October 30 is Mine Rescue Day

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October 30th was set aside as Mine Rescue Day (MRD) in 2013 as a time to recognize the dedication and sacrifice of volunteers who risk their own lives to save other miners.

Throughout our nation’s history, members of the mining community have been called upon to rescue their fellow miners from emergency situations in coal and metal and nonmetal mines, whether trapped by fires, explosions, roof falls, flooding or harmful gases.

On Mine Rescue Day, we salute these brave individuals who give their time and risk their lives in the service of others. – MSHA

MNM Fatality – 10/14/20

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On October 14, 2020 (at a South Carolina mine with 49 employees*), a lead person (61 years old with 17 years experience*) was killed when his pickup truck was struck by a haul truck.

Best Practices: 

  • Install and maintain collision avoidance/warning systems.
  • Equip smaller vehicles with strobe lights and flags positioned high enough to be seen from the cabs of haulage trucks in all lighting conditions.
  • Establish and follow communication protocols that require verbal verification for all mobile equipment operators.
  • Design haul roads to minimize congested areas and maximize visibility.
  • Do not drive smaller vehicles in a large truck’s potential path.
  • Train miners on mobile traffic patterns and policies. Do not rely on training or other administrative controls alone to prevent powered haulage or other accidents.

Additional Information: 

This is the 20th fatality reported in 2020 and the fifth classified as “Powered Haulage.” (Italicized details added by safeminers.com)

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (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.

Coal Fatality – 10/13/20

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On October 13, 2020, a miner died after being struck by a battery-powered scoop. He had parked his shuttle car in an intersection and was exiting when a scoop went through a ventilation curtain in an adjacent crosscut and struck him.

Best Practices: 

  • Install and maintain proximity detection systems on mobile section equipment.
  • Use transparent curtains for ventilation controls on working sections.
  • Communicate your presence and intended movements. Wait until miners acknowledge your message before moving your equipment.
  • STOP and SOUND an audible warning device before tramming equipment through ventilation curtains.
  • Avoid areas where equipment operators cannot readily see you.
  • Wear personal strobe light devices to increase visibility.

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

Coal Fatality – 10/9/20

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On October 9, 2020, a contractor was changing the nozzle on a hydroseeder and accidentally engaged the hydroseeder’s clutch while the nozzle was pointing towards him.  The material sprayed from the nozzle struck him, causing him to fall backward and strike his neck on the hydroseeder handrail.

Best Practices: 

  • De-energize equipment while changing accessories until the equipment is ready to use and the operator is properly positioned.
  • Position yourself to avoid hazards resulting from a sudden release of energy.
  • Identify and apply methods to protect personnel from hazards associated with the work being performed. This includes all applicable personal protective equipment for identified hazards.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work and ensure those procedures are followed.

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

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!

September Fatality Updates

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Final Reports posted:

  • 7/9/20 MNM – Sand & Gravel – Electrical (updated 9/17/20)
  • 6/19/20 MNM – Limestone – Falling, Sliding Material (updated 9/18/20)

Fatalities awaiting Fatality Alert to be posted:

  • None

Fatalities awaiting Final Report to be posted:

MNM Fatality – 9/16/20

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On September 16, 2020 (at a New Jersey mine with 9 miners and 3 contractors on site*), a truck driver (37 years old with 20 years experience*) attempted to adjust the brakes on his tri-axle truck while the engine was running, the automatic transmission was in drive and the parking brake was not set. The truck moved forward and fatally injured the victim.

Best Practices: 

  • Before exiting, place the transmission in park, set the parking brake, turn off the engine and activate the hazard warning lights.
  • Block equipment against motion and place high visibility cones or other flagging or signage to caution oncoming traffic before working on equipment.
  • Maintain equipment braking systems and repair and adjustment as necessary.
  • Conduct pre-operational examinations using qualified personnel to identify and repair defects that may affect the safe operation of equipment before it is placed into service.
  • Train miners on site-specific hazards.

Additional Information: 

This is the 17th fatality reported in 2020, and the third classified as “Powered Haulage.” (Italicized details added by safeminers.com)

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).

MNM Fatality – 8/26/20

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On August 26, 2020, two miners were preparing a mobile track mounted jaw crusher for shipping off-site (at a Washington mine with 2 employees*). The crusher was missing the upper wrist pin from the hydraulic cylinder that raises and lowers the right hopper extension. The right hopper extension was secured in place by wedges. The victim was removing wedges, and when a wedge was removed, the extension fell, crushing the victim (a 52 year-old crusher foreman with 23 years and 4 weeks experience*).

Best Practices: 

  • Block equipment against hazardous motion before dismantling equipment.
  • Follow manufacturers’ recommendations when dismantling equipment.
  • Conduct adequate workplace examinations and correct any defects affecting safety before dismantling equipment.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work.
  • Stay clear of suspended loads and raised equipment.
  • Position yourself in a safe location and away from potential “red-zone” areas.
  • Use ladders or other means of safe access to perform maintenance.
  • Train miners to recognize potential hazardous conditions and understand safe job procedures.

Additional Information: 

This is the 14th fatality reported in 2020, and the fourth classified as “Machinery.” *(Italicized details added by safeminers.com)

Click here for: Preliminary Report (pdf), Final Report (pdf).