Author: renewcomer

MNM Fatality – 10/1/21

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On October 1, 2021, a 25-year-old Plant Operator with 4 years and 11 weeks experience* was fatally injured at a mine with 3 employees* when he entered a surge bin used as a feed hopper and was engulfed by material.

Best Practices: 

  • Design surge bins and feed hoppers to prevent blockages.  Equip bins and hoppers with mechanical devices or other effective means of handling material, so miners are not required to enter or work inside bins and hoppers.
  • Provide a safe means of access that allows miners to conduct tasks, such as removing large rocks and other material, safely.
  • Ensure handrails and gates are substantially constructed, properly secured, and free of defects.
  • Don’t stand on material stored in bins.  Material stored in a bin can bridge over the hopper outlet, creating a hidden void beneath the material’s surface.
  • Establish policies and procedures to remove blockages in bins and hoppers safely.  Train and ensure miners follow these policies and procedures.
  • Wear an appropriate safety harness, lanyard, and lifeline, and make sure these are maintained, in good condition, and securely anchored.  Assign another miner to constantly monitor and adjust the lifeline, as needed.

Additional Information: 

This is the 28th fatality reported in 2021, and the third classified as “Handling Material.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

MNM Fatality – 9/14/21

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On September 14, 2021, a 70 year old* individual with no mining experience* was fatally injured at a mine with 3 employees* when an excavated trench collapsed and engulfed him.  The victim was prospecting for gold inside the trench with a metal detector when the trench collapsed.

Best Practices: 

  • Stay clear of potentially unstable areas. Do not enter trenches if the trench walls are not properly supported for the full height or sloped to a safe angle.
  • Do not abandon trenches or excavations without removing the potential of collapse by filling or sloping the walls to a stable angle.
  • Carefully examine ground conditions before performing tasks near excavated embankments, trenches, or ditches.
  • Follow OSHA Trenching and Excavation Safety Guidelines located at https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/osha2226.pdf
  • Train miners about the inherent dangers of trenching work.
  • Keep visitors within sight and sound of a responsible person.

Additional Information: 

The information provided in this notice is based on preliminary data only and does not represent final determinations regarding the nature of the incident or conclusions regarding the cause of the fatality. (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

MNM Fatality – 9/21/21

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On September 21, 2021, a 68-year-old contract truck driver with 20 years of experience was fatally injured while operating a haul truck.  The victim was found lying in front of his truck near the edge of a haul road.  The truck was upright and in the opposite direction of the expected route of travel.

Best Practices: 

  • Establish a site traffic plan to include traffic routes, speed limits, and access points.  Train miners to follow all traffic controls.
  • Conduct pre-operational examinations to identify and repair defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before placing equipment into service.
  • Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with conditions of roadways, grades, curves, and traffic.
  • Maintain control while operating mobile equipment.  Never exceed a vehicle’s design capabilities, operating ranges, load limits, and safety features.
  • Always wear a seat belt when operating mobile equipment.
  • Never exit a moving vehicle.  Remain in the seat with your seat belt secured.

Additional Information: 

This is the 27th fatality reported in 2021, and the twelfth classified as “Powered Haulage.”

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

September Fatality Updates

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Final Reports posted:

  • None

Fatalities awaiting Fatality Alert to be posted:

  • 9/14/21 MNM – Falling or Sliding Material
  • 9/21/21 MNM – Powered Haulage

Fatalities awaiting Final Report to be posted:

MNM Fatality – 9/15/21

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On September 15, 2021, a 33-year-old contract welder with nearly 11 years experience in mining and 7 weeks experience at the task he was performing* was fatally injured at a mine with 3700 employees and 115 contractors* when he crawled 40 feet into a 30-inch-diameter stainless-steel pipe.  The victim was welding a joint from the outside of the pipe, and then entered the pipe to troubleshoot issues related to argon gas leakage.  Coworkers found him unresponsive.

Best Practices: 

  • Remove dangerous working materials and gasses by means of a high volume of fresh airflow before entering confined spaces.
  • Assess risks and hazards before beginning work activities to determine what personal protective equipment (PPE) and atmospheric testing is needed prior to entry and during work execution.
  • Test atmospheres from a safe location with a calibrated gas monitor capable of detecting harmful and noxious gasses before entering and continuously while working in confined spaces.
  • Designate a miner to maintain contact with the miner entering a confined space in the form of visual or voice contact, or signal lines.
  • Ensure miners use the appropriate PPE, including dry, flame-retardant clothing and respiratory protection equipment, such as powered air-purifying respirators.
  • Train miners to identify confined spaces and understand their associated hazards.

Additional Information: 

This is the 26th fatality reported in 2021, and the first classified as “Other.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

TRAM 2.0 Virtual Summit

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The Training Resources Applied to Mining Conference (TRAM) will be held online November 2-4, 2021. Featuring presentations from some of the industry’s most respected safety trainers, this tuition-free conference helps health and safety trainers improve their training skills and infuse their training programs with new ideas and materials. Participants can select from a variety of workshops and attend the conference remotely. To better accommodate our West Coast participants, this year’s workshops will take place during afternoons only. (MSHA)

More information and Register Here.

Proposed Mobile Powered Haulage Rule

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DOL – MSHA announced a proposed rule to require mine operators employing six or more miners to develop a written safety program for mobile and powered haulage equipment (excluding belt conveyors) at surface mines and surface areas of underground mines. This proposed rule is one of several actions MSHA has taken to reduce fatal and nonfatal injuries involving surface mobile equipment used at mines and to improve safety and health.

[photo: MSHA Powered Haulage Initiative]

Under the proposed rule, mine operators would implement a written safety program including actions to identify hazards and risks to reduce accidents, injuries and fatalities related to surface mobile equipment. Mine operators would have the flexibility to devise a safety program for their specific mining conditions and operations. In addition, MSHA would encourage its state grantees to provide training to address hazards and risks involving surface mobile equipment in small mining operations.

Comments must be submitted by Nov. 8, 2021. 

Read or Download the Proposed Rule in the Federal Register (pdf).

Penn State Mine Professional Development Free Online Webinar September 29, 2021

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Penn State Miner Training Program – On September 29, 2021 from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm the Miner Training Program of the Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences will hold a Professional Development Online Webinar for Mine Supervisors, Competent Persons, and Safety Professionals. The program is free and presented as part of the State Grant outreach service to the state of Delaware, but you can be from anywhere to attend and it’s free. There is no registration needed, just get details on the flier here (pdf) and join us on the 29th.

Presentations will include a full online tour of the safeminers.com site and many more resources online including some hidden gems that I created for my own clients’ use.