P&Q Editors Blog
Safety reminders
January 3, 2012
By: Pit & Quarry Staff
Safety concerns with bulldozers and highwalls make up MSHA's latest safety alerts. A string of deaths in the mining industry linked to bulldozers and highwalls led MSHA to warn the community about potential dangers and to remind it about best practices. Meanwhile, a look at 2011 fatality statistics in the metal/nonmetal sector reveals 16 total deaths – 11 occurring at surface mines and five underground. The leading causes of these deaths were powered haulage (four) and machinery and slip/fall of person, with three each. The 16 deaths in metal/nonmetal are down from 23 in 2010. – Brian Richesson
Four dead in four days
November 21, 2011
By: Pit & Quarry Staff
Four miners killed in four days. That's the bold headline in a MSHA safety alert poster, which includes a checklist of best practices on how the mining community can avoid these tragedies. While these deaths in the last four days of October did not occur at aggregate operations, they still serve as a reminder of the dangers all miners face on a daily basis. In fact, of the four deaths that occurred at metal/nonmetal mines in the third quarter of this year, ending Sept. 30, three did happen at aggregate operations. One miner was killed at a sand and gravel operation when he accessed an elevated platform near an unguarded head pulley and became entangled in the operating conveyor system. Another miner was killed at a portable sand and gravel operation when he opened the 480-volt feeder box at the motor control center, started to remove the leads and received a fatal shock. And yet another miner was killed at a sand and gravel operation when he was changing a screen in the plant and fell about 56 ft. He was standing on a steel rail that had been placed between the midrail of the protective rail surrounding the screen deck work platform and the screen structure. Take some time to review MSHA's preventative recommendations regarding fatal accidents. – Brian Richesson
Winter risks
October 24, 2011
By: Pit & Quarry Staff
As I type this on a cold, dark October afternoon in Cleveland, I see the rain outside and I swear there are snowflakes mixed in. Winter is on the way, and with it comes a new set of workplace hazards that don't exist in the warm-weather months.
With that in mind, the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) launched its annual “Winter Alert” campaign to call attention to the dangers caused by cold weather. "Colder weather creates some drastic changes in the mining workplace," says Joe Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. "Mine operators," he says, "need to take additional precautions to protect miners. In view of this, MSHA is distributing important information to the mining industry about the preventive steps to be taken to avoid accidents.”
Colder weather, MSHA says, brings potential hazards such as limited visibility, icy haulage roads and walkways, and freezing and thawing of highwalls at surface mines. This year, the agency encourages miners and mine operators to “Knock Out the Risk” that winter weather brings by taking specific measures to avoid workplace hazards:
• Remove snow and ice in travel ways.
• Apply salt and sand where needed.
• Frequently examine highwalls for stability.
In addition to miners, mining equipment is also susceptible to risks in cold weather. Caterpillar offers these tips to keep equipment running well:
• Before the beginning of cold weather, install the correct lubricant in each compartment.
• Provide cooling system protection for the lowest expected outside temperature.
• Check all rubber parts weekly: hoses, tires and fan drive belts.
• Keep all batteries fully charged and warm.
• Fill the fuel tank at the end of each shift.
• Check the air cleaners and the air intake daily. If snow is present, check the air intake more frequently.
• Steering response on equipment with hydraulic steering may become very slow at very low temperatures.
• Run the engine until it reaches operating temperature, which will help prevent the intake valves and exhaust valves from sticking.
Be safe this cold-weather season. –Darren Constantino
Beware of October
September 19, 2011
By: Pit & Quarry Staff
One statistic in particular has haunted the metal and nonmetal sector of the mining industry over the past decade. From 1999 to 2010, fatalities at these facilities have numbered the highest in October, compared to any other month of the year, according to MSHA data. The 55 fatalities in October are significantly higher than the next most-fatal month (June with 42) during this time period. These results forced MSHA to issue an October Fatal Alert, in which it provides best practices to prevent even more deaths. Read the safety tips here. – Brian Richesson
With sympathy
August 8, 2011
By: Pit & Quarry Staff
The Pit & Quarry staff was sad to hear about the passing of Jason Gudat, a 31-year-old driller at East Fairfield Coal Co.'s Subtropolis Mine in Petersburg, Ohio. While we mourn every lost life in the mining industry, news of Gudat's death, resulting when a slab of roof in the underground limestone mine struck him, hit particularly close to home. The mine is located about 85 miles southeast of our Cleveland headquarters, and the staff had visited the site and met company officials in recent years. MSHA released a full report of the accident investigation, and it was difficult to read. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Gudat's family. – Brian Richesson
