Safety Materials

MSHA Hazardous Chemicals Health & Safety Alert

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MSHA has issued the following alert concerning Hazardous Chemicals:

“Recent train derailments and chemical spills, including several incidents on mine sites, have increased the importance of maintaining awareness about hazardous chemicals used in mining. Miners working with and around chemicals can be exposed to hazards that result in injuries or illnesses from exposure to chemicals.  Safe handling of chemicals can prevent accidents, injuries, and illnesses.”

Best Practices

Operators should: 

  • Store hazardous, flammable, and combustible materials in a manner that minimizes dangers to miners.
  • Warn against potential hazards; caution against unsafe practices; and provide instructions on the proper use of personal protective equipment.
  • Provide miners personal protective equipment to use, such as gloves, safety glasses or goggles, and NIOSH-approved respirators, as applicable.
  • Train miners on the task to be performed; on working with or near chemical hazards; and performing appropriate emergency response procedures.
  • Provide miners a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical they may be exposed to during each work shift.

Click here for: Hazardous Chemicals Alert in English (pdf), or in Spanish (pdf).

Winter Safety

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Winter presents different challenges to miners, especially in those places with snow and ice. In addition to other safety measures, miners must take extra precautions in the winter months. Help keep yourself and other miners safe – please print and use these alerts in mine sites email messages and on social media and websites. Together we can keep all miners safe through winter and beyond. [MSHA]

Click here for: Safety Posters & Checklists (MSHA web site).

Stay Out – Stay Alive

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(MSHA) Water-filled quarries and pits hide rock ledges, old machinery and other hazards.  The water can be deceptively deep and dangerously cold.  Steep, slippery walls make exiting the water difficult.  Hills of loose material can easily collapse on an unsuspecting biker or climber.  Vertical shafts can be hundreds of feet deep and may be completely unprotected, or hidden by vegetation.

Even so dozens of people are injured or killed while exploring or playing on mine property every year.  The men and women employed in our nation’s mines are trained to work in a safe manner.  For trespassers, hazards are not always apparent.

Visit https://www.abandonedmines.gov/staying-safe to learn more about abandoned mine and quarry accidents. Please help us raise awareness about this summertime danger. Most importantly, remind people to Stay Out, Stay Alive!

Whistleblower Protections

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No single thing would reduce injuries and fatalities in the workplace more than if all workers would refuse to perform unsafe actions. I’m convinced that sometimes workers are convinced by pressure from their companies or peers to do so. Other times they voluntarily do so because they mistakenly think it is the only way to accomplish the task. In the end workers doing things they know to be unsafe is often deadly. The best tool provided to each and every worker is the ability to request enforcement inspections from federal and state agencies and flatly refuse to participate without fear of reprisal as is provided under whistleblower protections. In mines we refer to the rights and responsibilities of miners, but this protection is provided in many areas. July 30 was Whistleblower Protection day and a video by Department of Labor Secretary Walsh and links to more information are provided here. – Randy

Recent Vehicle Rollover Accidents

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Some recent accidents occurred when vehicles flipped over backwards, rolled over, and tipped over on their sides. Miners were operating haul trucks, excavators, bulldozers, front end loaders, and service trucks while working or traveling near the edge of dump sites, elevated roadways, embankments, ponds, and excavations.

Contributing factors included the non-use or unbuckling of seat belts; jumping from vehicles; brake failure; distracted driving; loss of vehicle control; traveling or working too close to unconsolidated roadways; inadequate berms; pushing through berms; and failure to perform workplace examinations. [MSHA]

Click here to download MSHA Alert. (pdf)

Powered Haulage Stand Down

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So far this year, nine miners have been killed and 185 have been injured in accidents involving powered haulage equipment such as shuttle cars, scoops, locomotives, front end loaders and more. Year to date, this is the highest number of powered haulage fatalities since 2006. The safety of mining’s most precious resource – the miner – is a critical mission at the Mine Safety and Health Administration. That’s why we are hosting a national Stand Down for Safety Day on July 20 focused on powered haulage and vehicle rollovers to help educate miners, save lives and prevent injuries. on July 20, all levels of MSHA enforcement staff will visit mines to meet with miners and operators to emphasize the need for adhering to best safety practices for powered haulage, vehicle rollovers, and miner training to reduce fatalities and injuries.

Click here for more information.

It’s That Time of Year

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There’s no doubt about it. It’s HOT and Summer has actually just begun! Heat is a serious safety issue, but you can take steps to reduce the risk of serious illness. There’s a pamphlet available that you can print out and use in training workers to take the proper precautions themselves, look out for others, and provide First Aid when someone becomes ill from the heat.

Click here for: OSHA’s Prevent Heat Illness at Work pamphlet in English or Spanish (pdf).