Mining Fatalities

Fatality #19 for Coal Mining 2012

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On Friday, November 30, 2012, a 58-year old bulldozer operator with 37 years of experience was killed when an upstream slope failure occurred at a coal slurry impoundment. The victim was grading the upstream slope at the time of the accident. The bulldozer was carried into the pool area during the slide and sank with the victim on board.

Best Practices
  • Provide hazard training to all personnel working on or near an impoundment for recognition of hazards associated with the impoundment and pushout work, such as surface cracks or bubbling in water/slurry.
  • Review safety precautions for upstream construction with equipment operators, along with material handling safety policies and designated storage areas for safety equipment.
  • Provide oversight by knowledgeable personnel at the work site. Assure that a person is present who is familiar with the mechanics of upstream construction and can recognize and have unsafe work practices and conditions corrected immediately.
  • Remove all personnel to a safe location when unsafe impoundment conditions are present.
  • Prior to initiating push-outs, expose the slurry delta by pumping excess surface water down to the maximum extent possible, and for as long as possible.
  • Use two-way radios or similar devices on all equipment during impoundment related construction, so that potential hazards can be communicated quickly with equipment operators and personnel.
  • Maintain a work skiff with oars and life jackets near the pushout area.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #18 for Coal Mining 2012

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On Friday, November 30, 2012, a 27-year old electrician was killed when he was caught between a battery-powered maintenance scoop and the cutting head of a continuous mining machine. The accident occurred on a working section while the electrician was performing maintenance work on the cutting head of the continuous mining machine, which was parked in an entry.

Best Practices
  • Be aware of your location relative to mobile equipment movement and never position yourself between equipment in motion and a stationary object.
  • Mark the area where equipment is parked for maintenance with conspicuous reflective material, flashing lights, or other warning signs on both sides of the entry or crosscut to warn mobile equipment operators of a parked machine or the presence of other miners.
  • Train miners to establish and use effective communications working around equipment. Ensure that mobile equipment operators are aware of your location at all times.
  • Use approved translucent or transparent ventilation curtains for better visibility. Never put extraneous material or supplies on mobile equipment where it can obstruct the visibility of the machine operator.
  • When operating equipment, sound audible warnings while traveling around turns or blind spots, through ventilation curtains, and at any time the operator’s visibility is limited or obstructed.
  • Install proximity detection systems on all mobile face equipment.

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

Fatality #17 for Coal Mining 2012

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On Saturday, November 17, 2012, a 30-year-old continuous mining machine operator was killed when he was pinned between the head of the remote controlled continuous mining machine and the coal rib. The victim had 3 years of mining experience, with 20 weeks of experience as a continuous mining machine operator. The victim had mined the left side of an entry and was repositioning the continuous mining machine to mine the right side when the accident occurred.

Best Practices

  • Install and maintain proximity detection systems. See the proximity detection single source page on the MSHA website.
  • Develop programs, policies, and procedures for starting and tramming remote controlled continuous mining machines.
  • Frequently review, retrain, and discuss avoiding the “RED ZONE” areas when operating or working near a remote controlled continuous mining machine.
  • Train all production crews and management in the programs, policies, and procedures and ensure that they are followed.
  • Ensure that mining machine operators are in a safe location while tramming the continuous mining machine from place to place or repositioning in the entry during cutting and loading.
  • Ensure everyone is outside the machine turning radius before starting or moving the equipment.
  • When moving continuous mining machines where the left and right traction drives are operated independently, low tram speed should be used.
  • Assign another miner to assist the continuous mining machine operator when it is being moved or repositioned. Train all persons in the programs, policies, and procedures for operating or working near remote controlled continuous mining machines. Additional information on preventing these types of accidents can be found at:MSHA’s Safety Targets Program Hit By Underground Equipment.

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

Fatality #17 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

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On November 1, 2012, a 30-year old contract driller with 6 years of experience was killed at a common shale operation. The victim apparently attempted to thread a new drill steel manually, with the use of a strap and the drill head rotating, when the rotating steel entangled him.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures. Identify and control all hazards. Train all persons to recognize all potential hazards and understand safe job procedures to eliminate all hazards before beginning work.
  • Ensure that the manufacturer’s procedures are followed when adding drill steels.
  • Ensure that emergency stop/shut-off switches, panic bars, dead man devices, tethers, slap bars, rope switches, two handed controls, spring loaded controls, are functional and in easily accessible locations.
  • Never manually thread drill steels when the drill head is rotating.
  • Drills should be fitted with automated systems for changing rods, or two persons should be present when rods are changed manually.
  • Do not wear loose fitting clothing when working around drilling machinery. Avoid using a strap or other objects that could become entangled with or thrown from moving or rotating parts.
  • Monitor personnel routinely to ensure procedures are followed.

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

Fatality #16 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

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On October 24, 2012, a 52-year old utility miner with 19 years of experience was killed on the surface of an underground limestone mine. He was operating a forklift, traveling on a decline toward the mine entrance, when the forklift went out of control. The forklift struck a concrete support for the belt conveyor and overturned, killing him.

Best Practices

  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and ensure the service brakes are properly maintained and will stop and hold the mobile equipment prior to operating.
  • Ensure that mobile equipment operators are adequately task trained in all phases of mobile equipment operation before performing work.
  • Ensure the load is stable and secured on the forks of the forklift.
  • When descending a grade, operate the forklift with the load in the upgrade position.
  • Maintain control of self-propelled mobile equipment while it is in motion.
  • Operating speeds shall be consistent with conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Operate equipment within its designed limitations. Slow down or drop to a lower gear when necessary. Post areas where lower speeds are warranted.
  • Always wear a seat belt when operating self-propelled mobile equipment.

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

Fatality #15 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

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On October 10, 2012, a 55-year old contract painter with 35 years of experience was killed at a kaolin and ball clay operation. He was standing on the bottom of a 40-foot high, 50-foot diameter tank that was open to the atmosphere and covered with mesh cloth material. He was spraying coal tar on the inside walls of the tank and was found unconscious by coworkers. He was recovered by emergency personnel and pronounced dead at a hospital.

Best Practices

  • Develop, implement, and maintain a written Hazard Communication (HazCom) program.
  • Ensure that a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is accessible to persons for each hazardous chemical to which they may be exposed.
  • Review and discuss MSDS control section recommendations with employees that may be exposed to hazardous chemicals. Establish and discuss safe work procedures before starting any work and identify and control all hazards.
  • Train all persons to recognize and understand safe job procedures, including the physical and health hazards of chemicals that are being used and the proper use of respiratory protection, gloves, body suits, hearing, and eye & face protection.
  • Ensure that adequate ventilation is provided to all work areas.
  • Ensure that persons are not required to perform work alone in any area where hazardous conditions exist that would endanger their safety.
  • Conduct air monitoring with calibrated instruments to ensure a safe working atmosphere. Air monitoring should be done prior to workers entering the confined work space and continuously till the workers have exited the enclosed area. Atmospheric monitoring at minimum includes Oxygen, LEL and all potential toxic gases in the work place.

Based on MSHA’s investigation and the finding of the death certificate, MSHA later concluded that the miner died from natural causes and that the fatality is not chargeable.

Fatality #16 for Coal Mining 2012

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On Wednesday, September 26, 2012, a 32-year old section foreman with 12 years of experience was killed by a roof fall at Kopper Glo Mining’s Double Mountain Mine. He was operating the continuous mining machine to excavate a roof cavity in preparation for the installation of a belt conveyor drive. The foreman was positioned approximately 8 feet inby the last row of permanent roof support when a section of the unsupported roof, approximately 6½ feet long, by 6 feet wide, by up to 8 inches thick fell, striking the victim and pinning him to the mine floor.

Best Practices
  • Always post the end of permanent roof support with a readily visible warning or physical barrier to impede travel beyond permanent roof support. This serves to alert all miners as they approach a danger zone.
  • Never travel beyond permanent roof support.
  • Never expose any portion of your body inby the last row of undisturbed permanent roof supports.
  • Make frequent, thorough roof examinations and be aware of changing roof conditions at all times.
  • Give extra attention to the roof after activities that cause roof disturbance.
  • Take extra precautions when cutting out roof support or mining above the normal roof line, such as mining a shorter depth of cut, then install two rows of roof bolts before continuing to mine.

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

Fatality #15 for Coal Mining 2012

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On Thursday, September 13, 2012, a 61-year-old general inside laborer with 38 years of mining experience was killed when he was struck by a section of mine roof. The victim was removing a roof bolt from an older area of the mine which was no longer in contact with the mine roof. A section of mine roof fell, striking the victim.

Best Practices
  • Before performing work in any area of the mine, observe the roof and ribs for hazardous conditions and correct hazards immediately.
  • Install additional roof supports prior to removing old supports.
  • Perform sound and vibration testing before installing or removing permanent roof supports.
  • Only remove roof supports under the direction of a manager or foreman.
  • Use roof screen (wire mesh) to control loose roof in long-term travel roads.
  • Take extra precautions when working or traveling in older areas of the mine, paying particular attention to deteriorating roof conditions.
  • Make frequent roof examinations and be alert to changing roof conditions at all times. Give extra attention to the roof after activities occur that could cause roof disturbance.

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

Fatality #14 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

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On September 26, 2012, a 79-year old foreman with 56 years of experience was killed when he was run over by the dozer he had been operating. The victim exited the cab and was positioned on the left track checking the engine throttle linkage when the dozer moved forward.

Best Practices
 

  • Inspect equipment before placing it in operation for the shift.
  • Correct safety and operational defects on equipment in a timely manner to prevent the creation of a hazard to persons.
  • Establish safe work procedures and identify and remove hazards before beginning a task.
  • Prior to beginning work, ensure that persons are task-trained and understand the hazards associated with the work being performed. Know and follow safe work procedures before beginning repairs.
  • Block dozer against motion by lowering the blade and ripper to the ground and setting the parking brake. Set the transmission lock lever to ensure the transmission is in neutral.
  • 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 #13 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

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On September 22, 2012, a 34-year old contract laborer with 6 days of experience was killed when he fell through a 6 ft. X 8 ft. hole that was partially covered with 2″ X 4″ boards and ¾ ” thick plywood. He fell into a chute landing on a belt conveyor 30 feet below. The victim was assigned fire watch duties on a welding/cutting operation that was taking place on the floor above him.

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 appropriately designed railings, barriers, or covers.
  • Keep temporary access opening covers secured in place at all times when the opening is not being used. Replace deteriorated floor plating and grating.
  • 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).