The shuttle car operator, with two years of mining experience, was fatally injured while repairing the tram pedal on a shuttle car.
The shuttle car was energised as the victim and a mechanic were making repairs and struck both of them, crushing the victim against the rib. The mechanic also received significant injuries as a result of the accident.
MSHA said operators should adhere to the following best practices to avoid future similar accidents:
De-energise, lock out, tag and block mobile equipment when making repairs;
Ensure that equipment decks are cleaned of accumulations of coal, mud and other extraneous materials, and mechanical components are greased and lubricated as necessary; and
Assume safe positions prior to conducting work.
In the second incident, a blaster with 25 years of mining experience was fatally injured from the forces of detonated explosives.
The victim, working with the shot firer, had just completed drilling and loading six holes in the face before moving outbye to fire the shot.
After the victim nodded his cap lamp, to indicate "all clear", the shot firer detonated the explosives and heard three explosions.
The first two sounded normal while the blast from the third was excessive and the victim was found near the blast site.
MSHA said operators should adhere to the following best practices to avoid future similar accidents:
- Ensure that the face to be blasted and all outby areas are ventilated in accordance with the mine's approved ventilation plan;
- Ensure that explosives are loaded in the presence of and under the direction of a qualified person, and boreholes are stemmed according to 30 CFR 75.1322;
- Ensure that those miners who handle explosives are properly trained in blasting procedures;
- Ensure that a qualified person ascertains that all miners are located safely outby his or her location, and that methane tests are conducted immediately before detonating the shot;
- Ensure that tests are conducted using a blasting multimeter, galvanometer or other instrument designed specifically for such use.
