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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.