Underground

Coal Fatality – 8/17/22

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MINE FATALITY – On August 17, 2022, a general inside laborer died when he was caught between a supply car and its coupler.  The victim was sitting on the supply car which was coupled to a locomotive parked in a track spur.  The locomotive was struck by another locomotive pulling three loaded cars into the mine.  The impact knocked the victim off the supply car, killing him.

Best Practices: 

  • Assure track switches are in the proper position for your direction of travel and the latches are in contact with the rail.
  • Make sure miners are in a safe location away from equipment parked in a track spur when other equipment is passing along the main rail line.
  • Make sure miners communicate their location and intended movements with the dispatcher.  Repeat the switch alignment back to the dispatcher, where applicable.

Additional Information: 

This is the 18th fatality reported in 2022, and the fourth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 7/21/22

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On July 21, 2022, a miner received fatal injuries when his right arm became entangled in an auger (screw) conveyor. 

Best Practices: 

  • Secure all conveyor covers in place during normal operation.  Keep tools, clothing, and body parts away from moving conveyors.
  • De-energize, lock out, tag out, and block machinery against hazardous motion before performing repairs or maintenance.  Never perform work on a moving conveyor.
  • Examine work areas and equipment.  Report defects to miners and assure defects are corrected and recorded.  Test emergency shut-off devices frequently.

Additional Information: 

This is the 16th fatality reported in 2022, and the sixth classified as “Machinery.”

Click here or: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 6/20/22 Underground

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A 50 year-old miner died when the excavator he was operating underground slid over an elevated loading pad and was engulfed by lime dust.

Best Practices: 

•    Conduct workplace examinations prior to beginning work and assure hazards are corrected.
•    Train miners to identify and report hazards and stay clear of potentially unstable areas.

Additional Information: 

This is the 15th fatality reported in 2022, and the fifth classified as “Machinery.”

Click here or: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 2/14/22

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On February 14, 2022, a 34 year-old maintenance technician died while driving a lube truck underground.  The truck over traveled the edge of a stope and fell approximately 60 feet into the stope drift.

Best Practices: 

  • Provide berms, bumper blocks, safety hooks, or similar impeding devices at dumping locations where there is a hazard of over travel.
  • Examine working places before work begins for conditions that may adversely affect safety and health

Additional Information: 

This is the seventh fatality reported in 2022, and the third classified as “Powered Haulage.”

Click here for: preliminary report (pdf) Final Report (pdf).

Coal Fatality – 3/20/22

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On March 20, 2022, a 33 year-old miner died when he was struck by a roof fall while moving a waterline outby the retreat mining section.  The intersection of the fall area was supported with five-foot fully grouted roof bolts and 10-foot cable bolts.  The roof fall was approximately 40 feet long, 18 feet wide, and five feet thick. 

Best Practices: 

  • Conduct a visual examination of the roof, face, and ribs immediately before any work is started in an area.
  • Be alert to changing roof conditions, especially during retreat mining.
  • Train miners on how to identify hazardous roof and rib conditions.

Additional Information: 

This is the 11th fatality reported in 2022, and the second classified as “Fall of Roof or Back.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

Coal Fatality – 3/2/22

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On March 2, 2022, a miner was fatally injured when an overhang along the mine rib fell, striking the miner and pushing him against the canopy of a twin boom roof bolting machine.  The miner freed himself from the fall, but later died. 

Best Practices: 

  • Remove overhangs with the continuous mining machine.
  • Install support of proper length with surface area coverage, on cycle, and in a consistent pattern for the best protection against falls.
  • Examine the roof, face, and ribs immediately before starting work in an area where people work and travel, including sound and vibration testing where applicable.
  • Scale loose roof and ribs from a safe location.  Prevent access to hazardous areas until you take corrective measures.
  • Take additional safety precautions when encountering new and changing roof and rib conditions.
  • Train miners on how to identify hazardous roof and rib conditions.

Additional Information: 

This is the ninth fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Fall of Face, Rib, Side, or Highwall.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

Coal Fatality – 2/28/22

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On February 28, 2022, a contract miner died when he was crushed between the rib and a single boom face drill.  The victim was alongside the drill using the onboard tram lever controls when the accident occurred because the remote control was inoperable.

Best Practices: 

  • Mobile equipment shall be maintained in safe operating condition.  Immediately remove mobile equipment in unsafe condition from service.
  • Always operate mobile equipment from a safe location.  Use the remote control or operate from within the operator’s compartment if available.
  • Determine the proper working position to avoid pinch points and Red Zone areas.
  • Train miners on the safety aspects and safe operating procedures of mobile equipment before use.  Review and discuss pinch points and Red Zone locations.

Additional Information: 

This is the eighth fatality reported in 2022, and the third classified as “Machinery.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

Coal Fatality – 1/14/22

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On January 14, 2022, a 44-year-old contract laborer with 13 years of total experience received fatal injuries when he fell 27 feet to a concrete surface.  At the time of the accident, the contractor was on a belt conveyor in a preparation plant and was working to replace a belt conveyor roller. 

Best Practices: 

  • Establish and follow safety policies and procedures, when working at heights.
  • Train miners to use fall protection when a fall hazard exists.
  • Ensure fall protection is available and properly maintained.
  • Provide identifiable and secure anchor points to attach lanyards and lifelines.
  • Provide mobile or stationary platforms—or scaffolding—where there is a risk of falling.

Additional Information: 

This is the fourth fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Slip or Fall of Person”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

Coal Fatality – 1/7/22

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On January 7, 2022, a 35 year-old continuous mining machine (CMM) operator was fatally injured when he was pinned between the remote controlled CMM and the coal rib. 

Best Practices: 

  • Operate equipment from a safe location. Stay out of “Red Zone” areas including pinch points, the CMM turning radius, and areas close to the ribs.
  • Maintain proximity detection systems (PDS) in the approved operating condition.
  • Perform the manufacturer’s recommended static and dynamic tests to assure the PDS is functioning properly. Verify that the shutdown zones are at sufficient distances to stop the CMM before contacting a miner.
  • Wear miner wearable components in accordance with PDS manufacturer’s recommendations so warning lights and sounds can be seen and heard.
  • Develop and implement procedures for tramming, repositioning, cable handling and moving remote controlled CMMs safely.
  • Train miners on the function of PDS.

Additional Information: 

This is the second fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Machinery.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 1/7/22

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On January 7, 2022, a 49 year-old front-end loader operator with 15 years of mining experience died when a large rock fell from the mine roof, crushing the cab of the front-end loader.  When the accident occurred, the victim was loading material from a recently blasted shot. 

Best Practices: 

  • Scale the back and ribs before performing work in an area.
  • Conduct examinations of the back, face, and ribs where miners work and travel.
  • Install suitable ground support where conditions warrant.
  • Use geologic hazard mapping to identify adverse conditions and be aware of changing ground conditions.
  • Train miners to identify workplace hazards and take action to correct them.

Additional Information: 

This is the first fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Fall of Roof or Back.”

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).