Aggregates Manager

August 2013

Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine

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SAFETY WATCH out Tear this ith your are w nnel and sh t perso plan Handle with Care Material handling accidents are among the most prevalent injuries at aggregate operations. Learn how to protect your workers. compiled by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief tdunphy@randallreilly.com In 2012, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reports that there were 578 material handling accidents at stone, sand, and gravel operations. These accidents account for 38 percent of the total injuries reported at these operations. This was an increase from 2011, when these accidents accounted for 35 percent of injuries. Improper manual lifting or carrying of too heavy of loads; being struck by materials or caught in pinch points; being crushed by machines, falling materials, or improperly stored materials; and incorrectly cutting ties or securing devices are among the safety hazards that MSHA warns operators to avoid. To further protect operators during material handling, consider the following best practices: • Items that are handled, stored, or moved manually or mechanically require the use of proper material handling procedures being taught to workers and enforced in the workplace. Otherwise, injuries such as strains, fractures, and hernias may result. Miners are subjected to the hazards of handling heavy and bulky materials, falling or improperly stacked objects, and repetitive bending, twisting, and turning movements. • Miners should always wear personal protective equipment and, for lifting, attach handles or holders to loads or seek help. Personal protection, in this case, is any piece of safety gear that guards against workplace-specific injuries. Work gloves, safety boots, safety glasses or goggles, or metatarsal guards may be needed in your workplace. • Mechanical lifing also poses certain hazards. Miners operating such equipment need to know the limit, and Information from this Safety Watch is from an actual accident and is provided by the Mine Safety and Health AGGREGATES MANAGER August 2013 load capacity must be displayed on all lifting equipment. • Ergonomics — modifying the workplace to fit the needs of the user — must be implemented in order to avoid back injuries. Reducing the size and weight of lifted objects, using a lifting aid, changing the height, or using a shelf can often be necessary. AM On Jan. 25, 2008, a 36-year-old loader operator with 1 1/2 years of experience was killed at a lime operation. The victim was shoveling spillage at the bottom of a bucket elevator while co-workers performed maintenance at the top of the bucket elevator. A 38-inch pry bar fell from the platform around the top of the bucket elevator and struck him. Administration. It is meant for general information purposes only. Sponsored by

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