Mining Fatalities

Fatality #4 & #5 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c0405On Monday, May 12, 2014, a 48-year-old continuous mining machine operator with 26 years of mining experience, and a 46-year-old mobile roof support operator/roof bolter with 3½ years of mining experience, were fatally injured as a result of a coal rib burst. The section crew was retreat mining in the #6 entry of the 4 East Mains Panel. They were mining the second lift of the left pillar block when the accident occurred.

Best Practices
  • Conduct frequent and thorough examinations of the roof, face, and ribs.  Be alert for changing conditions.  When hazardous conditions are detected, danger off access to the area until it is made safe for work and travel.
  • Ensure that the approved roof control plan support provisions are suitable for the geological conditions at the mine and that the plan is followed.
  • Train all miners in the requirements of the approved roof control plan and instruct miners to follow the plan at all times.
  • Ensure that the pillar dimensions and the mining method are suitable for the conditions, and that roof and rib control methods are adequate for the depth of cover.  Consider the potential effects of any mines above or below the active workings.
  • Develop a map of geological features and unusual conditions in order to develop the best mining plan that addresses the potentially adverse roof and rib conditions that may be present.

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

Fatality #10 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m10
On April 28, 2014, a 53-year-old miner with 32 years of experience was killed at an underground gold mine. The victim was drilling with a jackleg drill when his clothing became entangled in the drill steel of the machine.
Best Practices

  • Ensure that persons are trained, including task-training, to understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use methods to properly protect persons.
  • Conduct work place examinations before beginning any work.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Stop the drill rotation when performing tasks near the rotating steel.
  • Provide safe routing of hoses and cables so they are not close to the rotation of the drill.
  • Do not assign a person to work alone in areas where hazardous conditions exist that would endanger his or her safety.
  • Do not wear loose fitting clothing when working around drilling machinery.
  • Keep work areas clean and free of tripping hazards.

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

Fatality #9 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m09On February 27, 2014, a 27-year-old contract mechanic with 2 years of experience was injured at an underground limestone mine.  The victim was repairing a hydraulic pump on a scaler when fell from an attached walkway approximately five feet to the ground.  He was airlifted to a hospital where he died the next day.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that persons are trained, including task-training, to understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use methods to properly protect persons.
  • Conduct work place examinations before beginning any work.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Ensure effective gates, safety chains, or railings are used and properly maintained where openings may exist that could pose a hazard.

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

Fatality #8 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m08On April 24, 2014, a 50-year-old contract dozer operator with 23 years of experience was killed at a fire clay mine.  He had been operating a dozer pushing clay in the pit and was found lying five feet behind the dozer.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that persons are trained, including task-training, to understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use methods to properly protect persons.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Maintain control of mobile equipment while it is in motion.
  • Set the parking brake and lower the bull dozer blade to the ground before dismounting equipment.
  • Never jump from mobile equipment.
  • Always wear a seat belt when operating mobile equipment.
  • Monitor persons routinely to determine safe work procedures are followed.

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

Fatality #7 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m07On April 17, 2014, a 58-year-old truck driver with 3½ years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel mine. An excavator was loading material in a haul truck parked at the pit. When the victim exited the truck, he was struck by the excavator bucket and pinned against the truck.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use methods to properly protect persons.
  • Task train all persons to recognize all potential hazardous conditions and to understand safe job procedures for elimination of the hazards before beginning work.
  • Ensure that haul truck operators remain in their trucks when being loaded.
  • Communicate with mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence.  Stay in the line of sight with mobile equipment operators.
  • Ensure that you make eye contact with mobile equipment operators before approaching their work areas.  Never assume the equipment operator sees you.
  • Never place yourself in a location where equipment operators can’t see you.
  • Before operating equipment, always ensure other miners are clear and safely  positioned.
  • Monitor persons routinely to determine safe work procedures are followed.

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

Fatality #5 & #6 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m05-06On April 11, 2014, a 53-year-old scaler with 8 years of experience and a 29-year old scaler with 8 years of experience were killed at an underground limestone mine.  The miners were in a basket on a boom truck scaling a pillar about 40 feet above the mine floor.  Large slabs of rock fell from the rib and struck an outrigger and the back of the truck, causing the boom to fall to the mine floor. 

Best Practices

  • Establish safe work procedures and train all persons to recognize and understand these procedures.
  • Discuss safe work procedures before beginning work.  Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect persons.
  • Always examine, sound, and test for loose ground in areas before starting to work, after blasting, and as ground conditions warrant.
  • Always wear fall protection where there is a danger of falling.
  • Scale loose material from a safe position and location.
  • Test for loose material frequently during work activities.
  • Install ground support in roof and ribs where conditions warrant.
  • Use equipment with a reach that reduces the possibility of the equipment being struck by falling material.
  • Position equipment to keep outriggers and boom from being struck by falling material.

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

Fatality #4 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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FAB14m04_clip_image004FAB14m04_clip_image002On March 27, 2014, a 64-year-old foreman with 32 years of experience was seriously injured when he was struck by a section of plastic water pipe as it was being moved by an excavator.  The victim was transported to a hospital where he died on March 30, 2014, as a result of his injuries.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect persons.
  • Task train all persons to recognize all potential hazardous conditions and to understand safe job procedures for elimination of the hazards before beginning work.
  • Wear suitable hard hats where falling objects may create a hazard.
  • Stay clear of a suspended load.
  • Attach taglines to loads that may require steadying or guidance while suspended.
  • Implement measures to ensure persons are properly positioned and protected from hazards while performing a task.
  • Monitor persons routinely to determine safe work procedures are followed.

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

Fatality #3 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c03On Tuesday, March 25, 2014, at approximately 1:45 a.m., a 41-year-old mechanic trainee with 23 weeks of mining experience was killed while working on a belt feeder. The victim was cutting through the inner left side plate of the crawler assembly that connects the hopper jack assemblies to the crawler frame. When the cut was completed, the crawler assembly pivoted upward, pinning the victim between the crawler track and the frame of the feeder.

Best Practices
  • Ensure that all stored energy is released or controlled before initiating repairs.
  • Securely block equipment against all hazardous motion at all times while performing maintenance work. Take extra precautions if it is possible for the equipment to move in multiple directions.
  • Always be aware of your location in relation to machine parts that can move.  Examine work areas for hazards that may be created as a result of the work being performed.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work.  Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed to ensure miners are protected.
  • Study the manufacturer’s maintenance manual for safety precautions and recommended blocking securing procedures BEFORE initiating repairs.
  • If specified, always use the manufacturer’s safety device(s) or features for securing components against motion.
  • See additional information on blocking against motion here.

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

Fatality #3 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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FAB14m03_clip_image002
On February 28, 2014, a 50-year old supervisor with 27 years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel mine.  The victim was at a backfill site and approached an 80-foot high bank when it failed, engulfing him.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect persons.
  • Task train all persons to recognize all potential hazardous conditions that can decrease bank or slope stability and ensure they understand safe job procedures for elimination of the hazards.
  • Prior to beginning work and as ground conditions warrant during the shift, examine all pit, highwall, slope, and bank conditions.  Be especially vigilant for these conditions after each rain, freeze, or thaw.
  • Use mining methods that ensure pit, highwall, slope, and bank stability and safe working conditions.
  • Correct hazardous conditions by working from a safe location.
  • Stay clear of potentially unstable areas.

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

Fatality #2 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c02On Friday, February 21, 2014, a 24-year-old continuous mining machine operator with 5½ years of mining experience was killed when he was pinned between the end of the boom of a continuous mining machine and the right coal rib. The miner was tramming the remote controlled continuous mining machine in the last open crosscut toward the Number 1 entry.

Best Practices
  • Install and maintain proximity detection systems to protect personnel and eliminate accidents of this type. See the proximity detection single source page on the MSHA website.
  • Ensure everyone, including the equipment operator, is outside the machine turning radius before starting or moving equipment.
  • Develop policies and procedures for starting and tramming self-propelled equipment and especially remote controlled continuous mining machines. Implement measures to assure their use which includes training all miners that are exposed to the hazards.
  • Avoid the “RED ZONE” areas when operating or working near a continuous mining machine especially when setting over or place changing a remote controlled continuous mining machine.
  • When moving continuous mining machines where the left and right traction drives are operated independently, use the low tram speed.
  • Assign another miner to assist the continuous mining machine operator when it is being moved or repositioned.
  • Frequently review, retrain, and discuss avoiding the “RED ZONE” areas.

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