Mine Fatalities Involving Conveyors

Mining Fatality On August 1, 2005, a 30- year 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 49- year-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 47- year-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-year- old 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 36- year-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 21- year-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 18- year-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 38- year-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.