On October 11, shuttle car operator Larry Schwartz, 59, was killed at Five Star Mining’s Prosperity operation in Petersburg, Pike County, Indiana, when he was pinned between a shuttle car and the rib.
Just days earlier, on October 5, labourer Robert Smith, 47, died when the battery-powered personnel carrier he was driving overturned, pinning him beneath the unit.
The two had 22 and 15 years of experience, respectively, in the mining industry.
In the pinning fatality, which officials initially suspected was a case of miscommunication, the US Mine Safety and Health Administration determined in its preliminary report that the victim was in the crosscut between the No. 6 and No. 7 entries of the mine.
“This crosscut and adjoining entries were being used to gain access to rooms being mined on the right side of the section,” investigators said.
In a series of best practices, the agency released to help prevent other such incidents at US mines, MSHA urged the use of proximity detection systems. It has compiled all needed information for mines on the technology in a single-source page at http://www.msha.gov/Accident_Prevention/NewTechnologies/ProximityDetection/ProximitydetectionSingleSource.asp
It also asked miners to always ensure visibility is not obstructed in the direction of travel and across the equipment being operated, and to use transparent curtain for check and line curtains in the active face areas.
In addition to sounding audible warnings when an equipment operator’s visibility is obstructed, such as when making turns, reversing direction, or approaching ventilation curtains, MSHA also stressed that the unit should be at a complete stop before sounding an alarm and before proceeding through ventilation controls.
With communications in such situations key to prevention, the agency reminded miners to shine equipment lights in the direction of travel when operating haulage equipment and, for those in pedestrian positions, never be in a position where equipment operators cannot make eye contact.
Finally, it said, always communicate your position and intended movements to mobile equipment operators.
Regarding the October 5 death, MSHA urged mines to control equipment, including speed, so that it can be stopped within the limits of visibility, and to maintain off-track haulage roadways from bottom irregularities, debris and wet or muddy conditions that affect the control of the equipment.
Additionally, investigators said, audible warnings should be sounded at underground mines when making turns, reversing directions, approaching ventilation curtains or in any scenario where the operator’s visibility is obstructed.
Lastly, MSHA said, mines should maintain mechanical steering and control devices to provide positive control at all times and also provide all self-propelled rubber-tired haulage equipment with well-maintained brakes, lights, and warning devices.
Schwartz and Smith’s deaths were the 16th and 18th in US coal in 2013, and the fifth and sixth this year to be classified as powered haulage fatalities.
For more information related to struck-by equipment accidents, MSHA also has a one-source page on the topic at http://www.msha.gov/Safety_Targets/Hit%20by%20UG%20Equipment/HitbyUGEquipment.asp
