Safety Tips for Truck Drivers

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There are two sides to this reminder card which has helpful tips for smaller vehicle drivers as well. Click on it to download a copy to print.

Washington — A new safety tip card created by the National Transportation Safety Board for commercial motor vehicle drivers and owners is intended to reinforce common lessons learned from agency crash investigations.

Designed to be stored above a truck’s visor, the card advises drivers to:

  • Minimize all distractions and follow federal regulations regarding cellphone use.
  • Follow posted speed limits, and drive slower in inclement weather.
  • Stay healthy by taking breaks, exercising and managing fatigue. Also, avoid driving while taking prescription or over-the-counter medications that can cause impairment.
  • Wear seat belts, and make sure passengers follow suit.
  • Drive sober; never operate a CMV while impaired by drugs and alcohol.

You can download a free pdf copy of it here.

Time for a Hazcom Refresher

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Even if you’re at home it could be time for a refresher on how to use chemicals safely… or maybe especially if you’re home. Here’s a timely one on safely using cleaners and disinfectants. Once we return to work there will have to be an increase in use of them.

Follow the basic warnings provided in the graphic above, but more directly read the label, SDS (if you’re at work, though you can probably find one if you aren’t), and any other reliable materials you can find. Beware of alternate uses or combinations you might find recommended online. Remember, these are helpful, but powerful chemicals.

You can read the CDC technical report here.

New Part 46 New Miner Live Online

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Part 46 New Miner training requires 4 hours minimum of mining related training, First Aid training, and additional training to equal a total of 24 hours. This new live class takes care of the first part as well as providing some ideas on conducting the remainder with a competent trainer from your own company.

MSHA is NOT granting any exceptions to those who have not completed mine safety training before, so if you need to get some employees ready to hit the ground running when things open up here is your opportunity. I have been providing live online classes for ten years and other MSHA training materials for fifteen.

Check it out here or email randy@completesafetysolutions.com with any questions.

MNM Fatality – 1/23/20

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An over-the-road truck driver was found unresponsive near his bulk trailer, where it appears he fell from the top of the trailer. The driver was taken to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery; however, he passed away from his injuries.

Best Practices: 

  1. Provide a means to align bulk trailers under truck racks to assure the ramp is aligned correctly with the trailer’s lids so that miners have safe access. Alignment methods can include painted lines, concrete barriers, cameras and monitors, or sensors to indicate proper positioning.
  2. Wear proper footwear that is clean and in good condition.
  3. Examine work areas and routinely monitor work habits to ensure that workers follow safe work procedures.
  4. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed.

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

Construction Stand-Down

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Struck-by incidents are a leading cause of death among construction workers,[1]  and since 1992 the leading cause of nonfatal injuries in the construction industry.[2] According to OSHA, the four most common struck-by hazards are being struck-by a flying, falling, swinging, or rolling object. The NORA Construction Sector Council is undertaking a number of initiatives to increase awareness of struck-by hazards and ways to prevent them, including developing this online resource and launching a National Stand-Down to Prevent Struck-by Incidents.

Great graphics and resources to use anytime here.

MNM Fatality – 8/27/19

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On August 27, 2019 a miner was splitting and sorting rock in a quarry when lightning was observed in the distance. The miner was seeking shelter when he was struck by lightning.

Best Practices: 

  1. Train miners to take action after hearing thunder, seeing lightning, or perceiving any other warning signs of approaching thunderstorms.
  2. Use the established emergency communications system to provide miners with warnings when lightning is in the area.
  3. Identify locations for substantially built safe lightning shelters.
  4. Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder.

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

Changes to Fatality Listings

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For whatever reasons it has become increasingly difficult to continue the traditional listing of fatalities by relating what number it is for the year. Those numbers keep changing as fatalities are added months after they occur. I’ve been managing this site “by the numbers” for 10 years now and the past two have been totally irregular in reporting compared to even those decades previous to even the last ten. I have decided to change the way I list them to merely calling them by Coal or MNM and the date they occurred. Please understand that if they are listed many months after the fact it is more likely due to reporting lapses by MSHA rather than my own. I will continue to do my best to bring accurate and timely announcements with the hope of preventing other injuries and deaths by sharing information widely and quickly.

CDC COVID-19 Update

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INTERIM GUIDANCE for Critical Infrastructure Workers including:

  • Federal, state, & local law enforcement
  • 911 call center employees
  • Fusion Center employees
  • Hazardous material responders from government and the private sector
  • Janitorial staff and other custodial staff
  • Workers – including contracted vendors – in food and agriculture, critical manufacturing, informational technology, transportation, energy and government facilities

This important guideline is online here. The page includes pdf flyers to print out and post or share with workers. Note: this is provided for critical jobs where workers are needed to report to work and we salute them for their dedication. Other workers should support them by staying home as directed by their state and local governments.

2019 Fatality #25 / MNM #14

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Francis E. Tatro, a 69-year-old front-end loader operator with over 37 years of total mining experience, died from aspiration pneumonia on January 8, 2020.  Tatro suffered injuries and hospitalization as a result of an accident on July 30, 2019.  Tatro was operating a front-end loader when the front-end loader’s bucket contacted the ground, causing the front-end loader to abruptly stop. The force of the impact resulted in Tatro, who was not wearing a seat belt, striking the front window, which caused serious injury, including paralysis to the arms and legs. 

Best Practices: 

1. Always wear seat belts when operating mobile equipment.
2. Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment.
3. Know the hazards. Be certain anyone operating front-end loaders is aware of safe operating practices and potential hazards.

Click here for: Final Report (pdf).

Electro-Hydraulic Lifts Alert

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Damaged or defective welds on aerial lifts have caused several fatalities in the mining industry.

  1. A mechanic died while being lowered in an electro-hydraulic aerial lift. A weld splice fractured on a recently repaired arm of the lift, causing the arm to strike the victim in the head (Figure 1). The weld failed because of poor weld quality from an improper repair.
  2. A welder died while being lowered in an electro-hydraulic aerial lift when the lift arm catastrophically fractured at a critical weld connecting the arm support to its lift cylinder (Figure 2). Undetected cracks existed in the weld and the surrounding metal prior to failure.

Best Practices to Prevent the Mechanical Failure of Welded Connections
Prevent accidents by following proper welding procedures and performing regular inspections for damages or defects.

  • Only qualified welders should perform all welding.
  • Determine the service/fatigue life of mechanical systems or parts by consulting with the manufacturer.Inspect welds following installation and repairs, and periodically during service life.Train users in the proper operation of lifts – including not exceeding their design capacity.
  • Routinely examine metal components for signs of weakness, corrosion, fatigue cracks, bends, buckling, deflection, missing connectors, etc.
  • Use nondestructive test methods to detect cracks that may be indistinguishable to the eye.
  • Take cracked mechanical components out of service immediately. Small cracks can quickly grow and lead to catastrophic fracture.

Download a pdf of the alert Here.