Surface

Fatality #12 for Coal 2018

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c1812-fatalOn Thursday, November 29, 2018, a mechanic with 29 years of mining experience was severely injured when hydraulic pressure propelled a piece of metal out of a hydraulic fitting that he was examining, and the metal penetrated his head.  The miner died on December 30, 2018, as a result of his injuries.
Best Practices: 

  • Train miners to recognize hazards in pressurized systems before troubleshooting or performing work on such systems.
  • Consult and follow the manufacturer’s recommended safe work procedures.
  • Position yourself in a safe location, away from any potential sources of failure, while troubleshooting or testing pressurized systems.  When possible, examine and inspect hydraulic components while they are de-pressurized.
  • Remove pressure from the hydraulic system before beginning modifications or repairs.
  • Make modifications or repairs with proper components and parts that are adequately rated and specifically designed for such purposes.

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

Fatality #11 for Coal 2018

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c1811-fatal.jpgOn December 29, 2018, a 25-year old dredge operator, with 21 weeks of experience, was fatally injured at a coal mine. The victim drowned when the dredge he was operating sank.
Best Practices: 

  • Task train all persons to recognize all potential hazardous conditions and ensure they understand safe job procedures for elimination of the hazards before beginning work.
  • Examine work areas and equipment during the shift for hazards that may be created as a result of the work being performed.
  • Conduct a risk analysis before starting non-routine tasks to ensure that all hazards are evaluated and eliminated.
  • Establish procedures requiring persons to alert coworkers when they are in danger.

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

Fatality #9 for Coal 2018

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On Tuesday, December 11, 2018, a 38-year-old miner was fatally injured at a surface coal mine.  The miner was operating a front-end loader to move shot rock near the toe of a 63-foot-high highwall.  A large portion of the highwall collapsed onto the front-end loader, crushing the operator cab and fatally injuring the miner.
Best Practices: 

  • Safely examine highwalls from as many perspectives as possible (bottom, sides, and top/crest).  Look for signs of cracking and other geologic features that could lead to instability and secure or remove hazardous conditions.  Conduct additional examinations as ground conditions warrant, especially during periods of changing weather conditions.
  • Follow the approved ground control plan at all times to ensure the safe control of highwalls.
  • Use mining methods that ensure highwall stability and safe working conditions and do not excavate the base of the highwall.
  • Train all miners to recognize hazardous highwall conditions.
  • Operate mobile equipment perpendicular to the highwall or with the operator’s cab positioned away from the highwall.  Ensure that miners work, travel, and operate mining equipment at safe distances from the highwall.
  • Use proper blasting techniques for forming highwalls and thoroughly examine the highwall after each blasting operation.

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

Fatality #15 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On November 3, 2018, a 44-year old shift supervisor with 3 years of experience was killed when a loaded Caterpillar 785B haul truck ran over her pickup truck at the crusher site.

Best Practices

  • Communicate and verify with all equipment operators your planned movements and location upon entering a work area.
  • Ensure all persons are trained to recognize workplace hazards. Specifically, train equipment operators on the limited visibility and blind spot areas that are inherent to the operation of large equipment. Do not drive or park smaller vehicles in mobile equipment’s potential path of movement.
  • Instruct all operators on the importance of using flags or strobe lights on the cabs of their vehicles to make haulage truck operators aware of their location.
  • Install and maintain collision avoidance/warning technologies on mobile equipment.

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

Fatality #8 for Coal 2018

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On Wednesday, October 17, 2018, a 33-year-old auger helper with 3 days of total surface mining experience received fatal injuries during auger mining activities. The victim was attempting to move a section of auger steel by using the onboard crane when he was struck in the chest.
Best Practices: 

  • Maintain equipment in safe operating condition. Excessive pressure in a hydraulic circuit can drastically alter the control of booms, etc., creating serious hazards.
  • Establish policies and procedures for auger mining including, safe work procedures for removing auger steel from the auger tray.
  • Task train miners to recognize all potential hazards and understand safe job procedures before beginning work.
  • Monitor personnel routinely to ensure safe work procedures are being followed. Unauthorized persons should be kept clear of the work area.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that exposes you to hazards. Stand clear of suspended loads having the potential of becoming off-balanced while being moved.

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

Fatality #9 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On August 22, 2018, a 29-year old miner with 1 year of experience was fatally injured while cleaning a snub pulley.  The victim was working from an aerial lift located under the belt conveyor when he became entangled in the conveyor pulley.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that persons assigned to clean conveyor belts have received adequate training and verify that safe belt conveyor work practices are followed.
  • Stay clear of moving equipment and do not reach into any part of a moving conveyor.
  • Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing when working around moving conveyor belt components.
  • Verify that all incoming power connectors are open by a circuit breaker, the conveyor is stopped and secured from movement before working on belt conveyors.
  • Provide and maintain safe access to elevated areas where routine maintenance is performed.

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

Fatality #7 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On July 31, 2018, a 62-year old foreman with 40 years of experience, was fatally injured while dismantling a portable crusher. The front-end loader was placing a 20-foot long steel tube onto the screen feed conveyor. The front-end loader operator lowered the bucket and crushed the victim against the conveyor structure.

Best Practices

  • Front-end loader operators must ensure personnel are not near the machine when in operation.
  • Use cranes with appropriate rigging and tag lines to position components.
  • When working near equipment, make eye contact with the equipment operator and directly communicate your intended movements.
  • Wear a reflective vest or clothing while working.
  • Ensure all persons are trained to recognize workplace hazards – specifically, the limited visibility and blind areas inherent to operation of large equipment.
  • Prior to starting the task, train miners on proper maintenance procedures and discuss steps that will be taken to safely perform the job.

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

Fatality #6 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On June 23, 2018, a 46-year old electrician with 10 weeks of experience was fatally injured while trying to stop runaway railcars.  The miner ran to the front of a set of moving railcars and jumped on in order to set the hand brake.  The miner then attempted to jump clear and was fatally injured when he was run over by the moving railcars.

Best Practices

  • Apply a mechanical hand brake to ensure a railcar does not move when it is stopped for loading, unloading, or storage.  Use wheel chocks or derail devices for added protection against accidental movement.
  • Never attempt to mount, crossover, cross under, or dismount a railcar while it is moving.
  • Train personnel in the safe procedures of working with railcars.  Establish safe work procedures and ensure all personnel involved communicate clearly with each other.

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

Fatality #5 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On June 13, 2018, a 65-year old truck driver with 4 years of experience was fatally injured when his truck traveled over a berm and into an impoundment of water.  Divers recovered the victim in 20 feet of water.

Best Practices

  • Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment.
  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any defects affecting safety in a timely manner prior to operating mobile equipment. Maintain equipment braking and steering systems in good repair and adjustment.
  • Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Ensure that berms are adequate for the vehicles present on site, including but not limited to height, material, and built on firm ground.
  • Consider storing personal flotation devices in equipment that is being operated near water.
  • Ensure that all exits from cabs on mobile equipment, including alternate and emergency exits, are maintained and operable.
  • Use seat belts when operating mobile equipment.

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

Fatality #4 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On May 9, 2018, a 27-year old kiln technician with 32 weeks of experience was burned while lighting a gas fired kiln. There was a blow back when igniting the kiln and the miner received burn injuries to his head and chest.  The miner succumbed to his injuries on May 28, 2018.

Best Practices

  • Remove flammable and combustible materials from areas prior to cutting, welding, or other hot work. A qualified person should monitor nearby areas where heavy vapors could migrate and accumulate.
  • Ventilation systems should be properly designed, installed, and maintained.
  • Install fixed monitoring systems with alarms in areas with potential for flammable and other hazardous atmospheres and calibrate and maintain them regularly.  The systems should have redundant controls and system readouts located inside and outside of hazardous areas.
  • Process equipment and systems should be properly designed and completely installed prior to use.
  • Inerting systems should be properly designed, installed, adequately filled, and maintained.
  • Do not work in areas where concentrations of vapors can be immediately fatal (Lower Explosive Limit), Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health, or where they exceed permissible exposure limits (PELs) to produce adverse health effects.
  • Minimize or eliminate hazards by using appropriate engineering and administrative controls.

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