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Fatality #15 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m15On July 21, 2014, a 28-year-old assistant plant manager with 11 years of mining experience was killed at a sand and gravel dredge operation.  He was riding in an aluminum boat that became stuck in low water on top of 480 volt energized power conductors.  The victim was electrocuted when he exited the boat, attempting to pull slack on the power conductors.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use methods to properly protect persons.
  • Train all persons to understand the hazards associated with working near energized electrical conductors.
  • De-energize power and ensure that the circuit is visibly open before working near energized conductors that may have damaged insulation.
  • Lock and Tag! Place YOUR lock and tag on the disconnecting device.
  • Use properly rated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including Arc Flash Protection such as a hood, gloves, shirt, and pants.
  • Ensure electrical conductors are properly rated and designed for the applications used.
  • Ensure that ground fault protection is provided to protect persons
  • Ensure that all electrical systems are safely designed and properly installed.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #8 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c08On Monday, June 23, 2014, at approximately 7:35 p.m., a 58–year-old truck driver, with 5 years of mining experience, was killed when the haul truck he was operating traveled through a berm and descended approximately 75 feet into a spoil “V.”

Best Practices
  • Maintain control of equipment at all times during operation.
  • Ensure seat belts are provided, maintained, and worn at all times when equipment is in operation.  Incorporate engineering controls that require seat belts to be properly fastened before equipment can be put into motion.
  • Conduct pre-operational checks to identify and fix any defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.
  • Know the truck’s capabilities, operating ranges, load limits and safety features.
  • Provide and maintain adequate berms on the banks of roadways where a drop-off exists.
  • Ensure all grades and haulage roads are appropriate for the haulage equipment being used.
  • Train miners to understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Monitor work habits routinely and examine work areas to ensure that safe work procedures are being followed.

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

Fatality #7 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c07On Wednesday, June 4, 2014, a 25-year-old contract equipment operator with 24 weeks of experience was killed when he was crushed between the hood and frame of an impact crusher.  The victim had just finished clearing a large rock from the crusher area when the accident occurred.

Best Practices
  • Establish policies and procedures for safely clearing plugged material in a feeder hopper or crusher.
  • Consult and follow the manufacturer’s recommended safe work procedures for conducting the task.
  • Ensure that persons are task trained and understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • De-energize and lock-out/tag-out all power sources before working on equipment.
  • Ensure moving parts on machinery are blocked against motion before beginning maintenance or repairs.
  • Ensure that blocking material is competent, substantial, and adequate to support and stabilize the load.
  • Maintain equipment in safe working condition.  Ensure safety devices are working properly.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards.
  • Monitor all personnel, with an emphasis on miners new to a task, routinely to determine that safe work procedures are followed.

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

Fatality #14 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m14On June 18, 2014, a 41-year-old production supervisor with 19 years of mining experience was killed at a sand and gravel mine.  The victim and two contract workers were attempting to remove an impeller that was seized onto the threaded shaft of a centrifugal pump.  After several failed attempts to unscrew the impeller, heat from a torch was applied to the enclosed hub on the impeller.  While applying heat, the hub exploded and metal fragments struck the victim.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use methods to properly protect persons.
  • Train all persons to understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Do not apply heat or open flame where enclosed spaces such as impeller hubs, mounted tires, suspension struts, or tanks may be subject to explosion except as directed by the manufacturer.
  • Always examine materials before applying heat, cutting, or welding to ensure gases from the applied heat can vent.
  • Never apply heat to materials before ensuring that flammables/combustibles/explosive materials are not present.
  • Never apply heat to materials where pressure build up is possible.
  • Do not apply heat or open flame where lubricants, oil, or grease are present.
  • Use special tools, provided by the manufacturer, to loosen an impeller on a pump.
  • Refer to the maintenance manual, warning labels on the pump, or contact the manufacturer for special safety precautions.

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

Fatality #12 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m12-1On May 9, 2014, a 20-year-old groundman with 9 weeks of experience was killed at a sand and gravel mill.  The victim was unloading a rail car using a mobile rail barge truck conveyor and was caught in the feed end of the conveyor.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that persons are trained, including task training, to understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use methods to properly protect persons.
  • Conduct work place examinations before beginning any work.
  • Position mobile conveyors to eliminate exposure of moving parts before operating.
  • Identify hazards around conveyor systems, design guards, and or emergency stop systems before putting into operation.
  • Always provide and maintain guarding sufficient to prevent contact with moving machine parts.
  • Do not wear loose fitting clothing when working near moving machine parts.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Provide and maintain a safe means of access to all working places.

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

Fatality #11 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m11On May 1, 2014, a 57-year-old co-owner with 1 year of experience was killed at a gypsum mine.  The victim was driving an all terrain vehicle on the mine site to place signs around the perimeter of the mine.  He lost control of the vehicle while traveling on a steep hill and it overturned onto him.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that persons are trained to understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Ensure that operators are properly task trained before operating mobile equipment they may not be familiar with.
  • Maintain operating speeds consistent with road grades and conditions.
  • Load equipment and/or supplies properly on mobile equipment to ensure stability during operation.

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

Fatality #9 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m09On February 27, 2014, a 27-year-old contract mechanic with 2 years of experience was injured at an underground limestone mine.  The victim was repairing a hydraulic pump on a scaler when fell from an attached walkway approximately five feet to the ground.  He was airlifted to a hospital where he died the next day.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that persons are trained, including task-training, to understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use methods to properly protect persons.
  • Conduct work place examinations before beginning any work.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Ensure effective gates, safety chains, or railings are used and properly maintained where openings may exist that could pose a hazard.

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

Fatality #7 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m07On April 17, 2014, a 58-year-old truck driver with 3½ years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel mine. An excavator was loading material in a haul truck parked at the pit. When the victim exited the truck, he was struck by the excavator bucket and pinned against the truck.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use methods to properly protect persons.
  • Task train all persons to recognize all potential hazardous conditions and to understand safe job procedures for elimination of the hazards before beginning work.
  • Ensure that haul truck operators remain in their trucks when being loaded.
  • Communicate with mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence.  Stay in the line of sight with mobile equipment operators.
  • Ensure that you make eye contact with mobile equipment operators before approaching their work areas.  Never assume the equipment operator sees you.
  • Never place yourself in a location where equipment operators can’t see you.
  • Before operating equipment, always ensure other miners are clear and safely  positioned.
  • Monitor persons routinely to determine safe work procedures are followed.

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

Fatality #4 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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FAB14m04_clip_image004FAB14m04_clip_image002On March 27, 2014, a 64-year-old foreman with 32 years of experience was seriously injured when he was struck by a section of plastic water pipe as it was being moved by an excavator.  The victim was transported to a hospital where he died on March 30, 2014, as a result of his injuries.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect persons.
  • Task train all persons to recognize all potential hazardous conditions and to understand safe job procedures for elimination of the hazards before beginning work.
  • Wear suitable hard hats where falling objects may create a hazard.
  • Stay clear of a suspended load.
  • Attach taglines to loads that may require steadying or guidance while suspended.
  • Implement measures to ensure persons are properly positioned and protected from hazards while performing a task.
  • Monitor persons routinely to determine safe work procedures are followed.

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

Fatality #3 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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FAB14m03_clip_image002
On February 28, 2014, a 50-year old supervisor with 27 years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel mine.  The victim was at a backfill site and approached an 80-foot high bank when it failed, engulfing him.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect persons.
  • Task train all persons to recognize all potential hazardous conditions that can decrease bank or slope stability and ensure they understand safe job procedures for elimination of the hazards.
  • Prior to beginning work and as ground conditions warrant during the shift, examine all pit, highwall, slope, and bank conditions.  Be especially vigilant for these conditions after each rain, freeze, or thaw.
  • Use mining methods that ensure pit, highwall, slope, and bank stability and safe working conditions.
  • Correct hazardous conditions by working from a safe location.
  • Stay clear of potentially unstable areas.

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