After three miners were involved in separate preventable accidents, MSHA has released safety alerts for highwalls, dozer entrapment and haul truck rollovers.
The agency reported that on September 30, a miner sustained permanently disabling injuries while operating a Caterpillar 992K front-end loader beneath a highwall. A roughly 50-foot section of highwall fell onto the loader, crushing the cab and pinning the miner’s legs under the dashboard.
MSHA recommends:
- Develop and follow procedures for the safe control of all highwalls where miners work and travel in close proximity to the highwall.
- Train miners to recognize highwall hazards.
- Conduct highwall examinations and eliminate hazards prior to working or traveling near the highwall. Examine highwalls from multiple perspectives, and more frequently after rain events and periods of freezing and thawing.
- Use auxiliary lighting during low light conditions to conduct highwall examinations and illuminate active work areas.
- Never park equipment, perform maintenance, or store materials beneath the highwall.
On October 9, a 60-ton haul truck was dumping a load of material when the dump point sloughed off, causing the haul truck to slide down and overturn, coming to rest upside down 15 ft. below. The driver was rescued from the truck through the side window of the cab with minor injuries.
MSHA recommends:
- Conduct workplace examinations before work begins and as ground conditions warrant during the work shift to identify hazardous conditions, especially after heavy rain, or other significant weather changes.
- Dump material at a safe distance from the edge and push the material over the edge with a bulldozer. Clearly mark dumping locations with reflectors and/or markers.
- Do not remove material from the toe of stockpiles when it would create instability at dumping locations.
- Always wear a seatbelt when operating mobile equipment: remain inside the cab; never attempt to jump clear.
- Train miners on recognizing dump-point hazards, taking appropriate corrective actions, and using safe dumping procedures.
Lastly, on October 10, a bulldozer fell into a feeder when a bridged coal pile collapsed, engulfing the bulldozer and trapping the operator inside the cab. Emergency response efforts were swift and organized, resulting in the successful rescue of the operator.
The bulldozer was equipped with high-strength glass, oxygen bottles and a remote shut-off for the feeder, all of which contributed to the successful rescue of the entrapped operator. This near-miss event, noted MSHA, highlights the importance of how proactive safety measures can help prevent fatalities.
The agency recommends the following:
- Maintain stability; don’t operate equipment directly over feeders and stay away from draw holes.
- Use remotely operated dozers where available when working on surge piles.
- Stock equipment cabs with safety equipment. Include emergency oxygen, CO2 scrubbers, and remote shut offs, and ensure all safety devices are properly maintained.
- Provide training for miners on recognizing hazards and responding to emergency situations.
- Install high-strength glass certified for at least 40 psi with a
frame and supports designed to withstand the added loading of entrapment conditions. - Always wear seatbelts when operating mobile equipment to ensure safety in case of sudden impacts or entrapments.
- Use spotters to assist operators working in potentially unstable environments.
- Maintain clear communication during emergency response efforts.