Fatality #13 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On October 25, 2018, a 29-year old laborer with 9 weeks of experience was fatally injured when the truck he was driving veered off the haul road and climbed an embankment, causing the truck to overturn.  He was not wearing a seatbelt.

Best Practices

  • Always wear a seat belt when operating mobile equipment.
  • Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment, especially vehicles with high centers of gravity.

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

Fatality #8 for Coal 2018

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On Wednesday, October 17, 2018, a 33-year-old auger helper with 3 days of total surface mining experience received fatal injuries during auger mining activities. The victim was attempting to move a section of auger steel by using the onboard crane when he was struck in the chest.
Best Practices: 

  • Maintain equipment in safe operating condition. Excessive pressure in a hydraulic circuit can drastically alter the control of booms, etc., creating serious hazards.
  • Establish policies and procedures for auger mining including, safe work procedures for removing auger steel from the auger tray.
  • Task train miners to recognize all potential hazards and understand safe job procedures before beginning work.
  • Monitor personnel routinely to ensure safe work procedures are being followed. Unauthorized persons should be kept clear of the work area.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that exposes you to hazards. Stand clear of suspended loads having the potential of becoming off-balanced while being moved.

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

Fatality #12 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On October 19, 2018, a 63-year old quarry manager, with 17 years of experience, was fatally injured when he lost control of the haul truck he was driving.  The victim was operating a haul truck down a steep grade and traveled through a berm and over a short drop-off.  The victim was not wearing a seat belt.

Best Practices

  • Always wear seat belts when operating mobile equipment.
  • Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment.
  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any defects affecting safety in a timely manner prior to operating mobile equipment.
  • Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Ensure that berms are adequate for the vehicles present on site.  Among other things, they should be constructed of appropriate materials, be of adequate height, and be built on firm ground.

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

Fatality #11 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On October 11, 2018, a 26-year old miner with 48 weeks of experience at the mine was fatally injured as a result of falling from on top of a previously cut block of granite.  The victim was in the process of separating the cut block of granite from the highwall when the cut block suddenly slid out.  The movement caused the miner, who was not wearing fall protection, to lose his balance and fall between the rock and the highwall causing fatal injuries.

Best Practices

  • Install fall protection systems that allow safe movement to perform work.
  • Always conduct examinations of working places in order to identify loose ground or unstable conditions before work begins and as changing ground conditions warrant.
  • Ensure that the person conducting the examination has the training and experience to recognize potential hazards.
  • Discuss work procedures and identify all hazards associated with working near highwalls along with the methods to protect personnel.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing work tasks.

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

Fatality #10 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On October 2, 2018, a 40-year old miner with 20 years of experience was fatally injured when struck by stemming sand ejected from a borehole.  While conducting a blasting operation in a new vertical raise, a contract foreman was attempting to clean out a previously blasted vertical borehole with high-pressure air.  A sudden release of energy forced stemming sand from the bottom of the borehole, striking the miner.

Best Practices

  • Assess the suitability of blasting methods when blasts do not perform as intended.
  • Use water to clean out the bottom of boreholes used for blasting.
  • Never position yourself directly over or in front of the collar of a borehole when cleaning it out.
  • Ensure miners are adequately task trained.

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

Fatality #9 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On August 22, 2018, a 29-year old miner with 1 year of experience was fatally injured while cleaning a snub pulley.  The victim was working from an aerial lift located under the belt conveyor when he became entangled in the conveyor pulley.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that persons assigned to clean conveyor belts have received adequate training and verify that safe belt conveyor work practices are followed.
  • Stay clear of moving equipment and do not reach into any part of a moving conveyor.
  • Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing when working around moving conveyor belt components.
  • Verify that all incoming power connectors are open by a circuit breaker, the conveyor is stopped and secured from movement before working on belt conveyors.
  • Provide and maintain safe access to elevated areas where routine maintenance is performed.

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

Fatality #7 for Coal 2018

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On Friday, September 7, 2018, a 60-year-old haul truck operator with 1 year of total mining experience received burn injuries while attempting to escape from the cab of the burning haul truck he was operating.  Due to complications associated with his injuries, the victim died five days later.
Best Practices: 

  • Thoroughly examine all haulage equipment and repair safety defects before placing equipment into service.  Follow the original equipment manufacturers maintenance recommendations.
  • Check for accumulations of combustible materials, cracked or blistered hoses, and uninsulated wires.
  • Be alert to changes in the way the equipment sounds or to a visible plume of exhaust coming from the exhaust system.
  • Conduct risk assessments on all equipment to determine safe exit locations for required escape and evacuation plans.
  • Establish and keep current an Escape and Evacuation Plan for exiting equipment in the event of a fire (§ 77.1101).  Train employees on contents of this plan.
  • Install well designed stairs or ladders to the equipment at both ends for an alternate escape.
  • Ensure fire suppression systems are properly maintained and protected from damage.  Install automatic fire suppression systems and train miners on their use.

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

Fatality #7 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On July 31, 2018, a 62-year old foreman with 40 years of experience, was fatally injured while dismantling a portable crusher. The front-end loader was placing a 20-foot long steel tube onto the screen feed conveyor. The front-end loader operator lowered the bucket and crushed the victim against the conveyor structure.

Best Practices

  • Front-end loader operators must ensure personnel are not near the machine when in operation.
  • Use cranes with appropriate rigging and tag lines to position components.
  • When working near equipment, make eye contact with the equipment operator and directly communicate your intended movements.
  • Wear a reflective vest or clothing while working.
  • Ensure all persons are trained to recognize workplace hazards – specifically, the limited visibility and blind areas inherent to operation of large equipment.
  • Prior to starting the task, train miners on proper maintenance procedures and discuss steps that will be taken to safely perform the job.

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

Fatality #6 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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On June 23, 2018, a 46-year old electrician with 10 weeks of experience was fatally injured while trying to stop runaway railcars.  The miner ran to the front of a set of moving railcars and jumped on in order to set the hand brake.  The miner then attempted to jump clear and was fatally injured when he was run over by the moving railcars.

Best Practices

  • Apply a mechanical hand brake to ensure a railcar does not move when it is stopped for loading, unloading, or storage.  Use wheel chocks or derail devices for added protection against accidental movement.
  • Never attempt to mount, crossover, cross under, or dismount a railcar while it is moving.
  • Train personnel in the safe procedures of working with railcars.  Establish safe work procedures and ensure all personnel involved communicate clearly with each other.

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