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.

On Thursday, January 27, 2011, a 19 year old underground miner with fifteen weeks of mining experience was killed when he became caught between the “V” shaped coal discharge guides adjacent to the discharge roller of the section conveyor belt. Both belt conveyors were operating at the time of the accident.

Best Practices

• Train all employees thoroughly on the dangers of working or traveling around moving conveyor belts.
• Never attempt to cross a moving belt conveyor, except at suitable cross-overs or cross-unders.
• Install proper belt cross-overs and/or cross-unders at strategic locations, when height allows.
• Be aware of locations where new miners are working or intend to travel.
• Provide belt conveyor stop and start controls at areas where miners must access both sides of the conveyor. These areas should be provided with adequate crossing facilities (e.g. cross-overs or cross-unders).
• Install adequate guarding at all conveyor belt pinch point locations.

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

On Wednesday, October 27, 2010, 39-year old continuous mining machine helper, with approximately 4 years of mining experience, was killed when he was struck by a loaded shuttle car. The victim was in the No.7 Entry between crosscuts No.37 and No.38, repairing a ventilation curtain. This entry and adjoining crosscuts were being used to gain access to the ratio feeder, which was located in the No.6 Entry.

Best Practices

• Before performing work in an active haulage travelway, stop mobile equipment until work has been completed and communicate your position and intended movements to mobile equipment operators.
• Use approved transparent ventilation curtains to improve visibility.
• Operate mobile equipment at safe speeds and sound audible warnings when making turns, reversing directions, approaching ventilation curtains, and any time the operator’s visibility is obstructed. The sound level of audible warnings must be significantly higher than that of ambient noise.
• Place visible warning devices at all entrances to areas where work is to be performed in the active travelway of mobile equipment.
• Be aware of blind spots when traveling in the same areas where mobile equipment operates.
• Install proximity detection systems on mobile face equipment.
• Always wear reflective clothing, or use permissible personal flashing lights, to ensure high visibility when necessary to walk or work where moving equipment operates.

For more information related to struck-by equipment accidents view the following link: MSHA – Safety Targets Program – Hit By Underground Equipment at www.msha.gov.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)