MNM Fatality – 5/21/20

renewcomerLeave a comment

On May 21, 2020, two miners were working to hoist an electric motor from its base by anchoring a hoist to an overhead, unsecured steel pipe (at Missouri underground limestone mine with 51 employees*). The steel pipe slid out of place and struck one of the miners (60 year-old plant maintenance worker with 27 years and 9 weeks total mining experience*) in the head and back. The miner died on May 23, 2020, due to complications from his injuries.

Best Practices: 

  • Ensure load anchor locations are stable, substantial and adequate to support the load.
  • Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work and ensure those procedures are followed.
  • Identify and control all hazards associated with the work to be performed and the methods to properly protect persons.
  • Follow the manufacturer’s recommended safe work procedures for the maintenance task.
  • Examine work areas for hazards that may be created as a result of the work being performed.
  • Position yourself in areas where you will not be exposed to hazards resulting from a sudden release of energy. Be aware of your location in relation to machine parts that can move.

Additional Information: 

This is the first fatality in 2020 classified as “Hand Tools.” *(Italicized details added by safeminers.com)

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

MNM Fatality – 9/1/20

renewcomerLeave a comment

On September 1, 2020, a miner (53 year-old plant helper in Texas with 2 years and 8 weeks of experience*) died when he fell while attempting to close a hatch on the top of a bulk material trailer (at an industrial sand plant with 20 employees). The miner was wearing a fall protection harness but his lanyard was not attached to a secure anchorage.

Best Practices: 

  • Encourage the use of automated hatches on tanks and trailers.
  • Provide and ensure the use of an effective fall arrest and secure anchorage system.
  • Provide safe access to all work areas and ensure truck and trailer access and work platforms are properly designed, maintained, and used.
  • Examine work areas and equipment. Don’t use unsafe work areas and equipment until repairs are made.
  • Refresh miner training on safe work procedures after returning from periods of shutdown, and routinely monitor work habits.

Additional Information: 

This is the 15th fatality reported in 2020, and the fourth classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.” *(Italicized details added by safeminers.com)

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

National Safety Stand Down

renewcomerLeave a comment

Join the Annual OSHA Stand Down for Falls in the Workplace this week. “Fatalities caused by falls from elevation continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees, accounting for 320 of the 1,008 construction fatalities recorded in 2018 (BLS data). Those deaths were preventable. The National Safety Stand-Down raises fall hazard awareness across the country in an effort to stop fall fatalities and injuries.” [OSHA]

Get training materials and videos at OSHA’s site here.

TRAM Virtual Summit

renewcomerLeave a comment

If you’ve never had the opportunity to travel to West Virginia for a Training Resources Applied to Mining (TRAM) conference the pandemic may be making it easier, not harder to finally attend. The meeting will be virtual on October 14 & 15. No travel involved!

Stay tuned! We’re anxious to see if there will be any virtual social exchanges as well, and if not, Safe Miners and Complete Safety Solutions will be providing some. You can let us know you’re interested by completing a short form here.

Register with MSHA below.”See you there!”

Register with MSHA here.

MNM Fatality – 8/18/20

renewcomerLeave a comment

On August 18, 2020, a miner (21 year-old laborer in California with one year and twelve weeks of experience*) was killed while attempting to clear a material blockage (at a sand and gravel mine with 20 employees*). The miner entered the cone crusher to begin work when the material shifted and engulfed him.  He was extracted from the crusher and taken to a hospital, where he died the next day.

Best Practices: 

  • Properly design chutes and crushers to prevent blockages. Install a heavy screen (grizzly) to control the size of material and prevent clogging.
  • Equip chutes with mechanical devices such as vibrating shakers or air cannons to loosen blockages, or provide other effective means of handling material, so miners are not exposed to entrapment hazards by falling or sliding material.
  • Establish and discuss policies and procedures for safely clearing crushers.
  • Train miners to recognize and safely remove all potential hazards before beginning work and when clearing blocked crushers.

Additional Information: 

This is the 13th fatality reported in 2020, and the second classified as “Fall of Material.”  – * (Italicized details added by safeminers.com)

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

MSHA Safety Alert: Working in Proximity to Belt Conveyors

renewcomerLeave a comment

There have been eight fatalities involving belt conveyors in the mining industry since January 26, 2017. Six involved miners working near moving conveyors, while two involved maintenance of an idle conveyor. All of these fatalities could have been prevented with proper lock-out/tag-out and blocking against motion before working. The most recent fatality, involving a miner coming in contact with a moving conveyor, is under investigation. [MSHA]

Download the Alert here (pdf).

August Fatality Updates

renewcomerLeave a comment

Final Reports posted:

  • 6/1/20 MNM – Sand & Gravel – Slip or Fall of Person (updated 8/27/20)
  • 6/13/20 MNM – Sand & Gravel – Machinery (updated 8/27/20)

Fatalities awaiting Fatality Alert to be posted:

  • 8/18/20 – Sand & Gravel – Falling, Sliding Material

Fatalities awaiting Final Report to be posted:

  • 6/19/20 – Limestone – Falling, Sliding Material
  • 7/9/20 – Sand & Gravel – Electrical
  • 7/24/20 – Limestone – Machinery
  • 7/29/20 – Sand & Gravel – Powered Haulage

MNM Fatality – 7/29/20

renewcomerLeave a comment

On July 29, 2020, a miner (63 year-old plant operator in Missouri with six years of experience*) was injured when his arm became entangled in a stacker conveyor belt (at a sand and gravel mine with three employees*). The victim was airlifted to a trauma center where he passed away a week later.

Best Practices: 

  • Turn off, lock out power sources and block against motion before removing or bypassing a guard or other safety device to clean, repair, perform maintenance or clear a blockage on a belt conveyor.
  • Never clean pulleys or idlers manually while belt conveyors are operating.
  • Avoid wearing loose-fitting clothing and keep tools, body parts and long hair away from moving belt conveyor components.
  • Train all personnel in safe work procedures.
  • Properly guard moving machine parts to protect persons from contact that could cause injury.

Additional Information: 

This is the 12th fatality reported in 2020, and the second classified as “Powered Haulage.” – * (Italicized details added by safeminers.com)

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

MNM Fatality – 7/24/20

renewcomerLeave a comment

On July 24, 2020, two miners were loading explosives from inside an aerial lift’s basket when the basket jolted upward into the mine roof, causing the death of one of the miners.

Best Practices: 

  • Check all equipment before using it. Report all defects affecting safety to a responsible person for correction.
  • Service and maintain hydraulic systems according to the manufacturer’s specifications and schedules. Excessive pressure in a hydraulic circuit can drastically alter the control of booms, etc., creating serious hazards.
  • Instruct aerial lift users on hazard recognition and safe job procedures to avoid unsafe conditions.
  • Train lift operators in safe operating procedures listed in the operator’s manual.
  • Report equipment malfunctions and remove the equipment from service until repaired.

Additional Information: 

This is the 12th fatality reported in 2020, and the third classified as “Machinery.”

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