There’s no doubt about it. It’s HOT and Summer has actually just begun! Heat is a serious safety issue, but you can take steps to reduce the risk of serious illness. There’s a pamphlet available that you can print out and use in training workers to take the proper precautions themselves, look out for others, and provide First Aid when someone becomes ill from the heat.
Click here for: OSHA’s Prevent Heat Illness at Work pamphlet in English or Spanish (pdf).
On June 7, 2021, at a mine with 25 employees*, a 56 year old hopper operator with 6 years and 36 weeks experience* entered the top of a primary feed hopper to break up and remove a large rock. Raw material that remained on the sides of the hopper sloughed off and engulfed the miner.
Best Practices:
Additional Information:
This is the 15th fatality reported in 2021, and the second classified as “Handling Material.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
On Thursday, June 3, 2021, a 42-year-old section foreman with 16 years 40 weeks of experience* was fatally injured when he was hit by a shuttle car at an underground mine with 115 employees.* The victim was struck when he walked into the path of a loaded shuttle car that was traveling to the dump point.
Best Practices:
• Install proximity detection systems on mobile equipment to protect personnel and eliminate accidents of this type.
• Be aware of your location in relation to movement of equipment, especially in lower seams.
• Sound audible warnings, distinguishable from surrounding noise, and reduce speed when approaching and before traveling through check curtains. Wear reflective clothing or strobe lights to aid visibility when working around mobile equipment.
• Assure all personnel are clear of the traveling path and turning radius before moving equipment.
• Train miners and equipment operators to communicate their location and wait for acknowledgement before moving.Additional Information:
This is the fourteenth fatality reported in 2021, and the seventh fatality classified as “Powered Haulage.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
On June 2, 2021, a 26-year-old section foreman with five years of mining experience at an underground mine with 462 employees* was pinned against a continuous mining machine by a piece of rib. The piece fell while he was installing a rib bolt with the machine mounted rib drill.
Best Practices:
Additional Information:
This is the 13th fatality reported in 2021, and the first classified as “Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
Today MSHA conducted one of its quarterly stakeholder meetings via phone and posted this PowerPoint presentation to review the 2021 Fatalities so far. A link will be provided if, as usual, MSHA posts an audio recording of the event.
Click here for: PowerPoint Presentation (pdf)
Click here to read a personal account from MSHA on why YOU should get the Covid vaccine. I did. – Randy
On May 18, 2021, a telehandler at an underground mine with 113 employees and 7 contract employees* was towing a trailer with a diesel pump onboard up an inclined underground roadway when the tow hitch suddenly broke. The trailer rolled down the roadway, striking and fatally injuring a 35 year old* contract laborer with 1 year experience*.
Best Practices:
Additional Information:
This is the 12th fatality reported in 2021, and the third classified as “Machinery.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), final report (pdf).
On May 14, 2021, a 32 year old* continuous mining machine operator with 11 years experience* was fatally injured when a piece of rock fell from the roof and struck him at an underground coal mine with 17 employees*. The victim was working under unsupported roof in the Number 1 entry.
Best Practices:
Additional Information:
This is the 11th fatality reported in 2021, and the first classified as “Fall of Roof or Back.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).
On Jan. 22, 2021, a 38 year old* shuttle car operator with 11 years of mining experience at an underground mine with 57 employees* was in the operator’s compartment of his shuttle car, traveling through the last open crosscut, when a second shuttle car traveled through a ventilation curtain and struck his shuttle car. The corner of the second shuttle car entered the operator’s deck of the victim’s shuttle car. The operator was injured and passed away from the injuries on Feb. 21, 2021.
Best Practices:
Additional Information:
This is the tenth fatality reported in 2021, and the sixth classified as “Powered Haulage.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)
Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf) Final Report (pdf).