Metal/Nonmetal

Fatality #8 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On September 7, 2011, a 30 year-old miner with I year of experience was killed at an underground gold mine. The victim was on a ramp waiting for a blast to be initiated. When the round was initiated, small rock and debris traveled through a 3-inch diameter diamond borehole, striking him.

Best Practices 

  • Plug a diamond drill hole that intersects any opening and map the hole.
  • During blasting operations, consider mine specific conditions, including diamond drill holes and rock strata, and establish mine policies and procedures to protect all persons.
  • When developing a blasting plan, make sure all drilled holes and open passageways that intersect the area to be blasted are known and taken into consideration before initiating any blast.
  • Use a central blasting system and schedule blasting between shifts or on off-shifts when no one is present.
  • Train persons to identify hazards associated with blasting activity and take action to correct them.
  • Never initiate a blast until the blast area has been determined to be safe and all persons have been evacuated from the designated blasting area.
  • Take special precautions to ensure that all roadways and regularly traveled areas are blocked to prevent access when blasting is being conducted.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #7 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On August 9, 2011, a 24-year-old skid-steer loader operator with 12 weeks of experience was killed at a sand and gravel operation. He accessed an elevated platform near an unguarded head pulley and became entangled in the operating conveyor system.

Best Practices

  •  Identify hazards around conveyor systems, design guards, and securely install the guarding.
  • Always provide and maintain guarding sufficient to prevent contact with moving machine parts.
  • Train persons to recognize the hazards associated with performing tasks.
  • Follow established lock-out and tag-out procedures before working on operating systems or moving machine parts.
  • Remain aware of potential hazards in your work area and take actions to eliminate the risks.
  • Do not wear loose fitting clothing when working near moving machine parts.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #6 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On June 4, 2011, a 39 year-old mill operator with 1 year and 14 weeks of experience was killed at a surface gold operation. The victim was sweeping in a crusher building when he fell through an opening approximately 60 feet to the floor below. The cover for the opening was not secured in place.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures. Identify and control all hazards. Train all persons to recognize and understand safe job procedures before beginning work.
  • Always use fall protection when working where a fall hazard exists.
  • Protect openings near travelways through which persons may fall by installing railings, barriers, or covers.
  • Keep temporary access opening covers secured in place at all times when the opening is not being used.
  • Ensure that areas are barricaded or have warning signs posted at all approaches if hazards exist that are not immediately obvious.

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

 

Fatality #5 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On April 25, 2011, a 31 year- old drill operator with 6 weeks of experience was killed at an underground crushed stone operation. He was walking in a crosscut when a slab of roof, approximately 5 feet wide by 6 feet long by 10 inches thick, struck him.

Best Practices

  • Train persons to identify work place hazards and take action to correct them.
  • Design, install, and maintain a support system to control the ground in places where persons work or travel.
  • Examine and test ground conditions in areas where work is to be performed prior to work commencing and as ground conditions warrant during the shift.
  • When ground conditions create a hazard to persons, install additional ground support before other work is permitted in the affected area.
  • Be alert to any change of ground conditions.

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

Fatality #4 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On April 15, 2011, a 53 year- old miner with 26 years of experience was killed at an underground silver operation. He was wetting a muck pile in a stope when a fall of back, approximately 90 feet long, struck him.

Best Practices

  • Design, install, and maintain a support system to control the ground in places where persons work or travel.
  • Examine and test ground conditions in areas where work is to be performed prior to work commencing and as ground conditions warrant during the shift.
  • When ground conditions create a hazard to persons, install additional ground support before other work is permitted in the affected area.
  • Analyze extraction ratios and backfill methods and characteristics to improve stability.
  • Be alert to any change of ground conditions.

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

Fatality #3 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On February 24, 2011, a 56 year- old equipment operator with 10 years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel operation. He was cleaning a tramp metal magnet on a belt conveyor when it started.

Best Practices

  • Establish policies and procedures for conducting specific tasks on belt conveyors.
  • Ensure that persons are task trained and understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Deenergize and block belt conveyors against motion before working near a drive, head, tail, take-up pulleys, and magnets.
  • Lock-out/tag-out all power sources before working on belt conveyors.
  • Maintain communications with all persons performing the task. Before starting belt conveyors, ensure that all persons are clear.
  • Provide and maintain a safe means of access to all working places.
  • Sound an audible alarm if the entire length of the belt conveyor is not visible from the starting switch.

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

Fatality #2 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On March 2, 2011, a 51 year- old contract superintendent with 24 years of experience was killed at a phosphate rock operation. The victim was attempting to join two ends of 24-inch diameter pipe. Two excavators were being used to position the pipe in the saddle of a pipe fuser when the pipe slipped out and struck him.

Best Practices

  • Establish safe work procedures and identify and remove hazards before beginning a task. Follow the equipment manufacturer’s procedures for the work being performed to ensure that all hazards have been addressed.
  • Train persons to recognize the hazards associated with performing a task.
  • Repair broken or damaged equipment immediately.
  • Block material against motion to assure energy cannot be released while the task is performed.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Monitor personnel routinely to determine that safe work procedures are followed.

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

Fatality #1 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On February 12, 2011, a 41 year- old grader operator with 15 years of experience was killed at a phosphate rock operation. The victim and a coworker were standing and talking when he was struck by a grader that was backing up. The accident occurred in a staging area where equipment operators were inspecting their equipment before the shift.

Best Practices

  • Train all persons to recognize work place hazards and to stay clear of normal paths of travel for mobile equipment.
  • Regularly monitor work practices and reinforce their importance. Take immediate action to correct unsafe conditions or work practices.
  • Designate a specific area, clear of mobile equipment, where persons can meet before the shift starts.
  • Install cameras and collision avoidance systems on mobile equipment to protect persons.
  • Ensure that illumination is adequate at the work site.
  • Before moving mobile equipment, look in the direction of travel, use all mirrors, cameras, backup alarms, and installed proximity detection devices to ensure no one is in the intended path.
  • Sound the horn to warn persons of movement and allow time to move to a safe location.
  • Communicate with mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence.
  • Wear high visibility clothing when working around mobile equipment.
  • Consider use of wearable strobes when near mobile equipment.

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

MSHA Fatality Summaries for 2010

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MSHA has posted Fatality Summaries for both the Coal and Metal/Nonmetal Industries. Each summarizes the various task and equipment groupings. The coal report includes information on each of the 19 fatalities that occurred in addition to the 29 killed in the Upper Big Branch explosion. It also include a look at the most common causes of all coal fatalities from 2001 to 2010 and provides suggested best practices. Also included are two Mine Safety Alerts for Powered Haulage and Roof Falls.
The Metal/Nonmetal report includes the same type of information for that industry with a number of colorful posters highlighting Machinery, LOTO, and Contractor Safety.

Fatality #24 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On December 29, 2010, a 41 year- old laborer with 4 years of experience died at a dimension stone operation. The victim was replacing a hydraulic lift arm cylinder on a skid steer loader. The lift arms suddenly lowered, pinning him against the frame of the machine.

Best Practices

  • Establish safe work procedures and identify and remove hazards before beginning repair or maintenance tasks. Follow the equipment manufacturer’s procedures for the work being performed to ensure that all hazards have been addressed.
  • Train persons to recognize the hazards associated with performing repair or maintenance tasks.
  • Prior to performing repair or maintenance tasks, turn the power off and block any raised component against accidentally lowering.
  • Assign a sufficient number of persons to repair or maintenance tasks to ensure the tasks can be safely performed.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing repair or maintenance tasks.
  • Monitor personnel routinely to determine that safe work procedures are followed.

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