Coal

2019 Fatality #5 / Coal #3

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On Thursday, March 7, 2019, a 38-year-old miner with 10 years of mining experience received fatal injuries while he was working on the pad of a highwall mining machine (HWM).  The miner was contacted in a pinch point between a post and a section of the HWM (i.e. push beam) that was being removed as part of the normal mining cycle.

Best Practices: 

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures for removing push beams.  Identify and control all hazards and develop methods to protect miners.
  • Determine the proper working position to avoid pinch points.  Monitor personnel to ensure safe work procedures are followed.
  • Always follow the equipment manufacturer’s recommended maintenance procedures and discuss these procedures during training.
  • Train miners to recognize potential hazardous conditions and understand safe job procedures before beginning work. 

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

Coal Fatality – 1/14/19

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On Monday, January 14, 2019, a 56-year-old survey crew member with approximately 30 years of mining experience was fatally injured after he was struck by a loaded shuttle car. The victim was measuring the mining height in an entry that was part of the travelway used by the shuttle car to access the section feeder.
Best Practices:

  • Before performing work in an active haulage travelway, communicate your position and intended movements to mobile equipment operators and park mobile equipment until work has been completed.
  • Never assume mobile equipment operators can see you.  Always wear reflective clothing and permissible strobe lights to ensure high visibility when traveling or working where mobile equipment is operating.
  • Be aware of blind spots on mobile equipment when traveling in the same areas where mobile equipment operates.
  • Place visible warning and barrier devices at all entrances to areas prior to performing work in active travelways of mobile equipment.
  • Operate mobile equipment at safe speeds and sound audible warnings when visibility is obstructed, making turns, reversing direction, etc.  Ensure sound levels of audible warnings are significantly higher than ambient noise.
  • Ensure directional lights are on when equipment is being operated.  Maintain all lights provided on mobile equipment in proper working condition at all times.

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

Coal Fatality – 1/5/19

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On Saturday, January 5, 2019, a 55-year-old contract miner received fatal injuries when he was pinned between a pneumatically powered air lock equipment door and the concrete rib barrier located near the shaft bottom.
Best Practices:

  • Design and maintain ventilation controls, including airlock doors to provide air separation and permit travel between or within air courses or entries.
  • Ensure that airlock doors are designed and maintained to prevent simultaneous opening of both sets of doors.
  • Ensure miners are trained in the proper use of automatic doors and procedures to follow in the event the doors malfunction.
  • Provide means to override automatic airlock doors and allow manual operation in case of an emergency.
  • Keep the path of automatic doors clear of miners and equipment.
  • When changes in ventilation are made, test automatic doors to ensure they operate safely under the new conditions.
  • Perform thorough examinations of airlock doors to assure safe operating conditions.  When a hazardous condition is found, remove the doors from service until they are repaired.

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

Fatality #12 for Coal 2018

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c1812-fatalOn Thursday, November 29, 2018, a mechanic with 29 years of mining experience was severely injured when hydraulic pressure propelled a piece of metal out of a hydraulic fitting that he was examining, and the metal penetrated his head.  The miner died on December 30, 2018, as a result of his injuries.
Best Practices: 

  • Train miners to recognize hazards in pressurized systems before troubleshooting or performing work on such systems.
  • Consult and follow the manufacturer’s recommended safe work procedures.
  • Position yourself in a safe location, away from any potential sources of failure, while troubleshooting or testing pressurized systems.  When possible, examine and inspect hydraulic components while they are de-pressurized.
  • Remove pressure from the hydraulic system before beginning modifications or repairs.
  • Make modifications or repairs with proper components and parts that are adequately rated and specifically designed for such purposes.

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

Fatality #11 for Coal 2018

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c1811-fatal.jpgOn December 29, 2018, a 25-year old dredge operator, with 21 weeks of experience, was fatally injured at a coal mine. The victim drowned when the dredge he was operating sank.
Best Practices: 

  • Task train all persons to recognize all potential hazardous conditions and ensure they understand safe job procedures for elimination of the hazards before beginning work.
  • Examine work areas and equipment during the shift for hazards that may be created as a result of the work being performed.
  • Conduct a risk analysis before starting non-routine tasks to ensure that all hazards are evaluated and eliminated.
  • Establish procedures requiring persons to alert coworkers when they are in danger.

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

Fatality #10 for Coal 2018

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c1810-fatalOn Thursday, December 20, 2018, a mobile bridge carrier (MBC) operator, with 5 years and 21 weeks of mining experience, was fatally injured while operating his detached, remote-controlled machine during the mining process.  As the continuous haulage system pulled forward in preparation of mining, he was crushed between the coal rib and the No. 2 mobile bridge conveyor that was between both mobile bridge carriers.
Best Practices: 

  • Maintain communications between equipment operators of a continuous haulage system prior to starting or tramming any component of the system.
  • Institute and maintain a high level of equipment-specific training for all operators, which includes proper operator positioning during machine operation and also protocols for certain scenarios.
  • Do not position yourself in pinch-point areas while remotely operating equipment.  Ensure that equipment operators remain in the confines of the equipment cab, if equipped, while the machine is running.
  • Always perform thorough pre-operational examinations on mobile equipment to identify any defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.
  • Be familiar with the de-energizing switches on your machine and remote-control unit. “Panic-out” at the first sign of a hazardous situation.

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

Fatality #9 for Coal 2018

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On Tuesday, December 11, 2018, a 38-year-old miner was fatally injured at a surface coal mine.  The miner was operating a front-end loader to move shot rock near the toe of a 63-foot-high highwall.  A large portion of the highwall collapsed onto the front-end loader, crushing the operator cab and fatally injuring the miner.
Best Practices: 

  • Safely examine highwalls from as many perspectives as possible (bottom, sides, and top/crest).  Look for signs of cracking and other geologic features that could lead to instability and secure or remove hazardous conditions.  Conduct additional examinations as ground conditions warrant, especially during periods of changing weather conditions.
  • Follow the approved ground control plan at all times to ensure the safe control of highwalls.
  • Use mining methods that ensure highwall stability and safe working conditions and do not excavate the base of the highwall.
  • Train all miners to recognize hazardous highwall conditions.
  • Operate mobile equipment perpendicular to the highwall or with the operator’s cab positioned away from the highwall.  Ensure that miners work, travel, and operate mining equipment at safe distances from the highwall.
  • Use proper blasting techniques for forming highwalls and thoroughly examine the highwall after each blasting operation.

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

Fatality #8 for Coal 2018

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On Wednesday, October 17, 2018, a 33-year-old auger helper with 3 days of total surface mining experience received fatal injuries during auger mining activities. The victim was attempting to move a section of auger steel by using the onboard crane when he was struck in the chest.
Best Practices: 

  • Maintain equipment in safe operating condition. Excessive pressure in a hydraulic circuit can drastically alter the control of booms, etc., creating serious hazards.
  • Establish policies and procedures for auger mining including, safe work procedures for removing auger steel from the auger tray.
  • Task train miners to recognize all potential hazards and understand safe job procedures before beginning work.
  • Monitor personnel routinely to ensure safe work procedures are being followed. Unauthorized persons should be kept clear of the work area.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that exposes you to hazards. Stand clear of suspended loads having the potential of becoming off-balanced while being moved.

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

Fatality #7 for Coal 2018

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On Friday, September 7, 2018, a 60-year-old haul truck operator with 1 year of total mining experience received burn injuries while attempting to escape from the cab of the burning haul truck he was operating.  Due to complications associated with his injuries, the victim died five days later.
Best Practices: 

  • Thoroughly examine all haulage equipment and repair safety defects before placing equipment into service.  Follow the original equipment manufacturers maintenance recommendations.
  • Check for accumulations of combustible materials, cracked or blistered hoses, and uninsulated wires.
  • Be alert to changes in the way the equipment sounds or to a visible plume of exhaust coming from the exhaust system.
  • Conduct risk assessments on all equipment to determine safe exit locations for required escape and evacuation plans.
  • Establish and keep current an Escape and Evacuation Plan for exiting equipment in the event of a fire (§ 77.1101).  Train employees on contents of this plan.
  • Install well designed stairs or ladders to the equipment at both ends for an alternate escape.
  • Ensure fire suppression systems are properly maintained and protected from damage.  Install automatic fire suppression systems and train miners on their use.

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

Fatality #6 for Coal 2018

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On Tuesday, September 11, 2018, a mobile bridge conveyor (MBC) operator, with 8 weeks of mining experience, was fatally injured during the mining process.  The continuous mining machine (CMM) and attached MBCs had been backed out of a completed cut.  While the CMM was being repositioned, it moved the attached MBCs and crushed the victim between his MBC and the coal rib.
Best Practices: 

  • Frequently communicate with other MBC operators before starting or tramming any component of the system.  Always be in a location where other MBC operators can readily see or communicate with you.
  • Install latching emergency stop switches so MBC operators can actuate them to prevent machine movement when they leave the operator’s cab or position.  See PIB No. P11-16 for information on man-in position switches. https://arlweb.msha.gov/regs/complian/PIB/2011/pib11-16.pdf
  • Stay out of MBC Red Zones if the CMM or any of the MBCs are energized.
  • Be familiar with how the de-energizing switches on your machine operate and immediately actuate them the moment a hazard is recognized.
  • Install man-in-position switches on mobile bridge conveyor systems so all MBC operators know everyone is in a safe position before initiating machine movement.

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