Safety Materials

Need a New Pair?

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When do you need a new pair of work shoes? Don’t wait until they cost you a painful slip and fall. This CDC/NIOSH graphic is available in English and Spanish. Download it and use it in training or post for employees to read. Of all the tools we should inspect before use your shoes may be the one you actually use the most but don’t even think about it. A new pair of workshoes may seem expensive if you think you can extend them a few weeks with some duct tape, but they don’t come even close to costing as much as a hospital visit even if you aren’t paying the bill.

Check it out here.

Spring Thaws Go Virtual

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The traditional Spring Thaws held around the country are virtual this year so you may be able to attend them even if they aren’t in your area. Spring Thaws are held by mining industry hosts to:

•  increase awareness and recognition of mining hazards.
•  improve hazard correction.
•  encourage safe work practices.

At these events, safety professionals from mining and equipment companies, associations, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration share information on a range of mining hazards. While MSHA does not sponsor these events, they encourage miners to take advantage of those offered in your area, in-person or virtual.

You can see the schedule on MSHA’s web site here.

OSHA COVID-19 Violations

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Stepping into OSHA-land for a moment, a news release several days ago stated “U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA Announces $2,851,533 in Coronavirus Violations.” Whether your job is in an OSHA or MSHA jurisdiction, OSHA provides some helpful enforcement and safety publications. Here are links to:

Common COVID-19 Citations (pdf)

Lessons Learned from Enforcement (pdf)

OSHA COVID-19 Resource Page

New Fatality Dashboard

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I’ve added a new dashboard to the Resource Page to help trainers classify and analyze fatalities. Starting with 2020 all mining fatalities are listed here along with basic information on what was mined, the victim’s job, age, and experience, and whether the victim worked for a contractor or not. The date on the chart links to the fatality while the rest will show you all fatalities that are classified like what you clicked on.

Check it out here.

NFPA Issues Outdoor Heater Fact Sheet

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Because of the pandemic there are many efforts to use heaters to allow people to be in outdoor areas for dining and other social activities longer into the colder season. In response the National Fire Protection Association has issued an informative two page fact sheet that includes helpful safety information if you use propane heaters on the job or anywhere.

Click here for the Fact Sheet (pdf).

The CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

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If that sounds like a subscription you ought to have, you’re right. Seriously, I’ve was a subscriber even when it was only on paper… before the internet and email it was still free. Of course, I’ve long been accused of having a morbid sense of humor, but really there are loads of great charts and data here even when hospitalization rates weren’t something so many people were interested in.

If you think you’re interested in a subscription check out the MMWR online here and look for the blue subscribe envelope.

Confined Space Safety Alert

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Between 2017 and 2020, three miners were fatally injured after entering confined spaces to clear material and obstructions. These confined spaces included a sand and gravel bin, a sand-filled hopper, and a cone crusher. All three miners were engulfed by falling material.

Best Practices: 

  • Operators should identify and eliminate or control all hazards before miners begin work and when clearing blocked material. Miners should be trained in these practices.
  • Lock-out, tag-out. Never enter a confined space until the supply and discharge equipment is locked out.
  • Never lock-out using the start and stop controls. These do not disconnect power conductors.
  • Assign a safety harness and lanyard to each miner who may work at material supply and discharge areas or any areas where an engulfment hazard exists. Do not use lanyards that depend on free-fall speed to lock.
  • Place warning signs:
    • “Fall Protection Required Here”
    • “Confined Space – Engulfment Hazard” warning signs at all access points to hoppers, bins, and chutes.

Click here for: MSHA Confined Space Safety Alert (pdf); Safeminers EZ Compliance Helper: MSHA on Confined Spaces (pdf).

October is National Protect Your Hearing Month

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There is no cure for hearing loss! The good news? You can prevent noise-induced hearing loss by protecting your hearing. Avoid loud noise whenever possible and turn down the volume on personal listening devices. If you can’t avoid loud noise, use earplugs or noise-cancelling earmuffs to protect your ears. – CDC

Get more materials from the CDC for Protect Your Hearing Month HERE!