Mining Fatalities

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)

MSHA Alert for October Safety

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A serious statistic from MSHA:  Safety Information Recently Posted – Metal/Nonmetal October Fatal Alert

During
the last 10 years Metal and Nonmetal mines have experienced more fatal
accidents in the month of October than in any other month. Work
with MSHA to prevent more fatalities by focusing on working safely. Spread the word at your workplace with the following flyer that they provided.

Click here for the pdf of the October Alert and post it around your workplace.

Fatality #15 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2009

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On September 15, 2009, a 59 year-old delivery driver with 14 years of experience was fatally injured at a sand and gravel operation. She parked off mine property and walked on site to deliver a package. The victim walked behind a front-end loader that backed over her.

Best Practices
  • Establish a visitor control policy that includes signs directing visitors to a safe location.
  • Train delivery persons to recognize work place hazards they could be exposed to while at the mine.
  • Always make sure equipment operators see you before entering any area where mobile equipment is operated. If possible, make eye contact with the equipment operator. When moving to a different area, inform
    the equipment operator before leaving the area.
  • Before moving mobile equipment, look in the direction of travel, use all mirrors, cameras, and installed proximity detection devices to ensure no one is in the intended path.
  • Ensure that all persons are clear before moving equipment. Sound your horn to warn unseen persons that you are about to move and wait a few moments to give them time to get to a safe location.
  • Ensure that backup alarms on mobile equipment are maintained and operational.

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

Fatality #14 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2009

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On August 27, 2009, a 54 year-old contract truck driver with 33 years
of experience was fatally injured at a lime operation. The victim,
wearing a fall protection harness and an attached lanyard, was found
partially suspended on the top of a bulk trailer. He had been working
on top of the trailer, closing hatch covers, when the incident
occurred.

Best Practices

  • Pneumatically actuated ports for dry bulk trailers are available to allow remote operation and keep truck drivers on the ground.
  • Prior to beginning work, identify all hazards and use appropriate controls to protect persons.
  • When wearing fall protection, ensure it is properly adjusted to fit the user.
  • When working where hazardous conditions exist, maintain communications or contact with other persons.
  • Keep work surfaces free of dust, water, and tripping hazards.
  • Wear laced shoes with appropriate soles for the work surface.

On May 11, 2010 MSHA’s Fatality Review Committee made a determination that this fatality is not chargeable.

Fatality #13 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2009

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On July 2, 2009, a 52-year old mine owner with 34 years of experience was fatally injured at a surface dimension stone operation. He was working alone and was operating a walk behind masonry saw on a ledge. Apparently he was positioned between the saw and the edge when he tripped and fell. The victim and the saw went over the 9-foot ledge and the saw fell on him.

Best Practices
  • Identify all hazards and use appropriate controls to protect persons.
  • Ensure that operators are in a safe position and have control of their equipment at all times.
  • Keep workplaces free of tripping hazards.
  • Use barricades or railings at edges of drop-offs where persons are in danger of falling.
  • Equip walk behind masonry saws with devices to stop the engine if the operator can not maintain control of the equipment.
  • Design bench top stone cutting patterns so the saw operator is not positioned between the saw and the drop off edge.

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

Fatality #12 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2009

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On June 20, 2009, a 52-year old equipment oiler/greaser with 24 years of experience was fatally injured at an underground salt mine. He was cleaning equipment when a large roof fall occurred.

Best Practices
  • When ground conditions create a hazard to persons, install effective ground support before other work is permitted in the affected area.
  • 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.
  • Be alert to any change of ground conditions.
  • Identify and scale loose ground from a location which will not expose persons to falling material.

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