repairing a damaged water outlet (fire valve manifold) when a 1.5 inch bronze ball valve (quarter turn valve) catastrophically failed, propelling the steel manifold into the miner’s face/head. This fire valve manifold was originally damaged when an oversized load being transported on the adjacent mine track haulage system contacted the outlet causing it to separate from the 6″ mine water supply. The failure resulted from the internal threaded body of the valve separating from the external threaded portion of the valve.

Best Practices

  • When performing work on pressurized water supply piping systems, STOP ALL water flow into the pipe being worked on; BLEED ALL residual pressure from the pipeline, and when possible, OPEN A VALVE at an alternate location to ensure constant pressure relief. LOCK OUT and TAG OUT these valves to ensure safety while repairs are made.
  • NEVER REUSE components in a pressurized line that may have been damaged or compromised.
  • Ensure that components, such as valves, couplings etc. used in a pressurized water system are compatible with the highest measured or expected STATIC pressure in the system.
  • Implement a Standard Operating Procedure for the design, installation, testing, and maintenance of pressurized fluid systems that is consistent with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards.
  • Install slow closing indicating valves. When opening a valve to put water flow into a pressurized system, do it slowly and minimize your exposure to pressurized components. See slow closing indicating valves on MSHA’s Belt Fire Suppression Simulator at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy. http://www.msha.gov/alerts/SafetyFlyers/ScoreaTDMineFire2009.pdf
  • Inspect, examine, and evaluate all materials that are being used during installation, replacement, or repair of pressurized water systems to ensure suitability.
  • Properly train all miners on the hazards associated with working on or around pressurized fluid piping systems.
  • Maintain safe and adequate clearance to prevent mobile equipment and machinery from contacting pressurized lines, valves, etc.
  • Install barriers to prevent equipment from damaging piping and valves.
  • Ensure adequate supervision is in place when moving oversized equipment in haulage entries.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #23 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Wednesday, December 7, 2011, at approximately 7:30 a.m., a 49-year-old excavator operator, with 20 years of mining experience, was fatally injured when a highwall he was working near collapsed. The excavator was being used to load rock trucks. The operator’s cab was positioned on the highwall side when the accident occurred.

Best Practices

  • Operate excavators with the cab perpendicular to, and away from, the highwall.
  • Design benches to safely accommodate the type of equipment used and include this in the Ground Control Plan.
  • Examine highwalls from as many perspectives as possible (bottom, sides, and top/crest) while maintaining the safety of the examiner(s). Look for signs of cracking or other geologic discontinuities.
  • Use auxiliary lighting during non-daylight hours to conduct highwall examinations and to illuminate active work areas.
  • Perform supplemental examinations of highwalls, banks, benches, and sloping terrain in the working area during inclement weather.
  • Immediately remove all personnel exposed to hazardous ground conditions, barricade, and/or post signs to prevent entry, and promptly correct the unsafe conditions.
  • Brief foremen and miners coming to work on any uncorrected hazardous conditions, and ensure the hazardous conditions are noted in the on-shift examination record book.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #22 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Saturday, December 3, 2011, at approximately 8:35 a.m., a bulldozer operator with 18 years of mining experience was seriously injured when the bulldozer he was operating travelled over a highwall and fell approximately 90 feet to the pit below. The victim was in the process of clearing topsoil from the bench in preparation for the next blast. The victim was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the bulldozer. The victim died on December 6, 2011, from the injuries sustained in this accident.

Best Practices

  • Ensure the ground control plan is adequate for the mining conditions.
  • Perform examinations of ground conditions, and perform additional checks during the work shift to ensure ground conditions have not changed.
  • Mark the limits of travel with pylons or reflectors.
  • Be aware of your location and proximity to the highwall. When operating a bulldozer close to an edge, always keep the blade between you and the edge. Bulldozer operators should not operate their machines parallel to the edge of highwalls.
  • Use a spotter to warn equipment operators when they approach the edge of a highwall.
  • Ensure seat belts are provided, maintained, and worn at all times.
  • Never jump out of equipment.
  • Visit MSHA’s Safety Target Single Source Page for additional safety information concerning bulldozers.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf),  MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #21 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Wednesday, November 2, 2011, a 28 year old bulldozer operator, with approximately 8 years of mining experience, was injured at a surface mine. The victim was conducting reclamation work on top of a graded slope when he lost control of the bulldozer and it rolled over several times, approximately 250 feet to the bottom of the slope. The operator was wearing a seat belt, but sustained serious injuries. He was hospitalized and died subsequently on November 14, 2011.

Best Practices

  • Task train miners adequately on the equipment they will operate.
  • Train all employees on proper equipment operation procedures, hazard recognition, and hazard avoidance.
  • Establish and follow safe work procedures and ensure that personnel are trained to recognize hazardous work procedures or activity.
  • Be familiar with your work environment. Before you start grading an area, look at it, walk around it, and plan the safest way to move the material and maneuver the equipment.
  • Install tilt gauges in dozers and do not exceed the equipment’s maximum operating angles.
  • Maintain control of equipment at all times during operation.
  • Ensure that personnel operating mobile equipment always wear seat belts.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #20 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Monday, November 7, 2011, a 47 year old mine foreman, with approximately 26 years of mining experience, was killed when he was pinned between a battery-powered, rubber-tire personnel carrier and a coal rib. The personnel carrier had become stuck in reverse and the victim was positioned on his knees in front of the personnel carrier. When the operator placed the directional switch in forward, the personnel carrier traveled forward, striking the victim. A wooden crib block had fallen onto the control pedals and restricted their use.

Best Practices

  • Never transport supplies or extraneous materials in a vehicle or on top of equipment that is not appropriate for the task.
  • Never obstruct the vision of the equipment operator with the load.
  • Do not operate a vehicle with debris, loose material, or trash in the operator’s compartment.
  • Never position yourself in an area or location where equipment operators cannot readily see you.
  • Be aware of your location in relation to movement of equipment, especially in lower coal seams.
  • Train miners to use effective means of communication between themselves and equipment operators.
  • When operating mobile equipment, ensure that other workers are in a safe area before moving the equipment.v
  • Conduct Task Training for each type of personnel carrier or equipment being operated.
  • For more information on preventing these types of accidents:
    http://www.msha.gov/Safety_Targets/UGEquipCoal/EquipOpUGCoal.asp
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #18 & #19 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Friday, October 28, 2011, a 47-year old lead blaster and 23-year old blaster helper were killed when the 1-ton truck they were riding was struck and completely covered by fallen rock from a failed highwall. The victims were driving in the pit, past a trackhoe loading coal as they approached their work area. The rock reached approximately 80′ across the 100′ wide pit and struck the trackhoe and a haulage vehicle being loaded at the time of the accident.

Best Practices

  • Train all miners to recognize hazardous highwall conditions.
  • Look, Listen and Evaluate your highwall and pit conditions daily, especially after each rain, freeze, or thaw.
  • Be your own examiner and find hazards before they find you.
  • Maintain adequate lighting to aid in examinations of highwalls and pit during no light or low light situations.
  • Observe and communicate highwall hazards immediately.
  • Insure appropriate action is taken to remove the hazards associated with any anomaly that may appear in the highwall or pit.
  • Ensure that personnel’s work or travel areas and mining systems or equipment are operating are a safe distance from the toe of the highwall.
  • Follow safe job procedures.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #17 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Monday, October 17, 2011, a 62-year old miner was killed on the surface of the underground mine while using a jumper cable to move a track-mounted back hoe machine at a gap in the trolley wire. When reenergized by a jumper cable, the machine struck and ran over him. The victim had 30 years of mining experience, with one day of experience operating this machine.

Best Practices

  • Assure all tram control switches are in the off position and the brake is set before applying a DC power jumper to the machine.
  • Always attach a nip on the machine first, then attach the nip on trolley wire, while standing in a safe location.
  • Ensure adequate task training is provided to equipment operators which cover all machine controls, functions and hazards related to the machine operation and any safe operating procedures related to the specific equipment operation.
  • Use self-centering tram/power controls to limit unexpected machine movement.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).