Announcement

Monday, April 30, 2012

10 mining deaths in first quarter of 2012 - MSHA

The Mine Safety and Health Administration recorded 10 mining deaths, six in coal mines, in the first quarter of 2012.

Coal mine deaths occurred in the following categories: exploding vessels under pressure, drowning, handling materials, rib fall, machinery and electrical. MSHA noted an "uncharacteristic trend" of five of the fatalities occurring in five consecutive weekends. Three involved mine supervisors.

MSHA issued an accident prevention alert to the mining industry after the fourth consecutive death, but the fifth occurred after the notice had been issued.

Mr Joseph A Main assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health said that "Fatalities are preventable. Many mines operate every shift of every day, year in and year out, without a fatality or a lost time injury."

Main specifically noted the importance of implementing safety and health programs within the workplace.
Mr Main said that "Workplace examinations for hazards pre-shift and on-shift, every shift can identify and eliminate hazards that kill and injure miners. Providing effective and appropriate training will ensure that miners recognize and understand hazards and how to control or eliminate them."

According to the MSHA release, the federal regulators have take "a number of actions" to identify particular mines with health and safety problems.

The manner of death for each miner varied and occurred individually. One coal miner died when a 1 ½ inch bronze ball valve failed and propelled a steel manifold into the miners face. Another man drowned when he fell off a coal barge. A rib fall or collapse killed another miner operating a continuous mining machine and another was trapped under two pieces of mining equipment.

Source - www.statejournal.com

(www.steelguru.com)

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