Surface

Fatality #11 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Thursday, July 21, 2011, at approximately 9:05 p.m., an office worker was killed at a surface coal operation when she was struck by a pickup driven by a vendor. As part of a wellness program instituted at the mine, the victim was walking along a rural road on the permit area for the mine when the pickup struck her from behind. The vendor was accessing the mine for routine maintenance.

Best Practices

  • Maintain complete control over vehicles and equipment while in operation.
  • Stay alert for unexpected pedestrians when driving in rural areas.
  • Drive at speeds relative to changing light and conditions.
  • Walk in designated pedestrian areas or facing traffic.
  • Wear highly visible reflective clothing when walking on roadways.
  • Ensure there is no oncoming traffic when crossing roadways.
  • Post signs and appropriate speed limits in areas where pedestrians may be present.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #7 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Thursday, June 9, 2011, a 53 year-old contract steelworker, with over 16 years of coal mine experience, was killed when he fell approximately 8 feet from a steel beam. He hit a lower cross beam before he landed on a conveyor belt cover located about 32 inches below the cross beam. The victim had been engaged in cutting operations just prior to the fall, and was repositioning when he removed his lanyard tie-off safety device from the location where it was secured.
Best Practices

  • Wear and use fall protection, maintaining 100 per cent tie off, when fall hazards exist.
    See TieOff.asp
  • Ensure workers are trained and understand the proper use of restraint devices.
  • Provide self retracting lanyard mechanisms when possible.
  • Ensure secure footing in all work areas.
  • Examine tools and personal protective equipment routinely and replace when defects or wear is evident.
  • Conduct a risk assessment of the work area prior to beginning any task and identify all possible hazards. Use the SLAM; Stop, Look, Analyze, and Manage approach for work place safety.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #6 for Coal Mining 2011

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June 6, 2011
Powered Haulage – Surface – Virginia
Humphreys Enterprises Inc. – No 5 Strip
Based on MSHA’s investigation and the finding of the death certificate, MSHA concluded that the miner died from natural causes and that the fatality should be de-listed and not charged to the mining industry. The death certificate indicated that the death was natural and was due to a cardiac arrhythmia due to a myocardial infarction which in turn was due to coronary artery atherosclerosis.”

Fatality #5 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Saturday, May 14, 2011, a 37-year old mechanic with 14 years of mining experience and 1½ years of experience as a mechanic, was killed while removing a counter weight fuel tank assembly from a front-end loader. He was positioned beneath the front-end loader when he removed 14 of the 16 mounting bolts that secure the counter weight. When the victim attempted to remove the next to last bolt, the remaining two bolts failed allowing the 11,685 pound counterweight to fall on him. The counter weight had not been blocked to prevent it from falling.

Best Practices
  • Install blocking materials before removing mounting bolts from machinery components which can fall during disassembly.
  • Follow known safe maintenance procedures.
  • Follow the equipment manufacturers recommended maintenance procedures when performing repairs to machinery.
  • Train new mechanics in the health and safety aspects and safe work procedures related to their assigned tasks.

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

Fatality #2 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On March 2, 2011, a 51 year- old contract superintendent with 24 years of experience was killed at a phosphate rock operation. The victim was attempting to join two ends of 24-inch diameter pipe. Two excavators were being used to position the pipe in the saddle of a pipe fuser when the pipe slipped out and struck him.

Best Practices

  • Establish safe work procedures and identify and remove hazards before beginning a task. Follow the equipment manufacturer’s procedures for the work being performed to ensure that all hazards have been addressed.
  • Train persons to recognize the hazards associated with performing a task.
  • Repair broken or damaged equipment immediately.
  • Block material against motion to assure energy cannot be released while the task is performed.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Monitor personnel routinely to determine that safe work procedures are followed.

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

Fatality #3 for Coal Mining 2011

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On Friday, February 11, 2011, a 55 year old miner with 30 years of mining experience was killed when the fuel and grease service truck he was operating collided head on with a scraper. The two pieces of equipment were traveling in opposite directions. The impact resulted in a fire that engulfed the fuel truck.

Best Practices

  • Inform others when driving a vehicle into a work area.
  • Optimize traffic rules to maximize safe road travel.
  • Obey established traffic rules and signage that apply to the area.
  • Follow established communication procedures.
  • Ensure signage is in place and easily observed.
  • Maintain control of equipment at all times.
  • Ensure all safety systems are maintained, including brakes and steering.

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

Fatality #1 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On February 12, 2011, a 41 year- old grader operator with 15 years of experience was killed at a phosphate rock operation. The victim and a coworker were standing and talking when he was struck by a grader that was backing up. The accident occurred in a staging area where equipment operators were inspecting their equipment before the shift.

Best Practices

  • Train all persons to recognize work place hazards and to stay clear of normal paths of travel for mobile equipment.
  • Regularly monitor work practices and reinforce their importance. Take immediate action to correct unsafe conditions or work practices.
  • Designate a specific area, clear of mobile equipment, where persons can meet before the shift starts.
  • Install cameras and collision avoidance systems on mobile equipment to protect persons.
  • Ensure that illumination is adequate at the work site.
  • Before moving mobile equipment, look in the direction of travel, use all mirrors, cameras, backup alarms, and installed proximity detection devices to ensure no one is in the intended path.
  • Sound the horn to warn persons of movement and allow time to move to a safe location.
  • Communicate with mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence.
  • Wear high visibility clothing when working around mobile equipment.
  • Consider use of wearable strobes when near mobile equipment.

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

Fatality #2 for Coal Mining 2011

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On February 3, 2011, a 49 year old dozer operator, with 2 years mining experience, was killed at a surface area of an underground coal mine. The accident occurred at an access road leading to a gas well plugging site. The victim parked on a grade and dismounted the dozer to assist a truck driver connect a winch cable from the dozer to the water truck. The dozer drifted backward into the water truck, pinning the victim between the truck and the dozer. The parking brake was not set and the blade was not lowered on the dozer.

On March 25, 2011, MSHA Solicitors made a determination that this fatality is not under MSHA jurisdiction, and therefore, not chargeable to the mining industry.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that equipment operators are trained and knowledgeable about equipment operation and the associated hazards.
  • Perform pre-operational equipment checks for defects and repair any defects found before operating equipment.
  • Analyze the job for what needs done and look for what could go wrong. More information can be obtained here: http://www.msha.gov/SLAMRisks/SLAMRISKS.pdf
  • Block dozers against motion by lowering the blade, setting parking brakes, and shutting off the machine.
  • Position equipment on flattest grade possible to connect equipment for towing, and consider positioning the tow machine at a distance and angle that would prevent a rollback collision.
  • Stay in equipment, if equipment has the potential to move.

Additional safety information can be found on Safety Target Packages:

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)


Fatality #24 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On December 29, 2010, a 41 year- old laborer with 4 years of experience died at a dimension stone operation. The victim was replacing a hydraulic lift arm cylinder on a skid steer loader. The lift arms suddenly lowered, pinning him against the frame of the machine.

Best Practices

  • Establish safe work procedures and identify and remove hazards before beginning repair or maintenance tasks. Follow the equipment manufacturer’s procedures for the work being performed to ensure that all hazards have been addressed.
  • Train persons to recognize the hazards associated with performing repair or maintenance tasks.
  • Prior to performing repair or maintenance tasks, turn the power off and block any raised component against accidentally lowering.
  • Assign a sufficient number of persons to repair or maintenance tasks to ensure the tasks can be safely performed.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing repair or maintenance tasks.
  • Monitor personnel routinely to determine that safe work procedures are followed.

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

Fatality #23 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2010

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On December 23, 2010, a 35 year- old contract blaster with 12 years of experience died at a crushed stone operation. After firing the blast, he immediately walked into the blast site to examine the shot material. The victim was approaching the edge of the shot material when the ground collapsed, engulfing him in the water-filled pit.

Best Practices

  • Conduct effective workplace examinations in areas where contractors are working. Identify all hazards, and take action to correct them.
  • Establish mining plans based on geological evaluations and implement procedures to effectively protect all persons.
  • Establish methods to identify subsurface cavities and voids such as advance drilling and geophysical surveys (ground penetrating radar – GPR), electrical resistivity, or other available methods.
  • Wait at least 15 minutes or longer before conducting post-blast inspections. Take additional time if geological anomalies or other hazards are identified during drilling or blasting.
  • Keep a safe distance from cracks or any other signs of unstable ground conditions.
  • Tie off using a secure anchorage zone.
  • Wear a life jacket where there is a danger from falling into water.

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