On October 1, 2021, a 25-year-old Plant Operator with 4 years and 11 weeks experience* was fatally injured at a mine with 3 employees* when he entered a surge bin used as a feed hopper and was engulfed by material.

Best Practices: 

• Design surge bins and feed hoppers to prevent blockages.  Equip bins and hoppers with mechanical devices or other effective means of handling material, so miners are not required to enter or work inside bins and hoppers.
• Provide a safe means of access that allows miners to conduct tasks, such as removing large rocks and other material, safely.
• Ensure handrails and gates are substantially constructed, properly secured, and free of defects.
• Don’t stand on material stored in bins.  Material stored in a bin can bridge over the hopper outlet, creating a hidden void beneath the material’s surface.
• Establish policies and procedures to remove blockages in bins and hoppers safely.  Train and ensure miners follow these policies and procedures.
• Wear an appropriate safety harness, lanyard, and lifeline, and make sure these are maintained, in good condition, and securely anchored.  Assign another miner to constantly monitor and adjust the lifeline, as needed.

Additional Information: 

This is the 28th fatality reported in 2021, and the third classified as “Handling Material.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

On June 7, 2021, at a mine with 25 employees*, a 56 year old hopper operator with 6 years and 36 weeks experience* entered the top of a primary feed hopper to break up and remove a large rock. Raw material that remained on the sides of the hopper sloughed off and engulfed the miner.

Best Practices: 

• Equip hoppers with mechanical devices, grates/grizzlies or other effective means of handling material so miners are not required to enter or work where they are exposed to entrapment by caving or sliding material.
• Establish and assure policies and procedures are followed to safely remove blockages in bins and hoppers. Follow manufacturer recommendations.
• Provide a safe means of access that allows miners to safely conduct tasks such as removing large rocks and other material.
• Wear an appropriate safety harness, lanyard and lifeline which are securely anchored and constantly monitored and adjusted by another person, as needed, prior to entering bins or hoppers.
• Train miners in safe work procedures and hazard recognition especially when removing blockages in bins or hoppers.

Additional Information: 

This is the 15th fatality reported in 2021, and the second classified as “Handling Material.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

On March 12, 2021, a 63 year old mine manager with 43 years mining experience and 7 years at the task* was fatally injured while attempting to insert a steel pin into a spud beam at a sand & gravel mine with 5 employees*.

Best Practices: 

• Always assure hoisted equipment movement has stopped and the hoist operator has set the brake before working on hoisted equipment. 
• Assure the hoist operator can see miners working on hoisted equipment.
• Establish an effective communication protocol, which includes confirmation of instructions, between the hoist operator and miners working on hoisted equipment.
• Position yourself in a safe location to maintain balance and protection from any energy of cantilevering tools or objects.
• Stay in a Safe Zone when working around cables and sheave wheel systems.
• Always maintain a work area that is clean and clear of debris.
• Train equipment operators in the safe performance of their tasks and potential hazards.

Additional Information: 

This is the seventh fatality reported in 2021, and the first classified as “Handling Material.” (*details added by safeminers.com from MSHA data.)

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

On May 2, 2020, a miner entered a dredged sand and gravel bin through a lower access hatch to clear an obstruction. The miner was clearing the blockage with a bar when the material inside the bin fell and engulfed him.

Best Practices: 

1. Lock-out, tag-out. Never enter a bin until the supply and discharge equipment is locked out.
2. Train miners to recognize and safely remove all potential hazards before beginning work and when clearing blocked hoppers.
3. Equip bins 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.
4. Follow manufacturer recommendations for clearing out blockages.
5. Establish and discuss policies and procedures for safely clearing bins.
6. Install a heavy screen (grizzly) to control the size of the material and prevent clogging.

Additional Information: 

This is the 7th fatality reported in 2020, and the second classified as “Handling Material.”

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

On February 27, 2020, a miner died when an unsecured 20’x8’x1″ steel plate standing on edge fell and struck him. The steel plate was being used to cover the end of a feeder to allow an equipment operator to build an earthen ramp to the feeder.

Best Practices: 

• Establish and discuss safe work procedures before beginning work.
• Identify and control all hazards.
• Task train everyone on safe job procedures and to stay clear of suspended loads.
• Require all workers to stay out of the fall path of heavy objects/materials that have the potential of becoming off-balance while in a raised position.
• Monitor routinely to confirm safe work procedures are followed.
• Be aware of your environment. Factors such as wind, snow, and icy surfaces can affect the stability of an object.
• When securing an object, identify the location of its center of gravity.

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