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MSHA - Metal/Nonemetal Mine Fatality

Aug, 08 2012

On July 26, 2012, a 49-year old equipment operator with 18 weeks of mining experience was killed at a portable crushing operation. He was standing on the discharge end of a 150-foot stacker belt conveyor, greasing the head pulley, when a coworker started the conveyor.

The victim fell off the conveyor approximately 50 feet to the ground below.



 Best Practices

• Provide and maintain a safe means of access to all working places.
• Establish policies and procedures for conducting specific tasks on belt conveyors.
• Ensure that persons are task trained and understand the hazards associated with the work being performed.
• Deenergize and Lock-out/tag-out all power sources before working on belt conveyors.
• Block belt conveyors against motion before working near a drive, head, tail, and take-up pulleys.
• Maintain communications with all persons performing the task. Before starting belt conveyors, ensure that all persons are clear.
• Sound an audible alarm prior to start up, if the entire length of the belt conveyor is not visible from the starting switch.
• Clearly label all switches on equipment and provide training to persons who operate and work in the vicinity of equipment.
  

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