Fatality #12 for Coal Mining 2014

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FTL14c12aOn Tuesday, October 7, 2014, a 31-year-old utility worker, with 13 years of mining experience, was killed after he crawled 37 feet into an entry mined with a highwall mining machine to retrieve a broken cutter-head-chain from the mining machine. A rock, 8 feet wide, 6 feet long, and 16 inches thick fell on him. He was initially transported to a local hospital and was being airlifted to a larger medical facility when he died.

Best Practices
  • Never go under unsupported roof.
  • Never enter a hole mined with a highwall mining machine or auger without a specific, detailed, and approved plan to do so.
  • Develop a plan to remotely retrieve any part of a highwall mining machine caught or left in an entry.  The plan must specify methods which do not expose miners to hazards.  Train all personnel in such plans.
  • Know and follow the provisions of the established Ground Control Plan.
  • Establish Ground Control Plans for highwall mining operations that ensure safety and address web spacing, depth of penetration, and confined work areas.
  • Keep all equipment in proper working order by establishing and implementing maintenance schedules.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #16 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m16On July 23, 2014, a 51-year-old contract truck driver with 30 years of experience was killed at a cement operation while delivering a load of fly ash. The victim exited the truck to remove the tarp. A front-end loader backed down a ramp and struck the victim, pinning him against the truck.

Best Practices

  • Task train all persons to stay clear of mobile equipment.
  • Be aware of the location and traffic patterns of mobile equipment in your work area.
  • Before moving mobile equipment, look in the direction of travel and use all mirrors and cameras to ensure no persons are in the intended path.
  • Sound the horn to warn persons of intended movement and give them time to move to a safe location.
  • Operate mobile equipment at reduced speeds in work areas.
  • Ensure that backup alarms and lights on mobile equipment are maintained and operational.
  • Remain in your truck when mobile equipment is being operated nearby.
  • Communicate with mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence.  Stay in the line of sight with mobile equipment operators.  Never assume the equipment operator sees you.
  • Before operating equipment, always ensure other persons are clear and safely positioned.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #11 for Coal Mining 2014

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FTL14c11aOn Tuesday, September 16, 2014, a mobile equipment operator, with 10 years of mining experience, was killed while operating a mobile diesel can–setter.  He was stock piling pallets to prepare for the extraction of a longwall when he was crushed in the articulation area of the can-setter.
Best Practices

  • Do not position yourself in pinch-point areas while a piece of equipment is running.  Ensure that equipment operators remain in the confines of the equipment cab while the machine is running.
  • Never work or travel in the articulation area of equipment without engaging the steering frame lock or without using another effective means of preventing motion if the lock cannot be used.
  • Always preform thorough pre-operational examinations on mobile equipment to identify any defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.
  • Ensure that equipment modifications are either original equipment manufacturer (OEM) replacement parts or at least meet OEM specifications.
  • Ensure that equipment controls are maintained and function as designed.
  • Do not depend on hydraulic systems to hold mobile equipment stationary during repairs or maintenance.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #10 for Coal Mining 2014

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c14aOn Monday, September 15, 2014, a 53-year old bulldozer operator, with 28 years of experience, sustained fatal injuries when the bulldozer he was operating went over the edge of an approximately 50-foot highwall. The victim was preparing a bench for drilling when the accident occurred.
Best Practices

  • Be familiar with the work environment. Before beginning work, walk around and check the area. Plan the safest way to move the material and maneuver the equipment.
  • Train all employees adequately on the equipment they operate, safe work   procedures, hazard recognition, and hazard avoidance.
  • Be attentive to changes in ground conditions and visibility. Watch for surface cracks and loose material.
  • Keep the dozer blade between you and the edge when operating close to drop offs.  Dump loads short of the highwall edge and push one load into another to maintain a safe distance from the edge.
  • Maintain all equipment window glass clean and in good repair.
  • Maintain a safe distance from the edge of the highwall.  Use a spotter or other technology to assist equipment operators when working near highwalls.
  • Perform additional checks during the work shift to ensure ground conditions have not changed when the edge of a slope cannot be seen from the operator’s position
  • Ensure that personnel operating mobile equipment always wear a seat belt.
  • Monitor work activities to assure safe work procedures are followed.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

August 2014 Impact Inspections

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MSHA-logoThe U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced that federal inspectors issued 131 citations and 11 orders during special impact inspections conducted at 12 coal mines in August.

The monthly inspections, which began in force in April 2010 following the death of 29 miners in the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine, involve mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns, including evidence of a mine’s failure to control respirable dust and operator tactics to prevent MSHA from finding violations. The August 2014 impact inspections included examples where MSHA found both.

Click here for: MSHA report with link to spreadsheet (pdf).

Fatality #9 for Coal Mining 2014

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ftl2014c09On Wednesday, August 20, 2014, a 41-year-old maintenance supervisor with approximately 19 years of mining experience was killed when he came in contact with an energized component inside an explosion proof enclosure.  The victim had removed the enclosure’s panel cover and was troubleshooting or performing electrical work on the 600 VAC roof bolting machine when he was electrocuted.

Best Practices
  • Wear properly rated and well maintained electrical gloves when troubleshooting or testing energized circuits.
  • REMEMBER, troubleshooting or testing is the work of locating electrical problems and verifying that proper repairs have been made.
  • After locating the electrical problem, and before performing electrical work, open the circuit breaker, and disconnect and lock-out and tag-out the visual disconnecting device.
  • Use properly rated electrical meters and non-contact voltage testers to ensure electrical circuits are deenergized prior to performing electrical work.
  • REMEMBER, electrical work is the work required to install or maintain electrical equipment or conductors.
  • Perform your own lock-out and tag-out procedure and NEVER rely on others to do this for you.
  • Install warning labels on a circuit breaker’s line side terminals stating that the terminal lugs remain energized when the circuit breaker is open.
  • Develop, communicate, and execute a written plan before performing electrical troubleshooting and repair to ensure that safety is maximized for all miners involved in the task.

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

July 2014 Impact Inspections

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MSHA-logoThe U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced that federal inspectors issued 190 citations and eight orders during special impact inspections conducted at 15 coal mines and three metal and nonmetal mines in July.

The monthly inspections, which began in force in April 2010 following the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine, involve mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns.

Click here for: MSHA report with link to spreadsheet (pdf).

Workplace Examination Alert

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Since 2000, 83 training citations or orders were issued to Metal/Nonmetal mine operators related to workplace examinations following fatal and non-fatal accident investigations.

MSHA has issued an alert to miners to conduct workplace examinations to protect miners. The alert, in the form of a one page poster includes regulation 30 CFR § 56.18002 along with definitions of competent person and working place.

 

Download the poster here.

Fatality #15 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

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ftl2014m15On July 21, 2014, a 28-year-old assistant plant manager with 11 years of mining experience was killed at a sand and gravel dredge operation.  He was riding in an aluminum boat that became stuck in low water on top of 480 volt energized power conductors.  The victim was electrocuted when he exited the boat, attempting to pull slack on the power conductors.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and use methods to properly protect persons.
  • Train all persons to understand the hazards associated with working near energized electrical conductors.
  • De-energize power and ensure that the circuit is visibly open before working near energized conductors that may have damaged insulation.
  • Lock and Tag! Place YOUR lock and tag on the disconnecting device.
  • Use properly rated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including Arc Flash Protection such as a hood, gloves, shirt, and pants.
  • Ensure electrical conductors are properly rated and designed for the applications used.
  • Ensure that ground fault protection is provided to protect persons
  • Ensure that all electrical systems are safely designed and properly installed.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

June 2014 Impact Inspections

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MSHA-logoThe U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 186 citations, 25 orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at 11 coal mines and two metal and nonmetal mines in June.

The monthly inspections, which began in force in April 2010 following the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine, involve mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns.

Since April 2010, MSHA has conducted 780 impact inspections and issued 12,627 citations, 1,170 orders and 54 safeguards.

Click here for: MSHA report with spreadsheet (pdf).