Coal

Coal Fatality – 10/9/20

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On October 9, 2020, a contractor was changing the nozzle on a hydroseeder and accidentally engaged the hydroseeder’s clutch while the nozzle was pointing towards him.  The material sprayed from the nozzle struck him, causing him to fall backward and strike his neck on the hydroseeder handrail.

Best Practices: 

  • De-energize equipment while changing accessories until the equipment is ready to use and the operator is properly positioned.
  • Position yourself to avoid hazards resulting from a sudden release of energy.
  • Identify and apply methods to protect personnel from hazards associated with the work being performed. This includes all applicable personal protective equipment for identified hazards.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work and ensure those procedures are followed.

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

Coal Fatality – 10/18/19

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A miner was repairing a personnel carrier while standing between a rib and the carrier. A section of the adjacent rib corner, weighing approximately 1,250 pounds, fell on the miner causing severe injuries. The miner died 16 days later.

Best Practices: 

  1. Make roof control plans that contain safety requirements. Rib support may be necessary when the mining height increases, when rock partings are present in the rib, or when encountering deeper cover.
  2. Mine operators must control roof and rib conditions. Plans should include provisions requiring that mine operators recognize adverse or changing roof and rib conditions.
  3. Be aware of potential hazards when working or traveling near mine ribs, especially when geologic conditions could cause rib hazards.
  4. Pay attention to deteriorating roof and rib conditions when working in, or traveling through, older areas of mines.
  5. Avoid areas of close clearance between ribs and equipment.
  6. Train all miners to conduct thorough examinations of the roof, face and ribs where miners will be working and traveling.
  7. Conduct frequent examinations in areas where mine conditions change.
  8. Correct all hazardous conditions before allowing miners to work or travel near them.
  9. Adequately support loose ribs or scale loose rib material from a safe location using a bar of suitable length and design.
  10. Install rib bolts on cycle, with adequate surface coverage, and in a consistent pattern.

This is the 26th fatality reported in 2019, and the third fatality classified as “Fall of Face, Rib, Pillar or Highwall.”

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

Coal Fatality – 2/27/20

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On February 27, 2020, a trucking company employee died while helping to position a low-boy trailer.  The victim was standing in front of the trailer wheels to assist the driver.  The truck driver moved the truck forward causing the wheels of the trailer to strike the victim.

Best Practices: 

  • Communicate your planned movements with the equipment operator before approaching mobile equipment and verify the information was received and understood.
  • Verify miners are clear before driving mobile equipment. Communicate your planned movements with miners and verify the information was received and understood.
  • Sound your horn to warn miners that you are about to move and wait to give them time to get to a safe location.
  • Establish policies and procedures for miners to stand in safe locations when directing mobile equipment.
  • Inspect backup alarms and collision warning/avoidance systems on mobile equipment to ensure they are maintained and operational.
  • Wear high visibility clothing when working around mobile equipment.

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

Coal Fatality – 2/10/20 – Rescinded

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On February 10, 2020, a mine examiner was operating a personnel carrier down a mine intake slope. Evidence indicates that the personnel carrier struck the left rib while traveling down the intake slope. The mine examiner was found unresponsive near the bottom of the slope, lying beside the personnel carrier.

Best Practices: 

  • Maintain control and stay alert. Be aware and stay in control when operating mobile equipment. Install mechanical devices that limit the maximum speed of the equipment.
  • Operate mobile equipment safely. Operate equipment at speeds that are consistent with the type of equipment, roadway conditions, grades, clearances, and visibility.
  • Test brakes, steering, and other safety devices. Correct safety defects before operating mobile equipment. Test mobile equipment before it is operated and before going up or down steep slopes.
  • Always wear seat belts.
  • Properly train miners. Ensure each operator of mobile equipment receives proper task training.
  • Remove unneeded materials. Keep personnel carriers free of unneeded materials.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Rescission Date:  August 5, 2020
MSHA’s Chargeability Review Committee reviewed the death certificate, autopsy report, medical information, and MSHA’s accident investigation findings and determined that the miner died from natural causes.  The  fatality is not chargeable to the mine operator.

2019 Fatality #24 / Coal #11

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On December 23, 2019, a miner was fatally injured while attempting to remove a splice pin from a 72-inch mainline conveyor belt splice.  A belt clamp and racket-style chain come along failed, releasing stored energy and causing the belt to shift upward and pin the miner against the frame of the belt tailpiece.

Best Practices: 

  • Identify, isolate, and control stored energy: mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and gravitational. Relieve belt tension by releasing the energy at the take-up/belt storage system.
  • Check your environment. Always be aware of an object in your work location that could move if stored energy is released.
  • Check your equipment. Ensure belt clamps and other blocking equipment are substantial and properly rated for preventing conveyor belt movement.
  • Securely install, anchor, inspect, and test blocking equipment to ensure that it is able to prevent movement.
  • Conduct complete and thorough examinations from safe locations to identify hazards and items needing maintenance or repair.
  • Ensure miners are trained on safe work procedures. Develop step-by-step procedures and review them with all miners before they perform non-routine maintenance tasks such as adding or removing conveyor belt.
  • Properly block belts to secure components against motion.
  • De-energize electrical power and lock and tag the visual disconnect before beginning a belt splice.
  • Never use the start and stop controls (belt switches). This switch does not disconnect the power conductors.
  • Lock out and tag out disconnecting devices. Only the person who installed them can remove the lock and tag, and only after completing the work.
  • Talk to your coworkers. After the splice has been completed and before removing your lock and tag, ensure everyone is clear of the conveyor belt and communicate to others that you will be restarting the belt.

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

2019 Fatality #19 / Coal #9

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On September 5, 2019, a continuous mining machine helper was fatally injured when he was struck by a battery-powered scoop. The victim was in the #3 entry behind a wing curtain that provided ventilation to the #3 right crosscut being mined. The scoop was trammed through the #3 left crosscut and struck the victim as it made a right-hand turn and passed through the wing curtain.

Best Practices: 

  • Install and maintain proximity detection systems on mobile section equipment.
  • Before operating mobile equipment, inform miners of your travel route – especially if changes are being made. Proceed with caution and watch for miners on foot.
  • STOP and SOUND an audible warning device before tramming equipment through ventilation curtains.
  • STAY ALERT around mobile section equipment. Communicate your presence and intended movements to equipment operators.
  • Use transparent curtains for ventilation controls on working sections.
  • Be aware that noise can cause moving equipment to not be heard.

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

2019 Fatality #20 / Coal #10

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On September 17, 2019, an electrician was electrocuted when he contacted an energized conductor. The victim contacted a 995 VAC connector while attempting to troubleshoot the scrubber motor circuit on a continuous mining machine.

Best Practices: 

  • Lock out and tag out the electrical circuit yourself. Never rely on others to do this for you.
  • BEFORE performing electrical work:
    • Open the circuit breaker or load break switch away from the enclosure to de-energize the incoming power cables or conductors.
    • Open the visual disconnect away from the enclosure to confirm that the incoming power cables or conductors have been de-energized.
    • Lock out and tag out the visual disconnect.
    • Ground the de-energized phase conductors.
  • Wear properly rated and well maintained electrical gloves when troubleshooting or testing energized circuits.  After the electrical problem has been found, follow the proper steps before performing electrical work.
  • Use properly rated electrical meters and non-contact voltage testers to ensure electrical circuits have been de-energized.
  • Only use qualified, trained workers. Ensure electrical work is performed by a qualified electrician or someone trained to do electrical work under a qualified electrician’s direct supervision.
  • Identify circuits and circuit breakers. Properly identify all electrical circuits and circuit breakers before troubleshooting or performing electrical work.

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

2019 Fatality #18 / Coal #8

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On August 29, 2019, a 25 year-old section foreman with 6 years of mining experience was fatally injured while exiting the longwall face. The victim was struck and covered by a portion of mine rib measuring 25 feet in length, 3 feet in depth, and 8 ½ feet in height.

Best Practices: 

  • Be aware of potential hazards when working or traveling near mine ribs.
  • Take additional safety precautions when geologic conditions, or an increase in mining height, could cause roof or rib hazards.
  • Train all miners to conduct thorough and more frequent examinations of the roof, face, and ribs when miners work or travel close to the longwall face.  Continuously monitor for changing conditions.
  • Install rib supports of proper length with surface area coverage, on cycle, and in a consistent pattern for the best protection against rib falls.

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

2019 Fatality #17 / Coal #7

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On August 20, 2019, a 20-year-old miner with 27 weeks of mining experience was fatally injured when he fell 40 feet down a shaft, to the concrete floor below. The victim was working with another miner, unloading a refuse kettle attached to an electric hoist, when he went over the unguarded edge of the shaft.

Best Practices: 

• Always use fall protection equipment and safety belts with lines, when working at heights and near openings where there is a danger of falling.
• Have properly designed gates, safety chains, handrails, guards, and ensure covers are securely in place at openings through which persons may fall.
• Always be aware of your surroundings and any hazards that may be present.
• Establish and discuss safe work procedures.
• Train personnel in safe work procedures regarding the use of handrails and fall protection equipment, and ensure their use.
• Conduct workplace examinations in order to identify and correct hazards prior to performing work. Report hazards that you cannot immediately correct to management.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf) Final Report (pdf).

2019 Fatality #15 / Coal #6

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On Wednesday, August 7, 2019, a 42-year-old preparation plant electrician with 15 years of mining experience was electrocuted when he contacted an energized connection of a 4,160 VAC electrical circuit. The victim was in the plant’s Motor Control Center (MCC) adjusting the linkage between the disconnect lever and the internal components of the 4,160 VAC panel supplying power to the plant feed belt motors.

Best Practices: 

  • Lock Out and Tag Out the electrical circuit yourself and NEVER rely on others to do this for you.
  • Control Hazardous Energy!  Design and arrange MCCs so electrical equipment can be serviced without hazards.  Install and maintain a main disconnecting means located at a readily accessible point capable of disconnecting all ungrounded conductors from the circuit to safely service the equipment.
  • Install warning labels on line side terminals of circuit breakers and switches indicating that the terminal lugs remain energized when the circuit breaker or switch is open.
  • Before performing troubleshooting or electrical type work, develop a plan, communicate and discuss the plan with qualified electricians to ensure the task can be completed without creating hazardous situations.
  • Follow these steps BEFORE entering an electrical enclosure or performing electrical work: (1) Locate the circuit breaker or load break switch away from the enclosure and open it to de-energize the incoming power cable(s) or conductors. (2) Locate the visual disconnect away from the enclosure and open it to provide visual evidence that the incoming power cable(s) or conductors have been de-energized. (3) Lock-out and tag-out the visual disconnect. (4) Ground the de-energized conductors.
  • Wear properly rated and maintained electrical gloves when troubleshooting or testing energized circuits.
  • Focus on the task at hand and ensure safe work practices to complete the service.  A second qualified electrician should double check to ensure you have followed all necessary safety precautions.
  • Use properly rated electrical meters and non-contact voltage testers to ensure electrical circuits have been de-energized.

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