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 20th and 21st, 2016 at the Holiday Inn Conference Center—Lehigh Valley. The objective of the seminar and the workshops is to enhance the safety management skills of supervisors.
View the flyer here. (pdf)
We’d like to be the first to wish you holiday greetings, but of course we’d have to have done that in August or something like that. 😉 Seriously, we know we’re not the first, but don’t want to be the last either, so be safe. No time is more precious than today whether it’s before a holiday or not. We want to remind you of that here at Complete Safety Solutions. Give the gift of yourself and be sure to do your work the way you know it’s supposed to be done, safely. In spite of a bad start, it looks like mining may end up with at least a better year than last year when it comes to fatalities. Still, too many homes are missing a loved-one this season that they shouldn’t have had to miss. It’s hard to say how we can prevent all mining related deaths, but it’s very simple to prevent the next one. Do your share and work safely.
We wish the best of everything. Enjoy the holidays.
Randy and Jolene
SEASONAL SAFETY ALERTHistorically, October has been the most deadly month for the metal and nonmetal mining industry, with 51 fatalities occurring in the month of October since 2000. During this fall period MSHA intends to continue enhanced enforcement, education and outreach with a special emphasis on the historically high number of mining deaths.
Particular attention will be paid to intermittent mines that are beginning to shut down and prepare for the winter season, and the many full time operations that are performing annual repairs in advance of inclement weather. During these activities, many miners may be performing new or unfamiliar tasks, or may be assisting maintenance personnel on jobs they rarely perform, using unfamiliar tools and equipment. Mine operators must assure miners are adequately trained to do those tasks and are protected from hazards.
MSHA’s increased vigilance during this period of historically higher deaths will focus additional resources on increased enforcement attention, education and outreach, including walk-and-talks. We are encouraging the mining industry to do the same. MSHA has provided the mining industry with information on mining deaths and best practices to prevent them, particularly since the fall of 2013 when mining deaths increased. Please make sure that information gets distributed. MSHA will be looking hard for the conditions identified leading to those deaths. MNM inspectors, joined by Coal inspectors and Educational Field and Small Mines Services personnel will be visiting mines, calling attention to potentially hazardous tasks and conditions and discussing safe work practices with miners. Please join MSHA in this special safety outreach and help us spread the word to the miners at your operations. This is the time to be proactive. Assure that workplace examinations are being conducted to identify and fix hazards, and that miners are properly trained, including task training to recognize and avoid hazards so they can go home safe and healthy at the end of each shift.
A link follows to a Seasonal Safety Alert recently published on MSHA’s website.
Seasonal Safety Alert (pdf)
For more information on the mining deaths that have occurred and best practices to prevent them, please go to Best Practices (powerpoint)
Please use the photos and descriptions to prompt discussions about fatalities and how to prevent them.
On August 3, 2015, an 18-year old truck driver (seasonal associate) with 9 weeks experience was killed at a granite mine. The victim backed his truck under a conveyor belt to be loaded. After exiting the truck, the victim entered a door leading underneath the “sand fines silo.” Soon after entering the silo, the structure collapsed burying the victim beneath the falling material.
Best Practices
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (pdf).
On August 3, 2015, a 26-year old miner with 4 years of experience was killed at an underground gold mine. The drill was traveling in the reverse direction of travel up a 10% slope and was carrying a 13½ ft. long drill steel in a rack that had been installed on the machine. The forward end of the drill steel struck a rib causing it to be pushed back toward the operator. The drill steel struck and killed the operator, and caused him to fall to the ground. No witnesses were present at the time of the accident.
Best Practices
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (pdf).
On August 3, 2015, a 64-year old miner with 44 weeks experience was killed at a sand and gravel mine. The victim was operating a front-end loader, loading trucks from a stockpile, when he exited the loader. While outside the loader, the approximate 35-foot high stockpile slope failed and engulfed the victim between the stockpile and the loader.
Best Practices
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (pdf).
On July 10, 2015, a 50-year old Superintendent with 26 years of experience was killed at a sand and gravel dredge operation. Two miners were attempting to dislodge the clam shell bucket from the bottom of the pond when the dredge capsized. One miner was injured but was able to swim to shore and summon assistance. The victim was recovered eight days later.
Best Practices
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (pdf).
On May 18, 2015, a 59-year old delivery truck driver with 32 years of experience was killed at a cement plant. The victim arrived at the plant to deliver drums. After opening the trailer doors, the driver walked to the cab of his truck and proceeded to climb the steps to get back in the cab when he fell backwards onto the ground striking the back of his head.
Best Practices
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (pdf).
On July 15, 2015, a 25-year old contractor with 6 months of experience was killed at a Kaolin processing plant. The victim was working alone and entered a railcar to wash out residual product. The victim was later found unresponsive inside the railcar.
Best Practices
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf), Overview (pdf).
On June 14, 2014, Kevin Lee Ames, a 35-year-old laborer, was using a propane torch to shrink-wrap pelletized gypsum when he received serious burns on 35% of his body. He was subsequently discovered by a co-worker and transported to a hospital. He died on July 28, 2014. The death certificate indicated that the cause of death was mucormycosis (fungal infection) due to burns, and that the manner of death was an accident. An autopsy was not performed. Based on the findings of the death certificate and the MSHA investigation, the Fatality Review Committee determined that the death should be charged to the mining industry.
[SafeMiners.com note: We’re posting these much later, catching up from late notice and even later pictures from MSHA for the reasons noted above.]
Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report (pdf).