A mobile maintenance mechanic was driving on the pit haulage road when the service truck he was operating left the road, hit a berm, and flipped onto its side, ejecting the miner. The miner died at the scene on November 5, 2019.
Best Practices:
Always wear seat belts when operating mobile equipment.
Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment.
Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any safety defects before operating mobile equipment.
[Note: The Fatality Alert for this first appeared 10/16/19. As noted below the incident didn’t become a fatality until the victim died on 6/27/19.]
On June 15, 2018, a miner fell from a man basket when the weldment securing the basket to the shovel failed. The miner died of his injuries on June 27, 2019.
Best Practices
Check for damage. Routinely examine metal structures for signs of weakness (corrosion, fatigue cracks, bent/buckling beams, braces or columns, damaged/loose/missing connectors, broken welds, etc.).
Replace cracked equipment fast. Small cracks in equipment can quickly grow into a complete fracture. Take cracked mechanical components out of service immediately.
Know the limits. Consult with the manufacturer to determine the service/fatigue life of mechanical systems or parts.
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.
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.
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.
On Friday August 15, 2019, a 44-year-old contract electrician with 10 weeks of mining experience was electrocuted when he contacted a 120V cable while working inside a fire suppression system’s electrical panel.
Best Practices:
Ensure miners receive proper training on all electrical related tasks.
Ensure that circuit breakers and switches are properly labeled.
Properly lock-out and tag-out electrical circuits prior to working on them.
Wear properly rated and well maintained personal protective equipment while troubleshooting or testing energized circuits.
Use properly insulated tools when performing electrical work.
Use properly rated electrical meters and non-contact voltage testers to ensure electrical circuits have been de-energized prior to performing electrical work.
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.
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.
On Wednesday, July 31, 2019, a 62-year-old contractor with 30 years of mining experience sustained fatal injuries when three methane ignitions occurred in an air shaft. The victim and three contractors were preparing to seal the intake air shaft of an underground mine. At the time of the ignitions, the victim was trimming metal so that it would fit inside wooden forms and was in direct line of the ignition forces.
Best Practices:
Do not use
cutting torches near unventilated air shafts. Allow no sparking or hot
metal from grinding or torching to drop into an air shaft opening.
Install non-combustible barriers below welding, cutting, or soldering
operations in or over a shaft.
Conduct proper examinations for methane immediately before and
during welding, cutting, soldering or using any spark causing tool
(grinder, drills, etc.), especially in areas likely to contain methane.
At an air shaft, monitor for methane continuously, at appropriate
levels, including the bottom of the air shaft.
Use properly calibrated methane detectors that can detect concentrations greater than 5%.
Be aware of potential hazards when working around a shaft opening.
Take additional safety precautions when the barometric pressure changes.
Continuously ventilate an air shaft until the last moment before pouring concrete to seal the shaft.
Make sure all employees are tied off while working around the shaft opening.
Provide adequate training on the characteristics of mine gases and
in the use of handheld gas detectors, including the use of extendable
probes or pumps.
On Friday, August 2, 2019, a 39-year old contract equipment operator, with 16 years of experience, was killed while descending the main haul road in a fuel/lube truck. The victim radioed that the truck’s brakes did not work and after traveling approximately one mile down a 7% grade, struck a runaway truck ramp’s berm causing it to overturn. The victim was not wearing a seatbelt.
Best Practices:
Always wear seat belts when operating mobile equipment.
Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment.
Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any defects affecting safety in a timely manner prior to operating mobile equipment.
Promptly remove equipment from service if defects affecting safety are found. Never rely on engine brakes and transmission retarders as substitutes for keeping brakes properly maintained.
Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
Ensure that berms are adequate for the vehicles present on site. Runaway truck ramps should be constructed to accommodate out of control mobile equipment traveling at a high rate of speed. The length, width, grade, and approach to the runaway truck ramp should be sufficient for the mobile equipment used on the haul road.
