Annual Blasting Seminar

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This tuition-free seminar is for mining company managers, blasting engineers, blasters, and others involved with the planning, design, and use of explosives in the mining industry. The seminar will be held at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beaver, West Virginia, starting at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 19, 2020, and ending at 5:15 p.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2020.

Location: National Mine Health and Safety Academy, 1301 Airport Rd., Beaver, WV 25813-9426
Date: February 19, 2020

Contact Jared Adkins at 304-256-3472 or adkins.jared@dol.gov for more information or click here for brochure (pdf).

2019 Fatality #22 / MNM #12

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While spotting for a dump truck, a contractor stepped directly into the path of a bulldozer and died at the scene on November 16, 2019.

Best Practices: 

  1. Safety first. Before starting work, establish and discuss safe work procedures. Identify and control all hazards associated with the work and properly protect workers.
  2. Know where people are. Be aware of body positioning around equipment, traffic patterns, dump sites, and haul roads.
  3. Train miners and contractors on traffic controls, mobile equipment patterns, and other site-specific hazards.
  4. Stay alert. Do not place yourself in harm’s way.
  5. Communicate with mobile equipment operators and ensure they acknowledge your presence.
  6. Ensure travelways are clear before moving a vehicle or mobile equipment.
  7. Look behind you. Install “rear viewing” cameras or other collision warning systems on mobile equipment. When backing up, look over your shoulder to eliminate blind spots. When using mirrors, use all available mirrors.
  8. Wear reflective material while working around mobile equipment. Use flags, visible to equipment operators, to make miners and smaller vehicles more visible.

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

2019 Fatality #21 / MNM #11

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A mobile maintenance mechanic was driving on the pit haulage road when the service truck he was operating left the road, hit a berm, and flipped onto its side, ejecting the miner. The miner died at the scene on November 5, 2019.

Best Practices: 

  1. Always wear seat belts when operating mobile equipment.
  2. Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment.
  3. Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any safety defects before operating mobile equipment.

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

Drowsy Driving Prevention Week

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Get infographic and other materials here.

To bring heightened awareness to the perils of driving while sleep-deprived, the National Sleep Foundation declares November 3-10, 2019 as Drowsy Driving Prevention Week ®. The Foundation’s annual outreach effort aims to reduce the number of drivers who decide to drive sleep-deprived — responsible for more than 6,400 U.S. deaths annually — through accessible research and communications tools.

A poll commissioned by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) shows that a total of 97% of those polled see drowsy driving as a threat to safety, with more than 68% considering it to be a major threat. Furthermore, three in 10 Americans reported not knowing how many hours they could be awake without sleep and still drive safely. These findings highlight the need for public education on how to assess one’s alertness and risk of driving while drowsy.

Fatality #17 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

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[Note: The Fatality Alert for this first appeared 10/16/19. As noted below the incident didn’t become a fatality until the victim died on 6/27/19.]

On June 15, 2018, a miner fell from a man basket when the weldment securing the basket to the shovel failed. The miner died of his injuries on June 27, 2019.

Best Practices

  • Check for damage. Routinely examine metal structures for signs of weakness (corrosion, fatigue cracks, bent/buckling beams, braces or columns, damaged/loose/missing connectors, broken welds, etc.).
  • Replace cracked equipment fast. Small cracks in equipment can quickly grow into a complete fracture. Take cracked mechanical components out of service immediately.
  • Know the limits. Consult with the manufacturer to determine the service/fatigue life of mechanical systems or parts.

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

2019 Fatality #19 / Coal #9

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On September 5, 2019, a continuous mining machine helper was fatally injured when he was struck by a battery-powered scoop. The victim was in the #3 entry behind a wing curtain that provided ventilation to the #3 right crosscut being mined. The scoop was trammed through the #3 left crosscut and struck the victim as it made a right-hand turn and passed through the wing curtain.

Best Practices: 

  • Install and maintain proximity detection systems on mobile section equipment.
  • Before operating mobile equipment, inform miners of your travel route – especially if changes are being made. Proceed with caution and watch for miners on foot.
  • STOP and SOUND an audible warning device before tramming equipment through ventilation curtains.
  • STAY ALERT around mobile section equipment. Communicate your presence and intended movements to equipment operators.
  • Use transparent curtains for ventilation controls on working sections.
  • Be aware that noise can cause moving equipment to not be heard.

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

2019 Fatality #20 / Coal #10

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On September 17, 2019, an electrician was electrocuted when he contacted an energized conductor. The victim contacted a 995 VAC connector while attempting to troubleshoot the scrubber motor circuit on a continuous mining machine.

Best Practices: 

  • Lock out and tag out the electrical circuit yourself. Never rely on others to do this for you.
  • BEFORE performing electrical work:
    • Open the circuit breaker or load break switch away from the enclosure to de-energize the incoming power cables or conductors.
    • Open the visual disconnect away from the enclosure to confirm that the incoming power cables or conductors have been de-energized.
    • Lock out and tag out the visual disconnect.
    • Ground the de-energized phase conductors.
  • Wear properly rated and well maintained electrical gloves when troubleshooting or testing energized circuits.  After the electrical problem has been found, follow the proper steps before performing electrical work.
  • Use properly rated electrical meters and non-contact voltage testers to ensure electrical circuits have been de-energized.
  • Only use qualified, trained workers. Ensure electrical work is performed by a qualified electrician or someone trained to do electrical work under a qualified electrician’s direct supervision.
  • Identify circuits and circuit breakers. Properly identify all electrical circuits and circuit breakers before troubleshooting or performing electrical work.

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

MNM Examination of Working Places

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Click here to download a sample workplace exam form with the updated rule on it.

On September 30, 2019 MSHA published the latest revision of the MNM Examination of Working Places rule which changes the rule back to the originally published rule of January 23, 2017. A court ruled that changes to the published rule between then and when it went into effect in June of 2018 lessened the protection of the original rule which violates the “no-less protection” requirement of 101(a)(9) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

The reinstated rule goes into effect immediately and says:

(a) A competent person designated by the operator shall examine each working place at least once each shift before miners begin work in that place, for conditions that may adversely affect safety or health.

(1) The operator shall promptly notify miners in any affected areas of any conditions found that may adversely affect safety or health and promptly initiate appropriate action to correct such conditions.

(2) Conditions noted by the person conducting the examination that may present an imminent danger shall be brought to the immediate attention of the operator who shall withdraw all persons from the area affected (except persons referred to in section 104(c) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977) until the danger is abated.

(b) A record of each examination shall be made before the end of the shift for which the examination was conducted. The record shall contain the name of the person conducting the examination; date of the examination; location of all areas examined; and description of each condition found that may adversely affect the safety or health of miners.

(c) When a condition that may adversely affect safety or health is corrected, the examination record shall include, or be supplemented to include, the date of the corrective action.

(d) The operator shall maintain the examination records for at least one year, make the records available for inspection by authorized representatives of the Secretary and the representatives of miners, and provide these representatives a copy on request.

2019 Fatality #18 / Coal #8

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On August 29, 2019, a 25 year-old section foreman with 6 years of mining experience was fatally injured while exiting the longwall face. The victim was struck and covered by a portion of mine rib measuring 25 feet in length, 3 feet in depth, and 8 ½ feet in height.

Best Practices: 

  • Be aware of potential hazards when working or traveling near mine ribs.
  • Take additional safety precautions when geologic conditions, or an increase in mining height, could cause roof or rib hazards.
  • Train all miners to conduct thorough and more frequent examinations of the roof, face, and ribs when miners work or travel close to the longwall face.  Continuously monitor for changing conditions.
  • Install rib supports of proper length with surface area coverage, on cycle, and in a consistent pattern for the best protection against rib falls.

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

Serious Accident: Chemical Explosion

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On June 3, 2019, a railcar exploded when incompatible materials stored inside the car reacted and approximately 20,000 gallons of liquid waste derived fuel – fuel derived from hazardous waste – spewed from the railcar for 34 seconds. The eruption sent waste fuel several hundred feet into the air and ripped the manway hatch from the railcar. The hatch came to rest approximately 370 yards from the railcar. Droplets of waste fuel traveled more than 1/3 of a mile, landing on buildings, structures and vehicles near the facility. Agitators in several tanks were not maintained in functional condition. The facility was blending and storing incoming loads of waste fuel in railcars. A system of analysis was not in place to ensure compatibility of the blended waste fuel.

Best Practices: 

  • Evaluate work processes and develop acceptance and processing procedures to eliminate and mitigate hazards.
  • Use the proper container type (one that does not react with the hazardous material).
  • Make sure hazardous material storage containers are located in a safe area.
  • Review the uniform hazardous waste manifest and safety data sheets (SDSs) and regularly conduct chemical compatibility analyses. Don’t store incompatible materials together.
  • Do not reuse unwashed storage containers.
  • Regularly inspect equipment for proper operation. Remove damaged containers and equipment from service.
  • When handling hazardous material, use a properly designed, installed, and maintained ventilation system.
  • Provide warning signs that display the nature of the hazards and the required personal protective equipment.
  • Provide, use, and maintain fixed and portable gas detectors in areas where hazardous gases or vapors can accumulate.
  • Train miners on chemical hazards, emergency response procedures, and material handling activities including storage, loading, unloading, and transporting. Have SDSs accessible and ensure that all employees know how to read them.

Click here pdf of alert.