Machinery

MNM Fatality – 8/26/20

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On August 26, 2020, two miners were preparing a mobile track mounted jaw crusher for shipping off-site (at a Washington mine with 2 employees*). The crusher was missing the upper wrist pin from the hydraulic cylinder that raises and lowers the right hopper extension. The right hopper extension was secured in place by wedges. The victim was removing wedges, and when a wedge was removed, the extension fell, crushing the victim (a 52 year-old crusher foreman with 23 years and 4 weeks experience*).

Best Practices: 

  • Block equipment against hazardous motion before dismantling equipment.
  • Follow manufacturers’ recommendations when dismantling equipment.
  • Conduct adequate workplace examinations and correct any defects affecting safety before dismantling equipment.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work.
  • Stay clear of suspended loads and raised equipment.
  • Position yourself in a safe location and away from potential “red-zone” areas.
  • Use ladders or other means of safe access to perform maintenance.
  • Train miners to recognize potential hazardous conditions and understand safe job procedures.

Additional Information: 

This is the 14th fatality reported in 2020, and the fourth classified as “Machinery.” *(Italicized details added by safeminers.com)

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

MNM Fatality – 7/24/20

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On July 24, 2020, two miners were loading explosives from inside an aerial lift’s basket when the basket jolted upward into the mine roof, causing the death of one of the miners.

Best Practices: 

  • Check all equipment before using it. Report all defects affecting safety to a responsible person for correction.
  • Service and maintain hydraulic systems according to the manufacturer’s specifications and schedules. Excessive pressure in a hydraulic circuit can drastically alter the control of booms, etc., creating serious hazards.
  • Instruct aerial lift users on hazard recognition and safe job procedures to avoid unsafe conditions.
  • Train lift operators in safe operating procedures listed in the operator’s manual.
  • Report equipment malfunctions and remove the equipment from service until repaired.

Additional Information: 

This is the 12th fatality reported in 2020, and the third classified as “Machinery.”

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

MNM Fatality – 6/13/20

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On June 13, 2020, a dragline was found submerged in 25 feet of water where a miner had been using it to remove material from a pond. Divers attempted to locate the dragline operator, and after two days the dragline was extricated from the pond. The victim was recovered from the engine compartment behind the operator’s cab.

Best Practices: 

  • Maintain control of operating mobile equipment.
  • Keep all exits clear in cabs, including alternate and emergency exits, and make sure the doors open freely before beginning work.
  • Retrofit older models of equipment with current automatic braking systems.
  • Ensure all controls and brakes are set to the appropriate position for the task.

Additional Information: 

This is the ninth fatality reported in 2020, and the second classified as “Machinery”

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

MNM Fatality – 2/29/20

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On February 29, 2020, a plant foreman was priming the main suction pump on a dredge when a two-inch coupling on the waterjet pipe failed, knocking the victim into the water. Divers retrieved his body several hours later. The victim was not wearing a life preserver.

Best Practices: 

  • Wear a life preserver where there is a risk of falling into the water.
  • Identify all possible hazards and ensure appropriate controls are in place to protect miners before beginning work.
  • Provide swimming training for everyone that works around water.

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

2019 Fatality #24 / Coal #11

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On December 23, 2019, a miner was fatally injured while attempting to remove a splice pin from a 72-inch mainline conveyor belt splice.  A belt clamp and racket-style chain come along failed, releasing stored energy and causing the belt to shift upward and pin the miner against the frame of the belt tailpiece.

Best Practices: 

  • Identify, isolate, and control stored energy: mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and gravitational. Relieve belt tension by releasing the energy at the take-up/belt storage system.
  • Check your environment. Always be aware of an object in your work location that could move if stored energy is released.
  • Check your equipment. Ensure belt clamps and other blocking equipment are substantial and properly rated for preventing conveyor belt movement.
  • Securely install, anchor, inspect, and test blocking equipment to ensure that it is able to prevent movement.
  • Conduct complete and thorough examinations from safe locations to identify hazards and items needing maintenance or repair.
  • Ensure miners are trained on safe work procedures. Develop step-by-step procedures and review them with all miners before they perform non-routine maintenance tasks such as adding or removing conveyor belt.
  • Properly block belts to secure components against motion.
  • De-energize electrical power and lock and tag the visual disconnect before beginning a belt splice.
  • Never use the start and stop controls (belt switches). This switch does not disconnect the power conductors.
  • Lock out and tag out disconnecting devices. Only the person who installed them can remove the lock and tag, and only after completing the work.
  • Talk to your coworkers. After the splice has been completed and before removing your lock and tag, ensure everyone is clear of the conveyor belt and communicate to others that you will be restarting the belt.

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

2019 Fatality #23 / MNM #13

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A contract maintenance mechanic was performing elevator maintenance when the car descended, crushing the mechanic against an elevator platform. The person died at the scene on December 3, 2019.

Best Practices: 

  1. De-energize, lock out and tag out, and block machinery or equipment that can injure miners – before entering the area.
  2. Post warning signs or barricades to keep miners out of areas where health or safety hazards exist.
  3. Install an audible alarm to warn of impending equipment movement.
  4. Evaluate and correct possible hazards promptly before working.
  5. Train personnel in safely using handrails and fall protection equipment during maintenance and construction activities. Ensure their use.

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

2019 Fatality #22 / MNM #12

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While spotting for a dump truck, a contractor stepped directly into the path of a bulldozer and died at the scene on November 16, 2019.

Best Practices: 

  1. Safety first. Before starting work, establish and discuss safe work procedures. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work and properly protect workers.
  2. Know where people are. Be aware of body positioning around equipment, traffic patterns, dump sites, and haul roads.
  3. Train miners and contractors on traffic controls, mobile equipment patterns, and other site-specific hazards.
  4. Stay alert. Do not place yourself in harm’s way.
  5. Communicate with mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence.
  6. Ensure travelways are clear before moving a vehicle or mobile equipment.
  7. Look behind you. Install “rear viewing” cameras or other collision warning systems on mobile equipment. When backing up, look over your shoulder to eliminate blind spots. When using mirrors, use all available mirrors.
  8. Wear reflective material while working around mobile equipment. Use flags, visible to equipment operators, to make miners and smaller vehicles more visible.

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

2019 Fatality #12 / MNM #8

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On Wednesday, July 17, 2019, a 32-year old general manager/owner was killed when he was struck by a hydraulic breaker. The victim and the excavator operator were in the process of positioning the excavator for a motor exchange when the hydraulic breaker attachment fell off the excavator and hit the victim.

Best Practices: 

  • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any defects affecting safety in a timely manner prior to operating mobile equipment.
  • Make sure machine implements are securely attached to prevent unintentional disconnection.
  • Stay clear of suspended loads and raised equipment.
  • Any repairs to equipment should be made to OEM specifications
  • Always position yourself in a safe location and away from potential “red-zone” areas.  Consult and follow the manufacturer’s recommended safe work procedures.
  • Train miners to recognize potential hazardous conditions and understand safe job procedures before beginning work.

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

MNM Fatality – May 13, 2019

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Fatality #6

On May 13, 2019, a 59-year-old supervisor with 40 years of experience was fatally injured when the stationary crane he was operating fell 85 feet into the quarry.

Best Practices: 

  • Ensure all safety devices are functional.
  • Conduct a visual inspection of the equipment, load, and rigging prior to placing equipment in operation..
  • Conduct a visual inspection of site conditions and potential hazards.

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

2019 Fatality #5 / Coal #3

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On Thursday, March 7, 2019, a 38-year-old miner with 10 years of mining experience received fatal injuries while he was working on the pad of a highwall mining machine (HWM).  The miner was contacted in a pinch point between a post and a section of the HWM (i.e. push beam) that was being removed as part of the normal mining cycle.

Best Practices: 

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures for removing push beams.  Identify and control all hazards and develop methods to protect miners.
  • Determine the proper working position to avoid pinch points.  Monitor personnel to ensure safe work procedures are followed.
  • Always follow the equipment manufacturer’s recommended maintenance procedures and discuss these procedures during training.
  • Train miners to recognize potential hazardous conditions and understand safe job procedures before beginning work. 

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