The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported that on June 20, a contract driller was working outside of his drill at 3M Little Rock Industrial Mineral Products, Pulaski County, Ark., when he fell from the top of a highwall.
This is the 14th fatality reported in 2022, and the second classified as “Slip or Fall of Person.”
MSHA recommends the following best practices to avoid this type of accident:
- Wear fall protection when there is a danger of falling. Assure fall protection has a suitable fall arrest and a secure anchorage system.
- Train miners to properly use their personal protective equipment and to recognize potential hazards from falls and to safely perform tasks.
- Provide communication systems when assigning miners to work alone.
MSHA also reported that on June 20, a 50-year-old miner at a Lhoist Group plant in Virginia died when the excavator he was operating underground slid over an elevated loading pad and was engulfed by lime dust.
This is the 15th fatality reported in 2022, and the fifth classified as “Machinery.”
MSHA recommends the following best practices to avoid this type of accident:
- Conduct workplace examinations prior to beginning work and assure hazards are corrected.
- Train miners to identify and report hazards and stay clear of potentially unstable areas.