Mining Fatalities

Fatality #4 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On March 24, 2010, a 63 year-old contract truck driver with 21 years of experience was fatally injured at a surface area of an underground salt mine. The victim was loading his truck under a 150 ton salt bin when it collapsed, falling onto the cab of the truck. A second victim working in the area received serious injuries.

Best Practices

  • Routinely examine metal structures for indications of weakened structural soundness (corrosion, fatigue cracks, bent/buckling beams, braces or columns, loose/missing connectors, broken welds, etc.).
  • Keep corrosive material spillage/build-up removed from metal structures.
  • Report all areas where indications of structural weakness are found.

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

Fatality #32 for Coal Mining 2010

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On April 11, 2010, a 61-year old contract iron worker/mine fireboss with 20 years of mining experience was fatally injured while installing pre-fabricated metal stairs on the side of a fan housing. The stair stringer had been hoisted into place and clamped at the top with two “locking pliers-type” C-clamps. The bottom of the inclined stringer was lying on a 6×6 inch timber. To level the stair treads, a 6×6 inch timber was going to be replaced with a 4×4 inch timber. To replace the 6×6 timber, rigging was fastened near the lower part of the stringer. The victim was standing on the ground holding the handrails. As the lower end of the stringer was hoisted by the crane, the clamps opened and the top end of the stringer fell. This caused the bottom end of the stringer to pivot up and swing out. This pushed the victim backward and pinned him against a nearby manlift.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that all personnel stay clear of hoisted loads and areas where loads may fall if hoisting fails.
  • Know the limitations of temporary supports and ensure they are used within their specifications.
  • Ensure all components are adequately blocked and secured to prevent unintended motion.
  • Use taglines on loads to be hoisted that will need steadying or guidance.
  • Ensure that crane operators communicate with other workers in close proximity to loads that are going to be moved.
  • Ensure that personnel are trained to recognize hazardous work procedures.
  • Discuss work procedures and identify all hazards associated with the work to be performed, along with the methods to protect personnel.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report(pdf)

Fatality #3 – #31 for Coal Mining 2010

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On Monday, April 5, 2010, 29 miners were fatally injured and 2 miners received serious injuries when an explosion occurred in a large underground coal mine. The victims were located in different areas of the mine, some on their way out of the mine and others were involved with mining activities.

Best Practices

The following best practices are generally applicable to underground mining. An investigation is ongoing at Upper Big Branch which will determine the root cause(s) of the explosion on April 5, 2010.

  • EFFECTIVE VENTILATION SYSTEM – Properly design, frequently examine, and properly maintain a ventilation system that is effective at all times for all areas of the mine. This is the first line of defense against an explosion. Maintain proper air quality in bleeders for examiners.
  • ADEQUATE ROCK DUST – Apply rock dust liberally, even in wet areas, in all faces and outby areas. Maintain the applications to prevent the propagation of coal dust explosions.
  • PROPER EXAMINATIONS and IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS – Conduct proper pre-shift, on-shift, supplemental, and electrical examinations. Immediately eliminate hazards involving inadequate ventilation, insufficient rock dust, methane accumulations, and permissibility violations.
  • METHANE AND OXYGEN CHECKS – Make frequent methane and oxygen measurements, especially during periods of rapid decline in barometric pressure.
  • COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL – Clean up loose coal, coal dust, and other combustible material. The possibility of an explosion or fire can be diminished by reducing the fuel supply.
  • WATER SPRAYS and DUST COLLECTORS – Water sprays and dust collectors reduce the fuel available for a potential fire or explosion.
  • ESCAPEWAYS – Conduct escapeway drills and maintain escapeways in safe condition and assure that lifelines are being maintained.
  • ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING SYSTEMS (AMS) – Utilize AMS to monitor strategic locations for carbon monoxide, oxygen content, methane content, and air volumes.

Click here for: Single Source page MSHA Online (web page), Spanish Fatalgram (pdf)

Fatality #2 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On January 26, 2010, a 59 year-old purchasing manager with 5 years of experience was fatally injured at a cement operation. The victim was struck by an over-the-road tandem trailer truck. The truck had been waiting to unload. When the truck pulled forward, another truck driver observed the victim under the second trailer of the truck and immediately stopped the driver. The victim was holding a cell phone at the time of the accident.

Best Practices

  • Train all persons to stay clear of mobile equipment.
  • Be aware of the location and traffic patterns of mobile equipment in your work area.
  • Communicate with mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence.
  • Never approach mobile equipment until you receive confirmation from the operator indicating awareness of your presence.
  • Wear high visibility clothing when working around mobile equipment.
  • Avoid distractions, such as cell phones, when exposed to hazards.
  • Before moving mobile equipment, look in the direction of travel, use all mirrors, cameras, and installed proximity detection devices to ensure no persons are in the intended path.
  • Sound the horn to warn persons of intended movement and wait to give them time to move to a safe location.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview(pdf), Spanish Fatalgram(doc)

Fatality #1 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On January 9, 2010, a 20 year-old contractor laborer with 21 weeks of experience was fatally injured at a copper operation. Two track excavators were being used to place a 400-foot long section of 24-inch diameter plastic pipe into a pond. To facilitate the installation process, the pipe was placed on top of an adjacent section of pipe that was previously placed on the plastic lining of the pond. During installation, the pipe being installed misaligned and the victim and two coworkers attempted to remove the end of this pipe from the top of the existing pipe. At that time, the end of the pipe shifted, hit a coworker, and then struck the victim. The victim fell to the ground and the pipe landed on him. The coworker was not injured.

Best Practices

  • Task train all persons prior to performing any work.
  • Always stay clear of suspended loads.
  • Use taglines of sufficient length to adequately protect persons from potential hazards.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview(pdf), Spanish Fatalgram(doc)

Fatality #2 for Coal Mining 2010

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On Friday, January 22, 2010, at approximately 9:15 a.m., a 29 year old continuous miner operator with 12 years of mining experience was fatally injured when a rib roll, approximately 70 inches high, 63 inches long, and 103 inches wide, occurred. The victim was operating a remote control continuous mining machine to clean a previously bolted crosscut when he was struck by the coal rib and pinned against the mine floor.

Best Practices

  • Conduct a thorough visual examination of the roof, face, and ribs immediately before any work or travel is started in an area and thereafter as conditions warrant.
  • Adequately support or scale any loose rib or roof material before beginning work.
  • Perform careful examinations of pillar corners, particularly where the angles formed between entries and crosscuts are less than 90 degrees.
  • Permanently support openings that create an intersection before any work or travel in the intersection.
  • Be alert to changing geologic conditions which may affect roof/rib conditions.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Spanish Fatalgram (doc)

MSHA Announces Drop In Fatalities for 2009

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MSHA issued a news release that gave credit in part for a large drop in mining fatalities to enforcement. They gave a nod to miners being safe, but ignored the fact that with the bad econonmy miners just didn't work as many hours last year. Of course the figures aren't out, but it's not too hard to see in the stone industry at least. It's a great accomplishment for everyone to reduce the fatalities as much as we did, but I'll wait to see the fatality rate before I celebrate too much. It's possible that with the reduced hours the rate still did not decline and that's what really matters.

Read the news release here.

Fatality #1 for Coal Mining 2010

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On January 2, 2010, a 57 year old mechanic with 8 years of mining experience was fatally injured at a surface shop of an underground coal mine. He was repairing a 1-ton truck (mantrip) that was raised and supported by jack stands. The victim was positioned under the truck and the truck’s rear wheels were on the floor. A coworker, who was assisting, entered the truck, depressed the clutch pedal, and started the truck. The truck was in gear when it was started. The coworker’s foot then slipped off the clutch pedal of the standard transmission, causing the truck to lurch forward, fall off the jack stands, and strike the victim.

Best Practices

  • Block vehicles against motion in all potential directions of movement prior to any work.
  • Keep standard transmission vehicles in neutral with the park brake engaged when work is performed on the vehicles.
  • The vibration of a running motor may cause blocked or jacked equipment to move or fall off of its blocks or jacks. Position yourself out of the path of travel in the event a failure occurs.
  • Observe blocking and jack stands during loading and ensure they remain solid without any tilting or sliding. The slots at the head of the jack should properly couple with the jack points underneath the vehicle.
  • Metal to metal contact may slide much easier than wood or other materials against metal. This is a good reason to ensure everything remains level and evenly loaded. Also, remove any grease or lubricants from the area that will contact the blocking/jack stand.
  • Jacks and blocks should be positioned on level ground and ensure they are all raised to equal heights.
  • If available, use a pit to perform maintenance work on the underside of mobile equipment.

Click here for: MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Spanish Fatalgram (doc)


Fatality #16 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2009

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On September 27, 2009, a 28 year-old truck driver with 2 years of experience was fatally injured at a copper operation. He was operating a 240-ton haul truck that left the haul road and climbed a berm, causing it to overturn and land on the haul road. The victim, who was not wearing a seat belt, fell from the cab of the truck.

Best Practices

  • Always wear a seat belt when operating a haul truck or mobile equipment.
  • Monitor employees regularly to ensure seat belts are worn when operating mobile equipment.
  • Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment.
  • Conduct pre-operational checks to identify and correct any defects that may affect the safe operation of self-propelled mobile equipment.

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