MSHA has issued the following alert concerning Falls from Height.
Click here for: Fall Protection Alert in English (pdf), or in Spanish (pdf).
Preventing Falls from Height Safety Alert
Safety Materials
MSHA Hazardous Chemicals Health & Safety Alert
MSHA has issued the following alert concerning Hazardous Chemicals:
“Recent train derailments and chemical spills, including several incidents on mine sites, have increased the importance of maintaining awareness about hazardous chemicals used in mining. Miners working with and around chemicals can be exposed to hazards that result in injuries or illnesses from exposure to chemicals. Safe handling of chemicals can prevent accidents, injuries, and illnesses.”
Best Practices
Operators should:
- Store hazardous, flammable, and combustible materials in a manner that minimizes dangers to miners.
- Warn against potential hazards; caution against unsafe practices; and provide instructions on the proper use of personal protective equipment.
- Provide miners personal protective equipment to use, such as gloves, safety glasses or goggles, and NIOSH-approved respirators, as applicable.
- Train miners on the task to be performed; on working with or near chemical hazards; and performing appropriate emergency response procedures.
- Provide miners a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical they may be exposed to during each work shift.
Click here for: Hazardous Chemicals Alert in English (pdf), or in Spanish (pdf).
MSHA Best Practice & Health Hazard Cards
MSHA has a collection of helpful training cards online in pdf format that you can download and print to hand out or send links to others to use. By a quick estimate (there were too many to count and the numbering helps but is inconsistent) there are over 200 including many in Spanish and English.
Find them here: MSHA Best Practice & Health Hazard Cards (pdf).
Workers’ Memorial Day
Winter Safety
Click here for: Safety Posters & Checklists (MSHA web site).
Stay Out – Stay Alive
(MSHA) Water-filled quarries and pits hide rock ledges, old machinery and other hazards. The water can be deceptively deep and dangerously cold. Steep, slippery walls make exiting the water difficult. Hills of loose material can easily collapse on an unsuspecting biker or climber. Vertical shafts can be hundreds of feet deep and may be completely unprotected, or hidden by vegetation.
Even so dozens of people are injured or killed while exploring or playing on mine property every year. The men and women employed in our nation’s mines are trained to work in a safe manner. For trespassers, hazards are not always apparent.
Visit https://www.abandonedmines.gov/staying-safe to learn more about abandoned mine and quarry accidents. Please help us raise awareness about this summertime danger. Most importantly, remind people to Stay Out, Stay Alive!
Whistleblower Protections
No single thing would reduce injuries and fatalities in the workplace more than if all workers would refuse to perform unsafe actions. I’m convinced that sometimes workers are convinced by pressure from their companies or peers to do so. Other times they voluntarily do so because they mistakenly think it is the only way to accomplish the task. In the end workers doing things they know to be unsafe is often deadly. The best tool provided to each and every worker is the ability to request enforcement inspections from federal and state agencies and flatly refuse to participate without fear of reprisal as is provided under whistleblower protections. In mines we refer to the rights and responsibilities of miners, but this protection is provided in many areas. July 30 was Whistleblower Protection day and a video by Department of Labor Secretary Walsh and links to more information are provided here. – Randy
Powered Haulage Safety Alert
Stop Powered Haulage Accidents: Stay Alert! Stay Alive!
Fatalities and accidents involving mobile equipment: shuttle cars, scoops, locomotives, front end loaders, haulage equipment, service and pickup trucks continue to occur at a disproportionate high rate. [MSHA]
Recent Vehicle Rollover Accidents
Some recent accidents occurred when vehicles flipped over backwards, rolled over, and tipped over on their sides. Miners were operating haul trucks, excavators, bulldozers, front end loaders, and service trucks while working or traveling near the edge of dump sites, elevated roadways, embankments, ponds, and excavations.
Contributing factors included the non-use or unbuckling of seat belts; jumping from vehicles; brake failure; distracted driving; loss of vehicle control; traveling or working too close to unconsolidated roadways; inadequate berms; pushing through berms; and failure to perform workplace examinations. [MSHA]
Powered Haulage Stand Down
So far this year, nine miners have been killed and 185 have been injured in accidents involving powered haulage equipment such as shuttle cars, scoops, locomotives, front end loaders and more. Year to date, this is the highest number of powered haulage fatalities since 2006. The safety of mining’s most precious resource – the miner – is a critical mission at the Mine Safety and Health Administration. That’s why we are hosting a national Stand Down for Safety Day on July 20 focused on powered haulage and vehicle rollovers to help educate miners, save lives and prevent injuries. on July 20, all levels of MSHA enforcement staff will visit mines to meet with miners and operators to emphasize the need for adhering to best safety practices for powered haulage, vehicle rollovers, and miner training to reduce fatalities and injuries.