Bureau of Mine Safety March 2015 Newsletter 1

March 2015 Newsletter

Guest Column by James Sharpe

Time for Action to Stem M/NM Fatalities

MSHA has launched its second initiative in eight

months to try and stem the loss of life in the metal/

non-metal (M/NM) sector.

Thirty-seven (37) M/NM miners have died on the job

since October 2013, according to the agency. Alarm-

ingly, the disturbing trend has continued in 2015, as

four miners perished in January, on average one every

4½ days. Over the 16-month period, nearly half of the

fatalities, 18, have been in the aggregate sector, eight

in metal and 11 in non-metal, including four in ce-

ment. In contrast, 23 coal miners died during the peri-

od.

In announcing the latest push, which kicked off Feb-

ruary 2nd, MSHA said it would be deploying re-

sources devoted to education, outreach and enforce-

ment. The feds will concentrate on conditions and

work categories giving rise to the fatalities. “MSHA’s

efforts will focus attention and the enforcement tools

available to us on the types of conditions that have

James Sharpe , M. ED.,

MS., CIH, has worked in

occupational and environ-

mental safety and health

for the past 37 years, and

publishes a newsletter

called Sharpe's Point: On

Mine Safety that specializ-

es in health and safety news in mining, with a focus on

MSHA. As a vice president of health and safety, Mr.

Sharpe administered the National Stone, Sand & Grav-

el Association’s acclaimed noise and dust monitoring

workshop series, and helped produce the Part 46 train-

ing rule, a collaborative effort among labor, industry

and government. A former company commander with

the 9th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War, he

holds advanced degrees in education and environmen-

tal health science and is certified in the comprehensive

practice of industrial hygiene.

caused these deaths, and on the specific categories of

work where increased deaths have occurred,” MSHA

chief Joe Main said last week.

On the eve of MSHA’s 2014 initiative, which began

last June, the agency said it would deploy enforce-

ment, education, training and technical support.

MSHA’s M/NM fatality focus last year clearly was

unsuccessful. Time will tell if the latest one will ac-

complish its goal. If it does not, it will add proof to

the adage that the definition of mental illness is doing

the same thing over and over and expecting a differ-

ent result.

Our purpose here is not to criticize the mine safety

agency. On the contrary, MSHA is to be given credit

for trying to do something about a problem that over

the past 16 months has proven to be intractable. Like

the Hawthorne effect, merely focusing the sector’s

attention on the problem, as MSHA is doing, might

improve safety performance.

But as the prior failed initiative suggests, MSHA’s

effort will likely not be enough. M/NM operators

themselves must do more. MSHA’s analysis of the

fatalities suggests what that might be. At the top of

the list is task training, which the agency says con-

tributed to 10 of 28 fatalities. (The agency’s analysis

was limited to 28 deaths, since investigations of nine

others have yet to be completed.)

Task training; specifically, 46.7(a), is a Rules to Live

By (RTLB) fatality prevention standard, which

means it has been given priority in enforcement. M/

NM operators can expect even more aggressive en-

forcement of 46.7(a) and (b) in the days ahead. The

second most cited RTLB standard was 56.9101,

which deals with operating speeds and control of self

-propelled mobile equipment.

"It is clear that, at some of the operations involved,

basic health and safety protections are not always in

place," Main said last year. The same holds true to-

day. From MSHA’s analysis of root causes of the 28

fatalities, one can surmise what some of these are.

(Continued on page 2)

Bureau of Mine Safety March 2015 Newsletter 2

March 2015 Newsletter

Besides training, they involve failure to conduct ade-

quate examinations for hazardous conditions, not de-

energizing power and locking/tagging out equipment,

neglecting pre-operational checks, not maintaining mo-

bile equipment and failing to provide and/or wear wear-

ing personal protective equipment. If M/NM operators

want a place to start to re-inculcate safety into the be-

havior of miners and supervisors alike, MSHA has help-

fully given them a blueprint.

The last 16 months have colored M/NM, particularly

aggregates, with a dark stain. It’s time the sector unites

to put an end to it.

James Sharpe

(Continued from page 1)

The 33rd Annual South

Central Joint Mine Health

& Safety Conference will

be held April 7-9 at the

Gaylord Texan Hotel and

Convention Center in

Grapevine, TX (10 min

from DFW Airport). Regis-

tration is $275 including on-

site. See

www.SCMineConference.org for details including

registration and reservations at the Gaylord at the low

Conference rate of $144/night. Features unique work-

shops, Discussion Groups, and open forums with

MSHA senior management and technical support to

answer all questions.

New Mexico Mining Safety Board

The next Mining Safety Board meeting will be held

on May 15, 2015 @ 10 AM at:

Workers’ Compensation Administration

Albuquerque—Conference Room

2410 Centre Ave SE

Albuquerque NM 87125

For more information, visit the Bureau of Mine

Safety website at

http://bmi.state.nm.us/navMSB.htm. Do 1 Thing is a web-based, 12-month preparedness

program that focuses on a different area of emergency

preparedness each month.

Bureau of Mine Safety March 2015 Newsletter 3

March 2015 Newsletter

An exciting program is in the works for the 2015

NMMHSC.

Our Tuesday, May 5th, lunch speaker

is Dr. Eileen Ryan from the Magdale-

na Ridge Observatory (MRO) . Dr.

Ryan joined MRO in 2002.

As director of the 2.4-meter Tele-

scope, Dr. Ryan manages its tech-

nical, financial, and operational activ-

ities, and leads the development of

scientific and military initiatives. She

is the Principal Investigator of a

NASA-funded Near-Earth Objects

(NEOs) program and Co-Principal

Investigator (with William Ryan) of an NSF-funded pro-

gram to determine spin rates of NEOs. For more infor-

mation on Dr. Ryan’s work, click here for the article in

the local newspaper

Dr. Ryan will speak about the activities at MRO and the

relationship between NEO programs and mining. You

might be surprised to learn that safety and precision are

paramount at MRO much like they are in today’s high

tech mining world!

We continue our other planning for our 2015 NMMHSC.

We plan on other exciting keynotes and informative

breakout sessions.

On Monday we’ve planned three pre-

conference activities. Our annual golf

tournament will take place on NMT’s

championship course, we have a 4 hour

first aid course available and Dr. Ted

Boyce will conduct a special 4 hour ses-

sion on “How Can YOU Make a Differ-

ence?”

Our theme for 2015 is “You Set The

Standard.” Each of us in our work places

must set the standard of safety that will

determine our success in eliminating

accidents.

Your participation is welcome at the

next planning meeting: 9 a.m. on Thursday, March5,

2015, at the Bureau of Mine Safety Training Room at

New Mexico Tech.

For information and directions, visit the Bureau of Mine

Safety website or call 575-835-5460.

Click here to register

IN NEW MEXICO:

2015 New Mexico Mine Health and Safety Conference

May 4, 5 and 6 , at New Mexico Tech in Socorro

Outstanding Contribution to Safety

Award

The New Mexico Mine Health and Safety Conference

will again present the Outstanding Contribution to Safety

(OCS) award. The purpose of the OCS award is to recog-

nize those New Mexico miners who have demonstrated

exceptional influence, initiative and leadership in the ap-

plication of health and safety principles. We want to en-

courage each and every New Mexico miner to redouble

his or her resolve to promote safe and healthful practices

on and off the job.

Eligibility is open to nearly all individuals who work in

the mining industry in New Mexico. This includes hourly

personnel, supervisors, managers, and owner-operators.

New Mexico resident contract personnel and suppliers

who are directly involved in the mine development, con-

struction, operation, and maintenance are also eligible.

Individuals whose title or primary role focuses on safety

or health are not eligible.

Click here for a nomination form which must be returned

by March 16th.

Bureau of Mine Safety March 2015 Newsletter 4

March 2015 Newsletter

Open - Hole Safety

Anytime grating is removed or floor-

ing sections are absent it creates a

risk for people working in or passing

through the area. It is important to

ensure there is clear communication

to let people know of the risk and that

people working in the area take ac-

tion to prevent falling through the

hole to levels below. Even a small

opening can cause a fall to the same

level resulting in injury. Another con-

sideration is when thinking about

Open Hole is when we remove hand-

rail, mid-rail or toe plate that could

constitute an Open Hole.

Significant Risks

Fall of personnel completing the

work to the level below

Fall of other personnel in the area

to the level below

Falling objects hitting personnel

working or passing through the level

below

Critical Controls and Behaviors

Complete an open hole permit pri-

or to starting work

Place substantial barriers around

the open hole prior to opening the

hole; if the hole must be open prior to

placing barriers an exemption must

be completed and approved

Utilize 100% fall protection by all

workers in the vicinity of an open

hole (when removing the grating and

when working inside the barriers)

Designate an attendant to keep

workers in the area from getting close

to the space

Immediately cover or barricade an

open hole – never walk away without

taking action to protect others who

may not know of the opening

Barricade, flag and tag the open

hole to communicate the risk to oth-

ers

Keep the work area clean and free

from tripping hazards

Post signs and barricade the area

below the opening to keep people

from walking under the opening

Do not leave tools or other objects

close to the opening

A Word about Covers

Covers of sufficient integrity with a

“sure fit” are the preferred method of

correcting open holes. They must be

capable of supporting at least twice

the weight of employees, materials or

equipment that may be imposed on

the cover at any one time. The cover

should be secured to prevent acci-

dental misplacement. The hole cover

should be distinguished by color cod-

ing (different color than surround-

ings) and labeled “Hole” or “Cover”.

A Work about Barriers

The use of covers is oftentimes not

possible due to the nature of the

planned work. Barriers must then be

used to mitigate the risk. Ensure all

workers have the proper fall arrest

systems prior to starting the work.

Ensure the barrier is constructed of

sufficient strength and integrity to

prevent workers from entering or

falling into the area. The most prefer-

able design is standard railing that

consists of a top rail, intermediate rail

and posts, and has a vertical height of

42 inches. It must be able to with-

stand 200 lbs applied in any direction

at any point on the top rail. Toe

boards are also recommended to pre-

vent tools falling if there are workers

present below. When interlocking

Hard Barricades another suggestion

is to use #9 Wire for reinforcement

between barricades.

The following are NOT considered

adequate barriers for Open Hole

protection: Cables without adequate anchoring

or posting; proper tensioning should

not allow cables to be moved up or

down more than 6 inches

Light ropes, plastic flagging tape,

or similar weak materials

Wooden railings using less than 2”

by 4” stock

Construction fending used without

properly anchored or posted restrain-

ing cables

Anything else of insufficient

strength to prevent workers from en-

tering the area

Identify the Open Hole with the Proper Flagging at each site. Warn others of the Open

Hole. It’s also a good idea to flag the area around the Open Hole before an employee ap-

proaches the Hard Barricade. Use the proper color for your site.