On Thursday, January 27, 2011, a 19 year old underground miner with fifteen weeks of mining experience was killed when he became caught between the “V” shaped coal discharge guides adjacent to the discharge roller of the section conveyor belt. Both belt conveyors were operating at the time of the accident.
Best Practices
- Train all employees thoroughly on the dangers of working or traveling around moving conveyor belts.
- Never attempt to cross a moving belt conveyor, except at suitable cross-overs or cross-unders.
- Install proper belt cross-overs and/or cross-unders at strategic locations, when height allows.
- Be aware of locations where new miners are working or intend to travel.
- Provide belt conveyor stop and start controls at areas where miners must access both sides of the conveyor. These areas should be provided with adequate crossing facilities (e.g. cross-overs or cross-unders).
- Install adequate guarding at all conveyor belt pinch point locations.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf)