Underground

Fatality #6 for Coal 2018

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On Tuesday, September 11, 2018, a mobile bridge conveyor (MBC) operator, with 8 weeks of mining experience, was fatally injured during the mining process.  The continuous mining machine (CMM) and attached MBCs had been backed out of a completed cut.  While the CMM was being repositioned, it moved the attached MBCs and crushed the victim between his MBC and the coal rib.
Best Practices: 

  • Frequently communicate with other MBC operators before starting or tramming any component of the system.  Always be in a location where other MBC operators can readily see or communicate with you.
  • Install latching emergency stop switches so MBC operators can actuate them to prevent machine movement when they leave the operator’s cab or position.  See PIB No. P11-16 for information on man-in position switches. https://arlweb.msha.gov/regs/complian/PIB/2011/pib11-16.pdf
  • Stay out of MBC Red Zones if the CMM or any of the MBCs are energized.
  • Be familiar with how the de-energizing switches on your machine operate and immediately actuate them the moment a hazard is recognized.
  • Install man-in-position switches on mobile bridge conveyor systems so all MBC operators know everyone is in a safe position before initiating machine movement.

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

Fatality #5 for Coal 2018

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On Monday, June 4, 2018, a 43-year-old miner with 10 years of mining experience, was fatally injured when a roof jack struck him in the head.  At the time of the accident, the miner was a passenger in a personnel carrier that traveled over the roof jack, which was lying in the roadway at the time.  As a result of being hit, the roof jack was propelled into the passenger’s compartment, striking the victim. The victim was flown to a hospital where he died from his injuries.
Best Practices: 

  • Conduct thorough examinations of roadways and remove material that may pose a hazard to equipment operators, passengers, or other miners.
  • Maintain roadways free of excessive water, mud, and other conditions which have an impact on an equipment operator’s ability to control mobile equipment.
  • Establish safe operating procedures for mobile equipment and a maintenance schedule for roadways.
  • Secure loads being hauled to prevent them from falling off haulage vehicles.
  • Ensure each item being hauled reaches the intended destination.
  • If items are lost during transport, immediately search for them and warn other mobile equipment operators.

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

Fatality #4 for Coal 2018

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On Wednesday, March 28, 2018, a 29-year-old belt foreman with .eight years of total mining experience was fatally injured while he and a co-worker were in the process of splicing an underground conveyor belt when the conveyor belt inadvertently started.  The victim became entangled with the belt splicing tools as the conveyor belt moved.
Best Practices: 

  • Before splicing conveyor belts, perform the following steps:
    • Open the circuit breaker that supplies electrical power to the conveyor belt drive.
    • Open the visual disconnect for the cable that supplies electrical power to the conveyor belt drive.
    • Lock-out and tag-out the visual disconnect yourself and NEVER rely on someone to do this for you.
    • Release the tension in the conveyor belt take-up/storage unit.
    • Block the conveyor belt against motion.
  • Keep the key to the lock at all times while repairs and/or maintenance are performed.
  • Ensure that you are the only person who removes the lock after repairs and/or maintenance are completed.
  • Ensure that no miner is in harm’s way before starting the conveyor belt(s).
  • Provide a visible and/or audible system, with a start-up delay, to warn persons that the conveyor belt will begin moving.
  • Establish policies and procedures for performing specific tasks on conveyor belts and ensure all miners are trained.

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

Fatality #3 for Coal 2018

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On Friday, March 16, 2018, a 34-year-old mechanic with 16 years of total mining experience was fatally injured while operating a diesel personnel carrier on the mine haulage road.  The vehicle hit the right rib and rolled onto its left side.  The victim was partially ejected from the mantrip and the canopy of the mantrip came to rest on his chest.

Best Practices: 
  • Operate all mobile equipment at speeds that are consistent with the type of equipment, roadway conditions, grades, clearances, visibility, and other traffic.
  • Consider installing mechanical devices that limit the top speeds of fast-moving equipment.
  • Travel at safe speeds so that mobile equipment can be stopped within the limits of visibility.
  • Maintain haulage roadways free from bottom irregularities, debris, and wet or muddy conditions that affect the control of the equipment.
  • Maintain steering and braking components so that mobile equipment can be controlled at all times.
  • Properly maintain brakes, lights, and warning devices on mobile equipment.  Perform functional tests of the brakes and other safety devices during the pre-operational examination.
  • Install safety devices, including seat belts, and ensure they are properly used and/or worn.
  • Conduct task training for each type of personnel carrier or equipment being operated.

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

Fatality #1 for Coal 2018

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On February 6, 2018, a 52-year-old electrician with 13 years of mining experience was fatally injured while working alone performing routine maintenance on a continuous mining machine.  A portion of rib, measuring 42 inches long, 28 inches high, and 14 inches thick, fell and struck the victim.  He was found between a coal rib and the continuous mining machine.

Best Practices: 
  • Be aware of potential hazards when working or traveling near mine ribs, especially when geologic conditions, or an increase in mining height, could cause roof or rib hazards.  Take additional safety precautions while working in these conditions.
  • Correct all hazardous conditions before allowing miners to work and travel in these areas.  Adequately support or scale any loose roof or rib material from a safe location.  Use a bar of suitable length and design when scaling.
  • Train all miners to conduct thorough examinations of the roof, face, and ribs in their work areas, including more frequent examinations when conditions change.
  • Install rib bolts with adequate surface area coverage, during the mining cycle, and in a consistent pattern for the best protection against rib falls.
  • Know and follow the approved roof control plan.  The roof control plan only contains minimum safety requirements.  Additional support may be required when roof or rib fractures, or other abnormalities are detected.

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

Fatality #14 for Coal Mining 2017

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On Monday, October 23, 2017, a 48-year-old mine examiner with 19 years of mining experience, received fatal injuries after he fell on the No. 1 conveyor belt near the transfer point with the No. 2 conveyor belt and was transported by the belt conveyor system to the raw coal pile. It appears he was attempting to cross the No. 1 conveyor belt at the time of the accident.

Best Practices

  • Never attempt to cross a moving conveyor belt, except at suitable crossing facilities.
  • Train all employees thoroughly on the dangers of working on or traveling around moving conveyor belts.
  • Provide conveyor belt stop and start controls at areas where miners must access both sides of the belt.
  • Install practical and usable belt crossing facilities at strategic locations, including near controls, when height allows.
  • Install pull cords to disconnect power to the conveyor belt at strategic locations along the conveyor belt.

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

Fatality #13 for Coal Mining 2017

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On Thursday, September 28, 2017, a 39-year-old miner with ten years of mining experience received fatal injuries when coal from the longwall face rolled out and completely covered him. The victim was assisting with roof bolting by untangling the mesh during the longwall recovery process. At the time of the accident, the victim was located between the coal face and the pan line.

Best Practices

  • DO NOT ENTER the panline, or any immediate work area, unless the roof and longwall face have been made safe. This includes reducing exposure by minimizing the distance from the face to the tips of the shield.
  • Scale roof, face, and ribs with a bar of suitable length and design or other safe means.
  • Ensure miners are trained on the minimum requirements of the approved roof control plan.
  • Conduct thorough and more frequent examinations of the roof, face, and ribs when miners work or travel close to the longwall face, and continuously monitor for changing conditions
  • Before beginning a longwall recovery, ensure miners are trained to recognize the hazards associated with the recovery area.
  • Be aware of and correct potential hazards when working or traveling near mine ribs, especially when conditions exist that could cause roof or rib disturbance.

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

Fatality #12 for Coal Mining 2017

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On Friday, August 25, 2017, a 51-year-old mine examiner with 27 years of mining experience was killed when, near the transfer point with the No. 2 conveyor belt, he apparently lost his footing attempting to cross over the moving No. 1 conveyor belt. He fell onto the No. 1 belt and hit a belt crossover located approximately 10 feet outby. The victim was found beside the conveyor belt just outside the mine entrance.

Best Practices

  • Never attempt to cross a moving conveyor belt except at suitable crossing facilities.
  • Train all employees thoroughly on the dangers of working on or traveling around moving conveyor belts.
  • Provide conveyor belt stop and start controls at areas where miners must access both sides of the belt.
  • Install practical and usable belt crossing facilities at strategic locations, including near controls, when height allows.
  • Install pull cords and switches that control power to the belt along the wide side of the length of the conveyor belt to stop the belt in emergencies.

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

Fatality #9 for Coal Mining 2017

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On June 19, 2017, a 32-year-old preshift examiner was fatally injured when he was thrown or jumped from a moving locomotive.  Two locomotives (front and rear) were being used to transport three supply cars into the mine.  The examiner was riding in the passenger seat of the front locomotive when the operators lost control on a grade and the front locomotive and the first two supply cars derailed.

Best Practices

  • Maintain all equipment, including diesel-powered locomotives, in approved and safe operating condition or remove from service.
  • Conduct a pre-operational examination of mobile diesel-powered track equipment to be used during a shift.  Equipment defects affecting safety shall be reported and corrected before the equipment is used.
  • Perform functional tests of the brakes and sanders as part of the pre-operational examination.
  • Train all mobile diesel-powered track equipment operators on the braking systems, as well as on changing conditions that can create dampness on the rails reducing traction.
  • Operate the haulage equipment at a safe speed consistent with the track’s condition. Sand the tracks when there is high humidity at the mine.
  • Engage both the automatic and manual braking systems when the locomotive is stopped for any reason.
  • Secure loads to prevent shifting while in motion. Ensure clear communication between operators when multiple locomotives are used for haulage.

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

Fatality #8 for Coal Mining 2017

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On Tuesday, June 13, 2017, a 32-year-old continuous mining machine operator was fatally injured when he was pinned between the cutter head of a remote controlled continuous mining machine and the coal rib. The victim was backing the continuous mining machine from the working face when the accident occurred.

Best Practices

  • Avoid “RED ZONE” areas when operating or working near a remote controlled continuous mining machine. Ensure all personnel including the equipment operator are outside the machine turning radius before starting or moving the equipment. STAY OUT of RED ZONES.
  • Maintain a safe distance from any moving equipment and frequently review avoiding Red Zone areas.  Position the conveyor boom and the cutter head away from yourself or other miners working in the area or when moving the machine.
  • Tram or reposition a remote controlled continuous mining machine from the rear of the machine to prevent disorientation.  Never position yourself between the face and the continuous mining machine when  the machine is on.
  • Disable the continuous mining machine pump motor before handling trailing cables or positioning trailing cable tie-offs onto the machine.

For Machines Equipped with Proximity Detection Systems

  • Correct proximity detection system malfunctions when they occur and only use “Emergency Stop Override” to move the continuous mining machine to a safe location for repairs.
  • Perform recommended manufacturer’s dynamic test to ensure the proximity detection system is functioning properly.  Verify that the shutdown zones are at sufficient distances to stop the machine before contacting a miner.
  • Mine wearable components should be worn securely at all times in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and in a manner so warning lights and sounds can be seen and heard.

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