OSHA @ 50

renewcomerLeave a comment

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a new webpage marking the 50th anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, the landmark worker safety and health law that led to the creation of OSHA.

The webpage highlights transformative workplace improvements over the past half century, from OSHA’s first standards and whistleblower protections, to assistance programs for small businesses, and the creation of training centers and education grants to help everyone understand and comply with the law.

Visit www.osha.gov/osha50 to find 50th anniversary events and information on OSHA’s efforts to protect America’s workforce.

2019 Fatality #24 / Coal #11

renewcomerLeave a comment

On December 23, 2019, a miner was fatally injured while attempting to remove a splice pin from a 72-inch mainline conveyor belt splice.  A belt clamp and racket-style chain come along failed, releasing stored energy and causing the belt to shift upward and pin the miner against the frame of the belt tailpiece.

Best Practices: 

  • Identify, isolate, and control stored energy: mechanical, electrical, hydraulic and gravitational. Relieve belt tension by releasing the energy at the take-up/belt storage system.
  • Check your environment. Always be aware of an object in your work location that could move if stored energy is released.
  • Check your equipment. Ensure belt clamps and other blocking equipment are substantial and properly rated for preventing conveyor belt movement.
  • Securely install, anchor, inspect, and test blocking equipment to ensure that it is able to prevent movement.
  • Conduct complete and thorough examinations from safe locations to identify hazards and items needing maintenance or repair.
  • Ensure miners are trained on safe work procedures. Develop step-by-step procedures and review them with all miners before they perform non-routine maintenance tasks such as adding or removing conveyor belt.
  • Properly block belts to secure components against motion.
  • De-energize electrical power and lock and tag the visual disconnect before beginning a belt splice.
  • Never use the start and stop controls (belt switches). This switch does not disconnect the power conductors.
  • Lock out and tag out disconnecting devices. Only the person who installed them can remove the lock and tag, and only after completing the work.
  • Talk to your coworkers. After the splice has been completed and before removing your lock and tag, ensure everyone is clear of the conveyor belt and communicate to others that you will be restarting the belt.

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

MNM Fatality – 1/8/20

renewcomerLeave a comment

A miner fell into a portable load out bin on January 8, 2020, and died at the scene.

Best Practices: 

  1. Check handrails and gates. Ensure handrails and gates are substantially constructed, properly secured, and free of defects.
  2. Install mechanical flow-enhancing devices so workers do not have to enter a bin to start or maintain material flow.
  3. Don’t stand on material stored in bins. Material stored in a bin can bridge over the hopper outlet, creating a hidden void below the material surface.
  4. Lock-out, tag-out. Do not enter a bin until the supply and discharge equipment is locked out.
  5. Wear a safety belt or harness secured with a lanyard to an adequate anchor point before entering a bin. Station a second person near the anchor point to make sure there’s no slack in the fall protection system.
  6. Train all miners to recognize fall hazards and properly use fall protection.
  7. Provide safe access to all work places, and discuss and establish safe work procedures.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), News Story (web), Obituary (web), Final Report (pdf).

Fatality Updates

renewcomerLeave a comment

All along I have updated Fatalities posted here to include Final Reports and other notices when available. This usually takes weeks until they are posted and lately months and months. Because the update appears on the initial posting they most likely go unnoticed by those following this blog. I’m going to start entering a separate post to notify of the update along with a link to take you to the original post now updated. I hope this helps to keep you in the know when it comes to the hazards that are costing miners their lives.

It is usually safe to assume that a Fatality post that is missing the Final Report then MSHA has yet to release it, but if you’re unsure or a link doesn’t work please notify me at randy@safeminers.com.

Because it also takes MSHA more than a week to post what we used to call Fatalgrams giving the basic information about a fatality I, I’ll also post notices of fatalities that are pending Fatality Alerts. This will be without any additional information since there is so little offered at this point. At this writing we’re still awaiting a Fatality Alert for a December 23 Coal Fatality and a MNM one that occurred January 8.

OSHA’s Winter Weather Resources

renewcomerLeave a comment

Outdoor work requires proper preparation, especially in severe winter weather conditions. Although OSHA does not have a specific standard that covers working in cold environments, employers have a responsibility to provide workers with employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards, including winter weather related hazards, which are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to them (Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970). Employers should, therefore, train workers on the hazards of the job and safety measures to use, such as engineering controls and safe work practices, that will protect workers’ safety and health.

Click Here to go to OSHA’s Winter Weather page.

2019 Fatality #23 / MNM #13

renewcomerLeave a comment

A contract maintenance mechanic was performing elevator maintenance when the car descended, crushing the mechanic against an elevator platform. The person died at the scene on December 3, 2019.

Best Practices: 

  1. De-energize, lock out and tag out, and block machinery or equipment that can injure miners – before entering the area.
  2. Post warning signs or barricades to keep miners out of areas where health or safety hazards exist.
  3. Install an audible alarm to warn of impending equipment movement.
  4. Evaluate and correct possible hazards promptly before working.
  5. Train personnel in safely using handrails and fall protection equipment during maintenance and construction activities. Ensure their use.

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

Penn State Supervisor Safety Seminar

renewcomerLeave a comment

The Penn State Miner Training Program, in cooperation with government and industry sponsors, is hosting a seminar and a series of professional development workshops on January 22 and 23, 2020. The objective of the seminar and the workshops is to enhance the safety management skills of supervisors. If you only attend one seminar this year the Professional Development Mine Safety Seminar for Supervisors should be the one! 

Click here for more information and to register online.