Author: renewcomer

Coal Fatality – 8/11/21

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On August 11, 2021, a 53-year-old contract truck driver with ten years’ experience was fatally injured while conducting a pre-operational examination of a truck at a mine in Mill Creek WV with 28 employees and 20 contractors*.  The rear wheels of the vehicle struck the truck driver when the truck rolled forward.

Best Practices: 

  • Block mobile equipment against motion.  Adequately chock wheels or turn wheels into a bank.
  • Use specially designed truck-wheel chocks of the appropriate size and material to hold the vehicle securely.  Do not use lumber, cinder blocks, rocks, or other makeshift items to chock.
  • Never position yourself in hazardous areas around equipment parked on a grade that is not blocked or secured from movement.
  • Maintain the equipment’s braking systems.  Perform repairs and adjustments when necessary and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.  Do not exceed the manufacturer’s load limits.

Additional Information: 

This is the 24th fatality reported in 2021, and the tenth classified as “Powered Haulage.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

August Fatality Updates

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Final Reports posted:

  • None

Fatalities awaiting Fatality Alert to be posted:

  • None

Fatalities awaiting Final Report to be posted:

Stay Out – Stay Alive

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(MSHA) Water-filled quarries and pits hide rock ledges, old machinery and other hazards.  The water can be deceptively deep and dangerously cold.  Steep, slippery walls make exiting the water difficult.  Hills of loose material can easily collapse on an unsuspecting biker or climber.  Vertical shafts can be hundreds of feet deep and may be completely unprotected, or hidden by vegetation.

Even so dozens of people are injured or killed while exploring or playing on mine property every year.  The men and women employed in our nation’s mines are trained to work in a safe manner.  For trespassers, hazards are not always apparent.

Visit https://www.abandonedmines.gov/staying-safe to learn more about abandoned mine and quarry accidents. Please help us raise awareness about this summertime danger. Most importantly, remind people to Stay Out, Stay Alive!

MNM Fatality – 8/3/21

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On August 3, 2021, a 62 year old Utility Person with 14 years 48 weeks experience* was run over by a customer tractor-trailer while walking to his normal work area at a mine in Bridgeport, TX with 83 employees*.

Best Practices: 

  • Assure adequate illumination sufficient to provide safe working conditions.
  • Communicate with mobile equipment operators and make eye contact to ensure they acknowledge your presence. Be aware of the location and traffic patterns of mobile equipment in your work area.
  • Wear high visibility clothing when working around mobile equipment.
  • Wear strobe lights near mobile equipment.
  • Assure traffic controls provide for safe movement of mobile equipment and are followed. Operate mobile equipment at reduced speeds in work areas.
  • Stay clear of normal paths of travel for mobile equipment and train all persons to recognize work place hazards.

Additional Information: 

This is the 23rd fatality reported in 2021, and the ninth classified as “Powered Haulage.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

Coal Fatality – 8/1/21

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On August 1, 2021, a 38 year old utility person with 12 years 41 weeks experience drowned at a mine in Huntington, UT with 122 employees* during a flash flood while traveling in a personnel carrier to go to the mine portal.  The miner exited the personnel carrier as the floodwater engulfed the vehicle.  As the miner attempted to assist other miners, he was carried away by the floodwater. 

Best Practices: 

•    Monitor flash-flood watches and warnings and other adverse weather conditions, such as severe storm events, that could affect the safety of mine personnel.  Use NOAA Weather Radio or a smartphone app to monitor hazardous weather conditions in your area.
•    Establish policies and procedures to provide adequate warning to all mine personnel of ongoing weather conditions pertaining to flash floods and other adverse weather conditions.
•    Establish policies restricting access to areas likely, or known, to be affected by flash floods or other adverse weather conditions.  Do not travel across flooded roadways.
•    Properly design drainage systems, especially in areas where the terrain enhances water runoff and flooding.  Changes in a watershed, such as timbering or surface mining, can increase water runoff and flooding.
•    Examine drainage systems and features to ensure they are functioning and unobstructed.Additional Information: 

This is the 22nd fatality reported in 2021, and the first classified as “Inundation.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

MNM Fatality – 7/28/21

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On July 28, 2021, a 42 year old ledge foreman with 12 years 7 weeks experience* was standing on a rock ledge at a mine with 8 employees in Elberton, GA* to extract dimensional stone when a triangular section of the rock broke off, causing the miner to fall approximately 35 feet.

Best Practices: 

  • Use fall protection when a potential fall hazard exists.  Ensure fall protection has a suitable fall arrest and secure anchorage system.
  • Examine working places to identify loose ground or unstable conditions before work begins, after blasting, and as changing ground conditions warrant.  Ensure examiners have adequate training and experience to recognize potential hazards.
  • Assess risks and control hazards before beginning work activities.  Remain a safe distance from cracks and any sign of unstable ground conditions.
  • Assure a safe means of access is provided and maintained to all working places.  Use personnel lifts and ladders, as required.
  • Train miners and ensure they perform work safely, use tools properly, and utilize personal protective equipment correctly.

Additional Information: 

This is the 21st fatality reported in 2021, and the first classified as “Falling, Rolling, or Sliding Rock or Material of Any Kind.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

MNM Fatality – 7/26/21

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On July 26, 2021, a 33 year old contract iron worker with 8 years 13 weeks experience*, who was not wearing fall protection, was performing maintenance on a cement cooler at a mine in Stockertown, PA with 128 employees* when a wooden board broke, causing him to fall 23 feet onto a concrete floor.

Best Practices: 

  • Assure a safe means of access is provided and maintained to all working places.  Use personnel lifts or ladders to access elevated work areas safely.
  • Use fall protection when a fall hazard exists.  Ensure fall protection has a suitable fall arrest and secure anchorage system.
  • Examine work areas, tools, and equipment. Report and correct defects. Do not use unsafe equipment.
  • Assess risks and eliminate or control hazards before beginning maintenance activities. Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Train miners and ensure they perform work safely, use tools properly, and utilize personal protective equipment correctly.

Additional Information: 

This is the 20th fatality reported in 2021, and the second classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”(*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

Whistleblower Protections

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No single thing would reduce injuries and fatalities in the workplace more than if all workers would refuse to perform unsafe actions. I’m convinced that sometimes workers are convinced by pressure from their companies or peers to do so. Other times they voluntarily do so because they mistakenly think it is the only way to accomplish the task. In the end workers doing things they know to be unsafe is often deadly. The best tool provided to each and every worker is the ability to request enforcement inspections from federal and state agencies and flatly refuse to participate without fear of reprisal as is provided under whistleblower protections. In mines we refer to the rights and responsibilities of miners, but this protection is provided in many areas. July 30 was Whistleblower Protection day and a video by Department of Labor Secretary Walsh and links to more information are provided here. – Randy

July Fatality Updates

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Final Reports posted:

Fatalities awaiting Fatality Alert to be posted:

  • 7/26/21 MNM – Slip or Fall of Person
  • 7/28/21 MNM – Falling or Sliding Material

Fatalities awaiting Final Report to be posted:

Coal Fatality – 7/21/21

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On July 21, 2021, a 31 year old millwright with 13 years experience* received fatal injuries at a mine in Wright, WY with 899 employees* while adding a boom extension to a crane.  The miner was working under the boom to remove the boom pins when he was struck by the boom.

Best Practices: 

  • Never perform work under raised machinery or equipment until such machinery or equipment has been securely braced in position, blocked and  secured against motion.  Be alert for hazards that may be created while the work is being performed. 
  • Conduct repairs from a safe location per manufacturer’s recommendations.  Verify the release of all stored energy before initiating repairs.
  • Use a lifting device compatible with the load being lifted and ensure blocking material is competent, substantial, and adequate to support and stabilize the load.  Always use the manufacturer’s safety devices or features to secure components against motion, and secure assemblies that rotate to prevent movement.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before starting any task.  Train miners in safe work procedures and hazard recognition.  Monitor personnel routinely to ensure safe work procedures are being followed.

Additional Information: 

This is the 19th fatality reported in 2021, and the fourth classified as “Machinery.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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