Metal/Nonmetal

MNM Fatality – 1/7/22

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On January 7, 2022, a 49 year-old front-end loader operator with 15 years of mining experience died when a large rock fell from the mine roof, crushing the cab of the front-end loader.  When the accident occurred, the victim was loading material from a recently blasted shot. 

Best Practices: 

  • Scale the back and ribs before performing work in an area.
  • Conduct examinations of the back, face, and ribs where miners work and travel.
  • Install suitable ground support where conditions warrant.
  • Use geologic hazard mapping to identify adverse conditions and be aware of changing ground conditions.
  • Train miners to identify workplace hazards and take action to correct them.

Additional Information: 

This is the first fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Fall of Roof or Back.”

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

MNM Fatality 12/13/21 Underground

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On December 13, 2021, a miner was fatally injured when he became entangled in the drill steel of the roof bolting machine he was operating.

Best Practices: 

  • Before performing maintenance and repair work on roof bolting machines or other equipment:
    • Turn off the engine.
    • Securely block equipment against hazardous motion by following manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Never touch or hold the drill steel while it is rotating.
  • Do not wear loose-fitting or bulky clothing when working around any machinery with rotating parts.
  • Train miners to perform their assigned tasks safely.

Additional Information: 

This is the 36th fatality reported in 2021, and the seventh classified as “Machinery.”

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

MNM Fatality – 12/6/21

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On December 6, 2021, a miner was fatally injured while he was working in a pan feeder under a chute.  While attempting to remove angle iron that blocked the chute’s gate from closing, he was engulfed by material that fell from a surge pile above the chute.  The victim died from his injuries on December 10, 2021.

Best Practices: 

  • Do not allow miners to travel on or below material that is on or above the sides of a bin, hopper, or chute.
  • Provide mechanical devices or other effective means to protect miners from entrapment by caving material.
  • Provide and maintain a safe means of access for all working places.
  • De-energize, lock out, tag out, and block machinery or equipment against hazardous motion before performing repairs or maintenance.
  • Examine work areas and equipment.  Correct defects, or report them to the operator.
  • Train miners to perform their assigned tasks safely.

Additional Information: 

This is the 35th fatality reported in 2021, and the second classified as “Confined Space.”

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

MNM Fatality – 11/17/21

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On November 17, 2021, an 18 year-old* customer truck driver with no mining experience* was electrocuted after the tarping mechanism on the trailer contacted a high-voltage overhead power line at a mine with 10 employees*.  While exiting the cab of the truck, the victim contacted the energized truck and received a nonfatal electrical shock.  When he tried to reenter the cab of the truck, he was electrocuted.

Best Practices: 

  • Construct roadways to provide adequate width and clearance between mobile equipment and energized high-voltage power lines, as required by the National Electrical Safety Code.  Evaluate clearances periodically to account for changing physical and environmental conditions.
  • Provide and maintain a safe location for truck drivers to tarp their loads.
  • Check for overhead hazards when raising and lowering truck beds and tarps.
  • If your vehicle contacts an energized power line:
    • Stay in your vehicle.
    • Immediately call for help on a mobile phone or radio.
    • If staying in the vehicle is unsafe, jump away from the vehicle without contacting the vehicle and the ground at the same time.  Once on the ground, hop away from the power line for at least 40 feet.
  • Post readily visible warning signs or signals when overhead hazards exist.

Additional Information: 

This is the 32nd fatality reported in 2021, and the first classified as “Electrical.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

MNM Fatality – 10/20/21

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On October 20, 2021, a 50-year-old mechanic with 12 years of experience was fatally injured at a mine with 10 employees* when he was struck by the bucket of an excavator while assisting in repositioning a hopper.

Best Practices: 

  • Never position yourself between mobile equipment and a stationary object.
  • Do not work in pinch points where inadvertent movement could cause injury.
  • Carefully inspect and secure the pins in an excavator’s bucket before each use.
  • Before beginning work, analyze all tasks, establish safe work procedures, train miners, and eliminate hazards.  Be alert for hazards that may be created while the work is performed.
  • Identify and apply methods to protect personnel from hazards associated with the work performed.
  • Monitor all employees to ensure safe work procedures, including safe work positioning, are followed.

Additional Information: 

This is the 30th fatality reported in 2021, and the 5th classified as “Machinery” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

MNM Fatality – 10/1/21

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On October 1, 2021, a 25-year-old Plant Operator with 4 years and 11 weeks experience* was fatally injured at a mine with 3 employees* when he entered a surge bin used as a feed hopper and was engulfed by material.

Best Practices: 

  • Design surge bins and feed hoppers to prevent blockages.  Equip bins and hoppers with mechanical devices or other effective means of handling material, so miners are not required to enter or work inside bins and hoppers.
  • Provide a safe means of access that allows miners to conduct tasks, such as removing large rocks and other material, safely.
  • Ensure handrails and gates are substantially constructed, properly secured, and free of defects.
  • Don’t stand on material stored in bins.  Material stored in a bin can bridge over the hopper outlet, creating a hidden void beneath the material’s surface.
  • Establish policies and procedures to remove blockages in bins and hoppers safely.  Train and ensure miners follow these policies and procedures.
  • Wear an appropriate safety harness, lanyard, and lifeline, and make sure these are maintained, in good condition, and securely anchored.  Assign another miner to constantly monitor and adjust the lifeline, as needed.

Additional Information: 

This is the 28th fatality reported in 2021, and the third classified as “Handling Material.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

MNM Fatality – 9/14/21

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On September 14, 2021, a 70 year old* individual with no mining experience* was fatally injured at a mine with 3 employees* when an excavated trench collapsed and engulfed him.  The victim was prospecting for gold inside the trench with a metal detector when the trench collapsed.

Best Practices: 

  • Stay clear of potentially unstable areas. Do not enter trenches if the trench walls are not properly supported for the full height or sloped to a safe angle.
  • Do not abandon trenches or excavations without removing the potential of collapse by filling or sloping the walls to a stable angle.
  • Carefully examine ground conditions before performing tasks near excavated embankments, trenches, or ditches.
  • Follow OSHA Trenching and Excavation Safety Guidelines located at https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha2226.pdf
  • Train miners about the inherent dangers of trenching work.
  • Keep visitors within sight and sound of a responsible person.

Additional Information: 

The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data only and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality. (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

MNM Fatality – 9/21/21

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On September 21, 2021, a 68-year-old contract truck driver with 20 years of experience was fatally injured while operating a haul truck.  The victim was found lying in front of his truck near the edge of a haul road.  The truck was upright and in the opposite direction of the expected route of travel.

Best Practices: 

  • Establish a site traffic plan to include traffic routes, speed limits, and access points.  Train miners to follow all traffic controls.
  • Conduct pre-operational examinations to identify and repair defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before placing equipment into service.
  • Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with conditions of roadways, grades, curves, and traffic.
  • Maintain control while operating mobile equipment.  Never exceed a vehicle’s design capabilities, operating ranges, load limits, and safety features.
  • Always wear a seat belt when operating mobile equipment.
  • Never exit a moving vehicle.  Remain in the seat with your seat belt secured.

Additional Information: 

This is the 27th fatality reported in 2021, and the twelfth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

MNM Fatality – 9/15/21

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On September 15, 2021, a 33-year-old contract welder with nearly 11 years experience in mining and 7 weeks experience at the task he was performing* was fatally injured at a mine with 3700 employees and 115 contractors* when he crawled 40 feet into a 30-inch-diameter stainless-steel pipe.  The victim was welding a joint from the outside of the pipe, and then entered the pipe to troubleshoot issues related to argon gas leakage.  Coworkers found him unresponsive.

Best Practices: 

  • Remove dangerous working materials and gasses by means of a high volume of fresh airflow before entering confined spaces.
  • Assess risks and hazards before beginning work activities to determine what personal protective equipment (PPE) and atmospheric testing is needed prior to entry and during work execution.
  • Test atmospheres from a safe location with a calibrated gas monitor capable of detecting harmful and noxious gasses before entering and continuously while working in confined spaces.
  • Designate a miner to maintain contact with the miner entering a confined space in the form of visual or voice contact, or signal lines.
  • Ensure miners use the appropriate PPE, including dry, flame-retardant clothing and respiratory protection equipment, such as powered air-purifying respirators.
  • Train miners to identify confined spaces and understand their associated hazards.

Additional Information: 

This is the 26th fatality reported in 2021, and the first classified as “Other.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

MNM Fatality – 8/3/21

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On August 3, 2021, a 62 year old Utility Person with 14 years 48 weeks experience* was run over by a customer tractor-trailer while walking to his normal work area at a mine in Bridgeport, TX with 83 employees*.

Best Practices: 

  • Assure adequate illumination sufficient to provide safe working conditions.
  • Communicate with mobile equipment operators and make eye contact to ensure they acknowledge your presence. Be aware of the location and traffic patterns of mobile equipment in your work area.
  • Wear high visibility clothing when working around mobile equipment.
  • Wear strobe lights near mobile equipment.
  • Assure traffic controls provide for safe movement of mobile equipment and are followed. Operate mobile equipment at reduced speeds in work areas.
  • Stay clear of normal paths of travel for mobile equipment and train all persons to recognize work place hazards.

Additional Information: 

This is the 23rd fatality reported in 2021, and the ninth classified as “Powered Haulage.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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