MSHA: Seven fatal accidents through first six weeks of 2023

Seven miners died in the first six weeks of 2023, according to the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA).

Three of the seven miners were electrocuted over the course of 11 days.

MSHA issued a safety alert as a response to the Jan. 27 and Feb. 6 accidents, advising miners not to stage, park or position trucks, cranes and other equipment under overhead power lines. They also advised mine operators to post warning signs at all approaches to overhead power lines and install barricades where necessary.

Additionally, MSHA says mine operators should establish safe approaches and create safe zones for raising and lowering truck beds, booms and masts.

About the electrical accidents

According to the agency, two truck drivers were electrocuted in the January incident after an overhead power line came in contact with their trucks. The drivers exited the cabs of their trucks and came in contact with electrical energy, MSHA says.

In the fatal February accident, MSHA says a haul truck driver raised his truck bed into an overhead power line. The driver exited the truck to extinguish a fire on the truck’s tire and was electrocuted when he tried to reenter the truck.

Safety precautions

MSHA says miners should take specific measures if their truck, boom or mast contacts an overhead line. The agency says miners should remain inside their vehicle, call emergency response personnel, inform others to stay away from the area and exit the truck only if it is on fire.

To exit, MSHA says miners should jump from the truck and land with both feet together. Miners should not touch the truck and the ground at the same time. From there, miners should shuffle both feet as close as possible for at least 30 ft. as they move away from the truck.

Early-year trend

Like 2022, mining deaths are trending up to start 2023. Last year, 12 miners died in the first quarter – including six in the month of January.

While MSHA classified three of this year’s mining deaths as electrical incidents, the others were attributed to machinery, powered haulage, hand tools, and slip or fall of person. All seven accidents happened at metal/nonmetal operations, and five of the seven took place on the surface or at a facility.

Another safety alert

In addition to its electrical safety alert, MSHA issued one in early February about highwalls with the end of winter nearing.

According to MSHA, nine miners died and 27 were injured since 2012 because of falling rocks and materials from hazardous highwalls.

To avoid highwall-related accidents, the agency advises operators to develop and follow a plan for the safe control of all highwalls where miners work and travel in close proximity to highwalls. Miners should also be trained to recognize highwall hazards, the agency says.

Also, highwall exams should be conducted to assure hazards such as loose rocks, overhangs and trees are taken down or supported prior to work or travel near highwalls. Highwalls should be examined more frequently after rain, freezing and thawing, according to MSHA.

Other practices MSHA advises mine operators to follow are to:

• Scale highwalls to eliminate hazards such as loose rocks or overhangs. Perform scaling from a position that will not expose miners to injury. Until hazards are corrected, place warning signs or barricades to prevent entry.

• Restrict highwall height to allow available equipment to safely scale highwalls. If benching is necessary, provide adequate bench width based on the type of equipment used for routine clearing or scaling operations.

• Develop blasting plans and use proper blasting techniques. Also, examine highwalls after blasting.

• Move trees, vegetation and unconsolidated material a safe distance from the top edge of highwalls.

• Never park equipment, perform maintenance or store materials beneath highwalls.

• Use diversion ditches or slope the ground so surface runoff drains away from highwalls.