Metal/Nonmetal

Fatality #15 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On December 8, 2011, a 41 year-old crusher operator with 8 years of experience was killed at a surface stone operation. A set of wheels was to be placed on a conveyor to transport it from the mine. A front-end loader was being used to lift the conveyor when the loader bucket suddenly dropped, allowing the frame of the conveyor to strike one of the tire assemblies. The tire assembly then shifted, striking the victim.

Best Practices

  • Inspect mobile equipment before placing it in operation for the shift.
  • Correct safety defects on equipment in a timely manner to prevent the creation of a hazard to persons.
  • Establish safe work procedures and identify and remove hazards before beginning a task.
  • Ensure that persons are task-trained and understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing a task.
  • Monitor personnel routinely to determine that safe work procedures are followed.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #14 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On November 17, 2011, a 26 year-old contract underground miner with 3½ years of experience was seriously injured in a silver mine. He died at a hospital on November 19, 2011. The victim and a coworker were attempting to dislodge muck in a bin excavation when the muck they were standing on started to flow. The victim was wearing a safety harness attached to a self-retracting lanyard; however, the lanyard extended and did not lock before he became engulfed. The other miner was freed immediately, treated, and released from the hospital.

Best Practices
 

  • Wear a safety harness and attach it to a securely anchored lanyard, where there is a danger of falling.
  • In applications where the danger is not limited to a free-fall, do not use lanyards that depend on free-fall speed to lock. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Ensure that persons working on material in bins, silos, hoppers, tanks, and surge piles are properly tied-off, with one line tender per person. No persons should enter the facility until the supply and discharge equipment are locked out.
  • Establish policies and procedures for safely clearing muck in a bin excavation and ensure that persons follow these safe procedures.
  • Ensure that persons are task-trained and understand the hazards associated with the work being performed and the proper use of their personal protective equipment.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #13 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On November 7, 2011, an 82 year-old owner/crusher operator with 27 years of experience was killed at a surface crushed stone operation. The victim was attempting to dislodge material from the vibrating feed hopper when he slipped or fell into the operating jaw crusher.

Best Practices

  • Establish policies and procedures for safely clearing plugged material in a feed hopper. Evaluate design modifications or use auxiliary equipment to reduce the risks associated with clearing an obstruction.
  • Ensure that persons are task trained and understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
  • Deenergize and Lock-out/tag-out all power sources before working on crushers.
  • Provide and maintain a safe means of access to all working places.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #12 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On October 31, 2011, a 42 year-old muck haul leadman with 3½ years of experience was killed in an underground platinum mine. The victim was operating a 4-yard loader in a drift when the loader struck the left rib. At that time, a spieling (rebar anchored in the rib for ground control) that was protruding from the rib, penetrated the front side window, entered the cab, and struck him.

Best Practices

  •  Operators of self-propelled mobile equipment shall maintain control of the equipment while it is in motion.
  • Maintain all roadways free of materials that may pose a hazard to equipment operators. This includes materials on the floor and protruding from the ribs, back, or walls.
  • Operating speeds shall be consistent with conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Slow down or drop to a lower gear when necessary. Post areas where lower speeds are warranted.
  • Always wear a seat belt when operating self-propelled mobile equipment.
  • Trim protruding spielings.
  • Keep mobile equipment operator’s stations free of materials that can impair the safe operation of the equipment.
  • When clearances on roadways are restricted, install warning devices in advance of the area and conspicuously mark it.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #11 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On October 28, 2011, a 21 year-old contract tire repair technician with 37 weeks of experience was killed at a surface gold operation. The victim was working in a shop repairing a haul truck tire. He was applying adhesive inside the tire and was completely out of view. He was not wearing respiratory protection.

Best Practices
 

  • Develop, implement, and maintain a written Hazard Communication (HazCom) program.
  • Ensure that a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is accessible to persons for each hazardous chemical to which they may be exposed.
  • Review and discuss MSDS control section recommendations. Establish and discuss safe work procedures before starting any work and identify and control all hazards.
  • Train all persons to recognize and understand safe job procedures, including the physical and health hazards of chemicals that are being used and the proper use of respiratory protection.
  • Ensure that adequate exhaust ventilation is provided to all work areas.
  • Ensure that persons are not required to perform work alone in any area where hazardous conditions exist that would endanger their safety.

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

Fatality #10 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On September 23, 2011, a 32 year-old plant operator with 10 years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel operation. The victim was changing a screen in the plant when he fell approximately 56 feet to the ground below. He was standing on a steel rail that had been placed between the midrail of the protective rail surrounding the screen deck work platform and the screen structure.

Best Practices

  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures. Before starting any work, identify and control all hazards.
  • Train all persons to recognize and understand safe job procedures, including the purpose of fall protection barriers and the proper use of fall protection.
  • Always use fall protection when working where a fall hazard exists.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #9 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On September 13, 2011, a 38 year-old miner with 3 years of experience was killed at a portable sand and gravel operation. The victim opened the 480 volt feeder box at the motor control center and started to remove the leads when he received a fatal shock.

Best Practices

  • Be trained on all the electrical tests and safety equipment necessary to safely test and ground the circuit being worked on.
  • Conduct a risk assessment.
  • Use properly rated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including Arc Flash Protection such as a hood, gloves, shirt, and pants.
  • Positively identify the circuit on which work is to be conducted.
  • De-energize power and ensure that the circuit is visibly open.
  • Place YOUR lock and tag on the disconnecting device.
  • Verify the circuit is de-energized by testing for voltage using properly rated test equipment.
  • Ensure ALL electrical components in the enclosure are de-energized.
  • Ground ALL phase conductors to the equipment grounding medium with grounding equipment that is properly rated.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

The Deadliest Month?

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MSHA has issued an alert for October based on numbers that show that for Metal/Nonmetal mines it is the deadliest month.

Of course it’s a good idea to pay extra attention to safety any month, any week, or any day, but this certainly indicates there are factors in the industry that could make October a special month to pay attention to safety. Download the printout below from MSHA to post or distribute to your miners.

Click here for: MSHA Alert (pdf).

Fatality #8 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On September 7, 2011, a 30 year-old miner with I year of experience was killed at an underground gold mine. The victim was on a ramp waiting for a blast to be initiated. When the round was initiated, small rock and debris traveled through a 3-inch diameter diamond borehole, striking him.

Best Practices 

  • Plug a diamond drill hole that intersects any opening and map the hole.
  • During blasting operations, consider mine specific conditions, including diamond drill holes and rock strata, and establish mine policies and procedures to protect all persons.
  • When developing a blasting plan, make sure all drilled holes and open passageways that intersect the area to be blasted are known and taken into consideration before initiating any blast.
  • Use a central blasting system and schedule blasting between shifts or on off-shifts when no one is present.
  • Train persons to identify hazards associated with blasting activity and take action to correct them.
  • Never initiate a blast until the blast area has been determined to be safe and all persons have been evacuated from the designated blasting area.
  • Take special precautions to ensure that all roadways and regularly traveled areas are blocked to prevent access when blasting is being conducted.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview (pdf).

Fatality #7 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

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On August 9, 2011, a 24-year-old skid-steer loader operator with 12 weeks of experience was killed at a sand and gravel operation. He accessed an elevated platform near an unguarded head pulley and became entangled in the operating conveyor system.

Best Practices

  •  Identify hazards around conveyor systems, design guards, and securely install the guarding.
  • Always provide and maintain guarding sufficient to prevent contact with moving machine parts.
  • Train persons to recognize the hazards associated with performing tasks.
  • Follow established lock-out and tag-out procedures before working on operating systems or moving machine parts.
  • Remain aware of potential hazards in your work area and take actions to eliminate the risks.
  • Do not wear loose fitting clothing when working near moving machine parts.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview (pdf).