Transcript Mine Fatalities Involving Conveyors

Mine Fatalities Involving
Conveyors
Mining Fatality
• On August 1, 2005, a 30year old laborer, with eight
weeks mining experience,
was fatally injured at a sand
and gravel operation. The
victim was using a shovel to
remove clay that had built
up on a return idler nearest
to the head pulley when he
was caught by the conveyor
belt.
Mining Fatality
• On July 21, 2005, a 31-year
old plant operator with two
years mining experience
was fatally injured at a sand
and gravel operation. The
victim made a splice on a
conveyor belt and was
making adjustments to the
belt. He was found
entangled in the tail pulley
of the conveyor.
Mining Fatality
• On January 25, 2005, a 49year-old quarry operator, with
14 years mining experience,
was fatally injured at a cement
operation. The victim was
cleaning loose material and
pumping water from the
primary crusher conveyor belt
basement. He contacted an
unguarded return idler that was
about four feet above the
ground and was trapped
between the conveyor belt and
the return idler.
Mining Fatality
• On Sunday, September 26,
2004, a 46-year old utility
man with 12 years mining
experience was fatally
injured when he contacted a
moving underground belt
conveyor system. The victim
was attempting to install a
belt scraper at a tailpiece
while the belt was in motion.
A chain attached to the
scraper was caught by the
belt, dragging it and the
victim into the tailpiece
roller.
Mining Fatality
• On Thursday, April 22, 2004, a
57-year old general inside
laborer with 30 years mining
experience was fatally injured
when he came in contact with
a conveyor system. The victim
had been assigned belt
cleaning duties and during the
performance of these duties
came in contact with the
conveyor belt. After being
carried approximately 9,000
feet by the conveyor system,
the victim was found by the
bulldozer operator.
Mining Fatality
• On December 9, 2002, a 47year-old truck driver with 1
year10 months mining
experience was fatally
injured at a crushed stone
operation. The victim was in
the process of removing a 12
foot long section of a
walkway attached to a
portable inclined conveyor.
As he was cutting a metal
attachment using an
acetylene torch, the section
of walkway collapsed on
him.
Mining Fatality
• On September 23, 2002, a 43
year-old plant operator with
17 months experience was
fatally injured at a crushed
stone operation. The victim
was removing fines that had
packed around a winged tail
pulley of a belt that had been
buried by spillage. As the
spillage was removed, the
bound conveyor belt moved
backward a short distance
and caught the victim's arm
between the belt and the tail
pulley.
Mining Fatality
• On July 2, 2002, a 51-yearold laborer with 21 weeks
mining experience was
fatally injured at a surface
crushed stone mine. He was
removing a support structure
on a portable conveyor. The
conveyor was positioned on
a hydraulic jack supported
by two wooden blocks when
it shifted and fell crushing
the victim.
Mining Fatality
• On Thursday, April 19, 2001,
a belt foreman, with over 22
years of mining experience,
was fatally injured in a
machinery accident. The
victim was making an
examination of a 54" belt
conveyor drive take-up unit
while the belt conveyor was
still in motion. The victim's
left arm was detached by the
rotating rollers of the belt
conveyor take-up unit. There
were no eyewitnesses to the
accident.
Mining Fatality
• On October 29, 2001, a 36year-old laborer, with 5
weeks of mining experience,
was fatally injured at a
surface sand and gravel mine
when he became entangled
in a conveyor tension roller.
The victim had been
assigned to do miscellaneous
clean up throughout the plant
and became entangled while
carrying out his duties.
Mining Fatality
• On February 9, 2001, a 21year-old oiler with 8 months
mining experience was
fatally injured at a crushed
stone operation. The victim
was performing a task
underneath a transfer
conveyor belt when he was
caught between the conveyor
belt and a return roller.
Mining Fatality
• On April 21, 2000, an 18year-old plant operator with
1 year mining experience
was fatally injured at a sand
and gravel operation. The
victim, who had been
operating the plant alone,
became entangled in the
unguarded tail pulley of the
sand washer conveyor.
Mining Fatality
• On April 12, 2000, a 38year-old laborer with 4 years
mining experience was
fatally injured at a crushed
stone operation. The victim
and a co-worker were
making adjustments to a new
conveyor installation. The
victim was aligning the
extended grease lines for the
bend pulley from inside the
conveyor frame. He was
caught and drawn into the
pinch point when the
conveyor was started without
his knowledge.
Safe Work Practices
• Maintenance should not be performed unless the
power is off and machinery components are blocked
against motion.
• Visible or audible warnings should be provided
before conveyor start-up when the entire length of the
conveyor is not visible from the starting switch.
• Mine operators should take measures to assure all
personnel are trained in safe work procedures.
Safe Work Practices
• Moving machine parts should be guarded to protect
persons from contact that could cause injury.
• Conveyors should be provided with emergency stop
cords along their entire length.
Moving machine parts should be guarded to protect
persons.
• Clean up in and around moving machinery should not
be conducted while the equipment is in operation.
• Safe access should be provided to all working areas.
Safe Work Practices
• Ensure manufacturer's recommendations are reviewed
and miners are trained regarding maintenance tasks
prior to beginning work.
• Identify and discuss possible hazards and address
steps to eliminate them.
• Ensure the proper tools are provided and used to
complete all required tasks.
• Block all equipment or machinery components to
prevent possible movement.