MARKETS

MSHA releases advice following sixth fatality

IN LIGHT of the death of a 25-year-old roof bolter who was pinned between a roof-bolting machine ...

Sadie Davidson

On March 14, the victim and another roof bolter operator were in the process of tramming the roof-bolting machine in the outby direction in the no. 3 entry on the no. 1 longwall tailgate.

They had trammed the roof bolting machine from the 151 crosscut to approximately the 89.5 crosscut when the accident occurred.

The MSHA has advised miners to:

  • Ensure everyone, including the equipment operator, is outside the machine-turning radius before starting or moving equipment
  • Walk behind moving mobile equipment when travelling in the same entry and maintain a safe distance between a person and any equipment that is moving
  • Never position themselves in an area or location where equipment operators cannot readily see someone
  • Develop policies and procedures for starting and tramming self-propelled equipment. Train all miners who would be exposed to the hazards
  • Use low tram speed when moving self-propelled machines where the left and right traction drives are operated independently
  • Never override any of the machine controls. Ensure that all operating devices function as designed
  • Install and maintain proximity detection systems to protect personnel and eliminate accidents of this type. See the proximity detection single source page on the MSHA website.

The fatality was the sixth reported for 2014 in the coal mining industry and was classified under machinery.

In the corresponding period of 2013, eight fatalities had been reported in the US coal industry.

TOPICS:

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production