On February 24, 2011, a 56 year- old equipment operator with 10 years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel operation. He was cleaning a tramp metal magnet on a belt conveyor when it started.
Best Practices
- Establish policies and procedures for conducting specific tasks on belt conveyors.
- Ensure that persons are task trained and understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
- Deenergize and block belt conveyors against motion before working near a drive, head, tail, take-up pulleys, and magnets.
- Lock-out/tag-out all power sources before working on belt conveyors.
- Maintain communications with all persons performing the task. Before starting belt conveyors, ensure that all persons are clear.
- Provide and maintain a safe means of access to all working places.
- Sound an audible alarm if the entire length of the belt conveyor is not visible from the starting switch.
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (powerpoint), Overview (pdf).