Underground

Fatality #16 for Coal Mining 2011

renewcomerLeave a comment

On Friday, October 7, 2011, a 23-year-old section repairman with five years of mining experience was killed when a continuous haulage conveyor fell on him. A rock had been used to block up the continuous haulage conveyor. The victim was working beneath the continuous haulage conveyor attempting to repair the bridge conveyor chain.

Best Practices
  • Do not work under raised equipment unless it is securely blocked.
  • Use proper blocking material that is properly placed and stable.
  • Conduct thorough examinations of all areas where work is scheduled and have adequate oversight to ensure all tasks are performed in a safe manner.
  • Provide additional training for all work procedures emphasizing best practices for each specific task.
  • Evaluate hazard potential before working in tight spaces. Click on the following link for more information: MSHA – SLAM Risks the Smart Way – Safety and Health Outreach Program Home Page.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #8 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

renewcomerLeave a comment

On September 7, 2011, a 30 year-old miner with I year of experience was killed at an underground gold mine. The victim was on a ramp waiting for a blast to be initiated. When the round was initiated, small rock and debris traveled through a 3-inch diameter diamond borehole, striking him.

Best Practices 

  • Plug a diamond drill hole that intersects any opening and map the hole.
  • During blasting operations, consider mine specific conditions, including diamond drill holes and rock strata, and establish mine policies and procedures to protect all persons.
  • When developing a blasting plan, make sure all drilled holes and open passageways that intersect the area to be blasted are known and taken into consideration before initiating any blast.
  • Use a central blasting system and schedule blasting between shifts or on off-shifts when no one is present.
  • Train persons to identify hazards associated with blasting activity and take action to correct them.
  • Never initiate a blast until the blast area has been determined to be safe and all persons have been evacuated from the designated blasting area.
  • Take special precautions to ensure that all roadways and regularly traveled areas are blocked to prevent access when blasting is being conducted.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #14 for Coal Mining 2011

renewcomerLeave a comment

On Monday, August 15, 2011, a 46 year old miner was killed when he was struck by a portion of the mine roof that fell from an area adjacent to a longwall shield. The accident occurred during a longwall move, while the victim was installing a wooden crib in an area where a longwall face shield had been removed previously. The victim had approximately five years experience with this activity.

Best Practices
  • Assure that roof control plans are suitable to the prevailing geological conditions. If roof geology changes affect roof stability, reevaluate roof support techniques.
  • Share and discuss roof control plans with the miners on a regular basis. For miner safety, assure that the roof control plan safety precautions are followed.
  • Provide additional training for specialized work, such as longwall moves, emphasizing best practices for a specific task.
  • Conduct examinations of roof conditions frequently to prevent exposure to poor roof conditions. Remain vigilant for changing roof conditions.
  • When hazardous roof conditions are detected, danger off areas until they are made safe.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #13 for Coal Mining 2011

renewcomerLeave a comment

On Monday, August 8, 2011, a 41-year-old longwall mechanic with nine years of mining experience was killed when he was struck in the chest by a piece of metal from the top of a base lift jack mounted on a longwall shield. The jack catastrophically failed resulting in the end cap separating from the cylinder and striking the victim.

Best Practices

  • Do not alter hydraulic circuits in a manner that could result in the trapping of pressurized hydraulic fluid.
  • When isolating hydraulic components for repair, ensure that the hydraulic system has a means to bleed the pressure from the components being repaired.
  • Evaluate potential energy sources before working in tight spaces. Click on the following link for more information: MSHA – SLAM Risks the Smart Way – Safety and Health Outreach Program Home Page
  • Ensure re-built components meet original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications.
  • Ensure miners are adequately trained in proper maintenance procedures and plan requirements.
  • Examine and periodically inspect all hydraulic components for defects.
  • Ensure the ratings of hydraulic components are compatible with their intended use.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #10 for Coal Mining 2011

renewcomerLeave a comment

On Monday, July 11, 2011 a 26-year-old supply motor operator, with 6 years 1 month of mining experience, was killed while transporting materials using a diesel powered 15-ton locomotive. When the locomotive approached a low, steel, over-cast beam, the victim placed his head outside of the operator’s compartment and was struck by the steel beam and the locomotive’s canopy.

Best Practices

  • Keep all body parts within the operator’s compartment while the equipment is in motion.
  • Ensure that all track mounted equipment has adequate clearance throughout mine.
  • Always look in the direction of equipment movement and exercise caution in low clearance work areas.
  • Conduct proper workplace and travelway examinations to identify and mitigate the hazards presented by low clearances.
  • Install warning signs that tell operators to reduce speed in low clearance areas.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #9 for Coal Mining 2011

renewcomerLeave a comment

On Wednesday, June 29, 2011, at approximately 11:15 a.m., a 49 year old continuous haulage cable attendant was killed when he was struck by a section of rib. The rock was approximately 82 inches long, 36 inches wide, and 11 inches thick. The mining height at the accident site was just over seven feet, and the depth of cover was 700 feet.

Best Practices

  • Conduct thorough pre-shift and on-shift examinations of the roof, face, and ribs immediately before working or traveling in an area, and thereafter as conditions warrant.
  • Know and follow the Approved Roof Control Plan. Take additional measures to protect persons when hazards are encountered.
  • Assure the Approved Roof Control Plan is suitable for prevailing geological conditions. Revise the plan if conditions change and the support system is not adequate to control the roof, face, and ribs.
  • Rib bolts provide the best protection against rib falls and are most effective when installed on cycle and in a consistent pattern.
  • Be alert to changing geological conditions which may affect roof, rib, and face conditions.
  • Support loose ribs or roof adequately or scale down loose material before beginning work.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #8 for Coal Mining 2011

renewcomerLeave a comment

On Monday, June 27, 2011, a 33 year old miner was killed when a portion of coal and rock fell from the upper portion of a pillar rib. The material that fell was approximately 8 feet long, by 32 inches thick, by 3 feet high.

Best Practices

  • Conduct a thorough visual examination of the roof, face, and ribs immediately before any work or travel is started in an area and thereafter as conditions warrant.
  • Perform careful examinations of pillar corners, particularly where the angles are formed between entries and crosscuts are less than 90 degrees.
  • Support any loose rib or roof material adequately or scale before beginning work.
  • Take additional safety precautions when mining heights increase to prevent development of rib hazards.
  • In areas prone to deterioration, install rib support when the area is mined initially.
  • Be alert to changing geologic conditions which may affect roof/rib conditions.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).

Fatality #5 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

renewcomerLeave a comment

On April 25, 2011, a 31 year- old drill operator with 6 weeks of experience was killed at an underground crushed stone operation. He was walking in a crosscut when a slab of roof, approximately 5 feet wide by 6 feet long by 10 inches thick, struck him.

Best Practices

  • Train persons to identify work place hazards and take action to correct them.
  • Design, install, and maintain a support system to control the ground in places where persons work or travel.
  • Examine and test ground conditions in areas where work is to be performed prior to work commencing and as ground conditions warrant during the shift.
  • When ground conditions create a hazard to persons, install additional ground support before other work is permitted in the affected area.
  • Be alert to any change of ground conditions.

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

Fatality #4 for Coal Mining 2011

renewcomerLeave a comment

On Friday, March 25, 2011, a 54-year old continuous mining machine operator with 35 years of experience was killed when he was caught between the coal rib and the conveyor boom of the remote controlled continuous mining machine he was operating.

Best Practices
  • AVOID “RED ZONES”!!! Prior to tramming the continuous mining machine to a new place, ensure the machine operator is positioned outside the turning radius of the machine. MSHA Red Zone webcast (pdf)
  • Prior to tramming the continuous mining machine to a new place, ensure the tip of the conveyor boom is positioned on the side of the mining machine opposite to the side where the machine operator is located.
  • Install MSHA approved Proximity Detection Systems on continuous mining machines. Proximity Detection Single Source
  • Assign another miner to assist the continuous mining machine operator. Train all persons in the programs, policies, and procedures for operating or working near remote controlled continuous mining machines. Additional information on preventing these types of accidents can be found at: MSHA’s Safety Targets Program Hit By Underground Equipment.

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

Fatality #4 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

renewcomerLeave a comment

On April 15, 2011, a 53 year- old miner with 26 years of experience was killed at an underground silver operation. He was wetting a muck pile in a stope when a fall of back, approximately 90 feet long, struck him.

Best Practices

  • Design, install, and maintain a support system to control the ground in places where persons work or travel.
  • Examine and test ground conditions in areas where work is to be performed prior to work commencing and as ground conditions warrant during the shift.
  • When ground conditions create a hazard to persons, install additional ground support before other work is permitted in the affected area.
  • Analyze extraction ratios and backfill methods and characteristics to improve stability.
  • Be alert to any change of ground conditions.

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