The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported that on Jan. 14, a 44-year-old contract laborer with 13 years of total experience received fatal injuries when he fell 27 ft. to a concrete surface. At the time of the accident, the contractor was on a belt conveyor in a coal preparation plant and was working to replace a belt conveyor roller.
This is the fourth fatality reported in 2022, and the first classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”
MSHA recommends the following best practices to avoid this type of accident:
- Establish and follow safety policies and procedures, when working at heights.
- Train miners to use fall protection when a fall hazard exists.
- Ensure fall protection is available and properly maintained.
- Provide identifiable and secure anchor points to attach lanyards and lifelines.
- Provide mobile or stationary platforms – or scaffolding – where there is a risk of falling.