Underground

Fatality #1 for Coal Mining 2015

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c01.jpgOn Wednesday, January 28, 2015, a 43-year-old continuous mining machine operator with 10 years of mining experience was killed when he was pinned between the conveyor boom of a remote controlled continuous mining machine and a coal rib.  The victim was operating the continuous mining machine from a remote position in the entry and was preparing for the next mining cycle when the accident occurred.

Best Practices

  • Install and maintain proximity detection systems to protect personnel and eliminate accidents of this type. See the proximity detection information page on the MSHA website (Proximity Detection Single Source).
  • Avoid “RED ZONE” areas when operating or working near a continuous mining machine, especially when moving a remote controlled continuous mining machine.  Frequently review, retrain, and discuss avoiding “RED ZONE” areas (http://www.msha.gov/Alerts/20040407REDZONE2.pdf).
  • Ensure all miners, including the continuous mining machine operator, are outside the machine’s turning radius before starting or moving equipment.
  • Stay behind moving mobile equipment when traveling in the same entry, and maintain a safe distance from any moving equipment.
  • Use low tram speed when moving a continuous mining machine where the left and right traction drives are operated independently.  The continuous mining machine pivots quickly when the tracks tram over raised areas of the mine floor.
  • Never turn your back to a self-propelled machine or get into an area where it can swing into you.
  • Develop and follow effective policies and procedures for starting and tramming self-propelled equipment.  Train all miners regarding these policies and procedures.
  • Ensure that the continuous mining machine operator has full visibility of the area while tramming equipment.
  • Assign another miner to assist the continuous mining machine operator when the machine is being moved or repositioned.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #3 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2015

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m03On January 21, 2015, a 54-year old miner (ground support) with 4 years of experience was killed at an underground lead mine.  The victim was operating a mechanical scaler in an intersection when a roof fall (55 feet long x 20 feet wide x 6 feet thick) occurred, covering the machine.

Best Practices

  • Establish safe work procedures that ensure a safe work location for miners conducting scaling operations, and train all miners to recognize and understand these procedures.
  • 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 miners.
  • Always examine and test areas for loose ground before starting to work, after blasting, and as ground conditions warrant.
  • Identify and scale loose material from a safe position which will not expose miners to falling material.
  • Test for loose material frequently during work activities.  Be alert to any change of ground conditions.
  • Install ground support in roof and ribs where conditions warrant.
  • Use equipment with a reach that reduces the possibility of the equipment being struck by falling material.

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

Fatality #2 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2015

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2On January 11, 2015, a 53-year old contract shaft miner with 35 years of experience was killed at an underground gold mine.  The victim was positioned on a work platform on top of a skip traveling up the ventilation shaft.  He struck a steel cross member on a beam in the shaft.

Best Practices

  • Train all persons in hazard recognition, awareness of their surroundings, and safe positioning when riding skips.
  • To prevent hazard exposure, require safe positioning for personnel who ride skips.
  • Monitor all persons for safe positioning when riding skips.
  • Place warning signs on skip platforms to remind persons to keep body parts inside the handrails.

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

Fatality #15 for Coal Mining 2014

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c15On Tuesday, December 16, 2014, a 34-year-old repairman, with approximately 15 years of mining experience, was killed when struck by a ram car while he was walking inby toward the face of the No. 7 entry. The ram car operator moved the ram car into the No. 7 entry with the batteries positioned outby the face area and then traveled towards the face area, striking the victim with the left side, trailer end of the ram car.

Best Practices

  • Use proximity detection systems to protect personnel from accidents of this type.  See the proximity detection single source page on the MSHA web site.
  • Ensure that visibility is clear in the direction of travel and across the equipment being operated.
  • Use transparent curtain for checks and line curtains in the active face areas.
  • Sound audible warnings if the equipment operator’s visibility is obstructed, when making turns, reversing direction, or approaching ventilation curtains.  Ensure the sound levels of audible warnings are significantly higher than ambient noise.
  • Come to a complete stop and sound an audible warning before moving equipment through ventilation controls/curtains.
  • Operate lights in the direction of travel when operating haulage equipment.
  • Position yourself in an area or location where equipment operators can readily see you and confirm eye contact with the operator.
  • Require the use of personal strobe lights for any foot traffic inby the tailpiece.  Position personal strobe lights on the back of hard hats or equivalent areas and use reflective materials to ensure maximum visibility.
  • For more information related to struck-by equipment accidents, view the following link: MSHA – Safety Targets Programs – Hit By Underground Equipment at www.msha.gov

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #14 for Coal Mining 2014

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14c14On Monday, November 10, 2014, at approximately 9:35 p.m., a 49-year-old section foreman with 27 years of mining experience was killed when he was struck by a large rock that measured 5 feet by 3 feet by 13 inches thick.  The victim was operating the roof bolting machine on the 2 North section in the No. 2 entry at the time of the accident.  The rock fell inby the last full row of permanent roof supports and between the automated temporary roof support (ATRS) and the left rib.

Best Practices
  • Perform a visual examination of the roof, face, and ribs immediately before any other work is started in the area.
  • Be alert to changing conditions, especially after activities that could cause roof disturbance.
  • While under supported roof, perform sound and vibration tests where roof supports are to be installed.
  • Adequately support or scale down any loose roof or rib material from a safe location.
  • Ensure that ATRS systems on all roof bolting machines are maintained in good working condition and set firmly against the mine roof before installing new roof supports.
  • Ensure ATRS are set within 5 feet of permanent support as well as within 5 feet of the rib line.
  • Stay under the roof bolting machine canopy when working in the area between the ATRS and the last row of permanent roof support.
  • Ensure that the approved roof control plan is followed and is suitable for the geologic conditions encountered at the mine.  If conditions change and cause the plan to no longer be suitable, the plan must be revised to provide adequate support for the control of the roof face and ribs.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #11 for Coal Mining 2014

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FTL14c11aOn Tuesday, September 16, 2014, a mobile equipment operator, with 10 years of mining experience, was killed while operating a mobile diesel can–setter.  He was stock piling pallets to prepare for the extraction of a longwall when he was crushed in the articulation area of the can-setter.
Best Practices

  • Do not position yourself in pinch-point areas while a piece of equipment is running.  Ensure that equipment operators remain in the confines of the equipment cab while the machine is running.
  • Never work or travel in the articulation area of equipment without engaging the steering frame lock or without using another effective means of preventing motion if the lock cannot be used.
  • Always preform thorough pre-operational examinations on mobile equipment to identify any defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.
  • Ensure that equipment modifications are either original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts or at least meet OEM specifications.
  • Ensure that equipment controls are maintained and function as designed.
  • Do not depend on hydraulic systems to hold mobile equipment stationary during repairs or maintenance.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #9 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c09On Wednesday, August 20, 2014, a 41-year-old maintenance supervisor with approximately 19 years of mining experience was killed when he came in contact with an energized component inside an explosion proof enclosure.  The victim had removed the enclosure’s panel cover and was troubleshooting or performing electrical work on the 600 VAC roof bolting machine when he was electrocuted.

Best Practices
  • Wear properly rated and well maintained electrical gloves when troubleshooting or testing energized circuits.
  • REMEMBER, troubleshooting or testing is the work of locating electrical problems and verifying that proper repairs have been made.
  • After locating the electrical problem, and before performing electrical work, open the circuit breaker, and disconnect and lock-out and tag-out the visual disconnecting device.
  • Use properly rated electrical meters and non-contact voltage testers to ensure electrical circuits are deenergized prior to performing electrical work.
  • REMEMBER, electrical work is the work required to install or maintain electrical equipment or conductors.
  • Perform your own lock-out and tag-out procedure and NEVER rely on others to do this for you.
  • Install warning labels on a circuit breaker’s line side terminals stating that the terminal lugs remain energized when the circuit breaker is open.
  • Develop, communicate, and execute a written plan before performing electrical troubleshooting and repair to ensure that safety is maximized for all miners involved in the task.

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

Fatality #13 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m13On June 2, 2014, a 36-year-old shaft repairman with 18 years of experience was killed at an underground silver mine. Two miners were working in a shaft standing on a work platform attached to a skip. The skip was hoisted and the victim was crushed between the skip and the shaft timber.

Best Practices

  • Develop and implement a standard operating procedure (SOP) for the safe operation of hoists. Post these procedures near the hoist control panels in a conspicuous location and ensure persons are trained in these procedures.
  • 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.
  • Identify safe anchor points for fall protection and train all persons to understand the hazards related to fall protection and hoisting operations.
  • Communicate work activities prior to beginning a task and maintain communications throughout the shift.
  • Install audible and visual alarms which have adequate delay time to ensure persons are clear of impending hoist movement.
  • Ensure all miners are accounted for before movement of the hoist.
  • Conduct thorough examinations of all hoisting equipment and safety mechanisms on a daily basis. Ensure that persons conducting these examinations are trained adequately. Correct any deficiencies identified immediately.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #6 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c06On Wednesday, May 14, 2014, a 25-year-old roof bolter operator with 1 year and 44 weeks mining experience was killed when he was pinned between a roof-bolting machine and the coal rib. The victim and another roof bolter operator were in the process of tramming the roof-bolting machine in the outby direction in the No. 3 entry on the No. 1 Longwall Tailgate. They had trammed the roof bolting machine from the 151 crosscut to approximately the 89 ½ crosscut when the accident occurred. The victim was found on the left side of the roof-bolting machine between the machine and the coal rib.

Best Practices
  • Ensure everyone, including the equipment operator, is outside the machine-turning radius before starting or moving equipment.
  • Walk behind moving mobile equipment when traveling in the same entry and maintain a safe distance between yourself and any equipment that is moving.
  • Never position yourself in an area or location where equipment operators cannot readily see you.
  • Develop policies and procedures for starting and tramming self-propelled equipment.  Train all miners that would be exposed to the hazards.
  • When moving self-propelled machines where the left and right traction drives are operated independently, low tram speed should be used.
  • Never defeat any of the machine controls.  Ensure that all operating devices function as designed.
  • Install and maintain proximity detection systems to protect personnel and eliminate accidents of this type. See the proximity detection single source page on the MSHA website.

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

Fatality #4 & #5 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c0405On Monday, May 12, 2014, a 48-year-old continuous mining machine operator with 26 years of mining experience, and a 46-year-old mobile roof support operator/roof bolter with 3½ years of mining experience, were fatally injured as a result of a coal rib burst. The section crew was retreat mining in the #6 entry of the 4 East Mains Panel. They were mining the second lift of the left pillar block when the accident occurred.

Best Practices
  • Conduct frequent and thorough examinations of the roof, face, and ribs.  Be alert for changing conditions.  When hazardous conditions are detected, danger off access to the area until it is made safe for work and travel.
  • Ensure that the approved roof control plan support provisions are suitable for the geological conditions at the mine and that the plan is followed.
  • Train all miners in the requirements of the approved roof control plan and instruct miners to follow the plan at all times.
  • Ensure that the pillar dimensions and the mining method are suitable for the conditions, and that roof and rib control methods are adequate for the depth of cover.  Consider the potential effects of any mines above or below the active workings.
  • Develop a map of geological features and unusual conditions in order to develop the best mining plan that addresses the potentially adverse roof and rib conditions that may be present.

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