On Tuesday, July 2, 2013, a 35-year old continuous mining machine operator (victim), with 11 years mining experience, was killed when he was struck by a battery-powered coal hauler and pinned between the coal hauler and the coal rib. The victim was taking a lunch break behind a line curtain the No. 4 entry and the intersection of the last open crosscut, which was in the haulage route to the continuous mining machine.

Best Practices

• Ensure that all persons are positioned to avoid danger from moving equipment. Never position yourself in an area or location where equipment operators cannot readily see you.
• Use proximity detection systems to protect personnel from accidents of this type. See the proximity detection single source page on the MSHA web site.
• Use transparent curtain for check and line curtains in the active face areas.
• Sound audible warnings when the equipment operator’s visibility is obstructed, such as when making turns, reversing direction, or approaching ventilation curtains. Assure that the sound level of audible warnings is significantly higher than that of the ambient noise.
• Energize the lights in the direction of travel when operating haulage equipment.
• Equipment operators should come to a complete stop and sound an audible warning before proceeding through ventilation controls.

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

On Thursday, June 6, 2013, a 36-year-old conveyor belt foreman with 4 years of mining experience was killed while checking a belt wiper at the belt conveyor discharge. He was positioned at the end of an elevated catwalk parallel to the belt drive to check the wiper. When the victim contacted the guardrail at the end of the catwalk, it gave way and he fell below onto the moving belt conveyor.

Best Practices

• Check guards along belt conveyors for stability and good repair.
• Train all employees thoroughly on the dangers of working or traveling around moving conveyor belts.
• Install appropriately-designed railings, barriers, or covers at all required conveyor belt locations, and ensure it is maintained in structurally sound condition.
• Perform thorough workplace examinations. Inspect the work areas for all potential hazards including places that persons may fall from or through.
• Provide belt conveyor stop and start controls at areas where miners must access both sides of the conveyor. Provide these areas with adequate crossing facilities (e.g. cross-overs or cross-unders).
• Do not assume handrails or guards are strong enough to support you, and never lean against or support your weight on guarding.

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

On Tuesday, February 19, 2013, a 44-year old shuttle car operator, with four years of experience, was killed when he was pinned underneath the battery end of a section scoop. The accident occurred on the No. 3 Section in the first connecting crosscut inby the feeder between the Number 5 and 6 entries. The victim was shoveling along the ribs of the crosscut when a battery-powered scoop backed into the crosscut, striking him.

Best Practices

• Train miners to establish and use effective means of communication while operating and working around mobile equipment.
• Know your location relative to the movement of mobile equipment and never position yourself between any piece of equipment in motion and a stationary object. Assume the equipment operator has not seen you, unless eye contact is confirmed and signal your presence to equipment operators.
• Install and utilize Proximity Detection Systems on continuous mining machines and haulage equipment to prevent these types of accidents and fatalities. See More…
• Use cameras mounted on section haulage equipment and utility equipment, such as scoops, to improve the visibility of machine operators.
• When operating equipment, sound audible warnings when traveling around turns or blind spots, through ventilation curtains, and any other time the equipment operator’s visibility is limited or obstructed.
• Never position extraneous material or supplies on top of mobile equipment, or position the machine’s batteries in a manner which can interfere with or obstruct the visibility of the machine operator.

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

On Tuesday, February 12, 2013, a 51-year-old motorman with 31 years of mining experience was seriously injured while attempting to re-rail a shield carrier. The shield carrier was raised with an air bag. The victim was attempting to straighten the wheels and pry the wheel flange high enough to clear the rail. As the wheel flange cleared the rail, the shield carrier shifted, causing the slate bar to fly back and strike the victim in the face. The victim later died of the injury.
Best Practices

• Block or secure equipment being raised against motion so it cannot suddenly shift.
• Always be aware of the stored potential energy when raising or lowering items.
• Make sure the lifting device has a secure base before lifting an item.
• When lifting items and the desired height cannot be reached, block the item in position and lower the lifting device to establish a higher base.
• Ensure that personnel are trained to recognize hazardous work procedures where inadvertent movements could cause injury.
• Discuss work procedures and identify all hazards associated with the work to be performed, along with the methods to protect personnel.
• Ensure personnel are equipped with proper equipment and are knowledgeable of safe procedures for rerailing.

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