Other Hazard

Coal Fatality – 12/22/22

renewcomerLeave a comment

On December 22, 2022, at approximately 12:00 p.m., Aidan Coon, a 21 year-old contract freeze treater with approximately two years of mining experience, was found unresponsive in his personal vehicle beside the mine office.

On December 22, 2022, MSHA was informed of a contractor’s death at Black Diamond Company’s Wellmore #8 Prep Plant in Big Rock, VA.  MSHA’s initial findings indicated medical related issues as the cause of death.  However, on March 31, 2023, MSHA received the death certificate and on April 12, 2023, MSHA received the autopsy report; both stated that the contractor died from carbon monoxide poisoning.  After further investigation and review, MSHA has decided that this death should be charged to the mining industry.

The accident occurred because the mine operator and the contractor did not ensure the vehicle, used by the miner during his shift, was maintained in safe operating condition.

Additional Information

Click here for Final Report (pdf). No Preliminary Report or Fatal Alert was posted by MSHA. Classified as Other: CO2 Poisoning.

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).

Beat the Heat

renewcomerLeave a comment

It’s that time of year. That time when we’ve already had lots of heat and there’s more to come. It’s time to take it seriously. Check out the National Integrated Heat Health Information System.

Information from 8 agencies in one location gives you what you need to anticipate and prepare for heat in your area. Take it seriously.

OSHA reminds us that “employers are responsible for providing workplaces free of known safety hazards. This includes protecting workers from extreme heat. An employer with workers exposed to high temperatures should establish a complete heat illness prevention program.”

  • Provide workers with water, rest and shade.
  • Allow new or returning workers to gradually increase workloads and take more frequent breaks as they acclimatize, or build a tolerance for working in the heat.
  • Plan for emergencies and train workers on prevention.
  • Monitor workers for signs of illness.

Check out the NIHHIS site here.

MNM Fatality – 8/27/19

renewcomerLeave a comment

On August 27, 2019 a miner was splitting and sorting rock in a quarry when lightning was observed in the distance. The miner was seeking shelter when he was struck by lightning.

Best Practices: 

  1. Train miners to take action after hearing thunder, seeing lightning, or perceiving any other warning signs of approaching thunderstorms.
  2. Use the established emergency communications system to provide miners with warnings when lightning is in the area.
  3. Identify locations for substantially built safe lightning shelters.
  4. Stay in safe shelter at least 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder.

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

Fatality #13 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2018

renewcomerLeave a comment

On October 25, 2018, a 29-year old laborer with 9 weeks of experience was fatally injured when the truck he was driving veered off the haul road and climbed an embankment, causing the truck to overturn.  He was not wearing a seatbelt.

Best Practices

  • Always wear a seat belt when operating mobile equipment.
  • Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic.
  • Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment, especially vehicles with high centers of gravity.

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

Fatality #10 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2015

renewcomerLeave a comment

m10On 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

  • Miners MUST be adequately informed and trained for the hazards they will encounter. The mine operator should have a plan that addresses confined space entry, monitoring, (attendance) and rescue specific to the types of confined spaces at the mine.
  • Purging of the confined space to remove contaminants should be done before entry by means of a high volume of fresh air flow. Mechanical ventilation may be necessary to ensure an adequate supply of fresh air is provided for miners working in the confined space.
  • The person outside of the confined space should be ready to summon help if the miner inside the confined space requires assistance. The person monitoring should carry a portable radio to call for assistance in an emergency.  No miner should ever enter a confined space to conduct a rescue without awareness of the hazard(s) present and appropriate personal protective equipment.
  • Miners working within confined spaces should never work alone.  Ensure that a trained person is posted outside the confined space to monitor the miner working in the confined space. The miner working in the confined space should be attached to a lifeline.
  • Prior to use, gas detection equipment should calibrated or bump tested per manufacturer recommendations and miners should be task trained in the use of such equipment.
  • Oxygen deficiency is the leading cause of confined space fatalities.  Check the atmosphere inside the confined space for adequate oxygen, toxic contamination and accumulation of flammable gases with a suitable gas detector before entering the confined space.  Wear supplied air respirators when making these examinations.

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

Fatality #26 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2014

renewcomerLeave a comment

 

m26On June 17, 2014, Ronald Dwayne Dunn, Customer Truck Driver, age 41, parked his bulk tanker truck at a tanker top access platform, went to the top of the platform, and opened the bulk hatch on the trailer in preparation to get loaded with cement.  Another driver noticed the victim was not on top of the truck.  The driver found that the victim was inside the tank of the truck but could not get him out and called for help.  A responder team arrived and found the victim unresponsive.  He was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

On September 3, 2014, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) referred the accident to the Chargeability Review Committee.  On February 2, 2015, the Chargeability Review Committee determined that this death should be charged to the mining industry.  The autopsy report indicated that the manner of death was accidental and that the cause of death was asthma exacerbated by environmental dust exposure. The toxicology screen detected levels of theophylline, the active ingredient in the asthma inhaler.  It appears Dunn may have accidentally dropped his asthma inhaler into the tank, proceeded to climb into the tank to retrieve it, and was unable to get out.

[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)

Fatality #19 for Coal Mining 2012

renewcomerLeave a comment

On Friday, November 30, 2012, a 58-year old bulldozer operator with 37 years of experience was killed when an upstream slope failure occurred at a coal slurry impoundment. The victim was grading the upstream slope at the time of the accident. The bulldozer was carried into the pool area during the slide and sank with the victim on board.

Best Practices
  • Provide hazard training to all personnel working on or near an impoundment for recognition of hazards associated with the impoundment and pushout work, such as surface cracks or bubbling in water/slurry.
  • Review safety precautions for upstream construction with equipment operators, along with material handling safety policies and designated storage areas for safety equipment.
  • Provide oversight by knowledgeable personnel at the work site. Assure that a person is present who is familiar with the mechanics of upstream construction and can recognize and have unsafe work practices and conditions corrected immediately.
  • Remove all personnel to a safe location when unsafe impoundment conditions are present.
  • Prior to initiating push-outs, expose the slurry delta by pumping excess surface water down to the maximum extent possible, and for as long as possible.
  • Use two-way radios or similar devices on all equipment during impoundment related construction, so that potential hazards can be communicated quickly with equipment operators and personnel.
  • Maintain a work skiff with oars and life jackets near the pushout area.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf)

Fatality #15 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2012

renewcomerLeave a comment

On October 10, 2012, a 55-year old contract painter with 35 years of experience was killed at a kaolin and ball clay operation. He was standing on the bottom of a 40-foot high, 50-foot diameter tank that was open to the atmosphere and covered with mesh cloth material. He was spraying coal tar on the inside walls of the tank and was found unconscious by coworkers. He was recovered by emergency personnel and pronounced dead at a hospital.

Best Practices

  • Develop, implement, and maintain a written Hazard Communication (HazCom) program.
  • Ensure that a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is accessible to persons for each hazardous chemical to which they may be exposed.
  • Review and discuss MSDS control section recommendations with employees that may be exposed to hazardous chemicals. Establish and discuss safe work procedures before starting any work and identify and control all hazards.
  • Train all persons to recognize and understand safe job procedures, including the physical and health hazards of chemicals that are being used and the proper use of respiratory protection, gloves, body suits, hearing, and eye & face protection.
  • Ensure that adequate ventilation is provided to all work areas.
  • Ensure that persons are not required to perform work alone in any area where hazardous conditions exist that would endanger their safety.
  • Conduct air monitoring with calibrated instruments to ensure a safe working atmosphere. Air monitoring should be done prior to workers entering the confined work space and continuously till the workers have exited the enclosed area. Atmospheric monitoring at minimum includes Oxygen, LEL and all potential toxic gases in the work place.

Based on MSHA’s investigation and the finding of the death certificate, MSHA later concluded that the miner died from natural causes and that the fatality is not chargeable.

Fatality #11 for Metal/Nonmetal Mining 2011

renewcomerLeave a comment

On October 28, 2011, a 21 year-old contract tire repair technician with 37 weeks of experience was killed at a surface gold operation. The victim was working in a shop repairing a haul truck tire. He was applying adhesive inside the tire and was completely out of view. He was not wearing respiratory protection.

Best Practices
 

  • Develop, implement, and maintain a written Hazard Communication (HazCom) program.
  • Ensure that a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) is accessible to persons for each hazardous chemical to which they may be exposed.
  • Review and discuss MSDS control section recommendations. Establish and discuss safe work procedures before starting any work and identify and control all hazards.
  • Train all persons to recognize and understand safe job procedures, including the physical and health hazards of chemicals that are being used and the proper use of respiratory protection.
  • Ensure that adequate exhaust ventilation is provided to all work areas.
  • Ensure that persons are not required to perform work alone in any area where hazardous conditions exist that would endanger their safety.

Click here for: MSHA Preliminary Report (pdf), MSHA Investigation Report(pdf), Overview(powerpoint), Overview (pdf).