Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/485104
AGGREGATES MANAGER April 2015 36 Rock Following a spike in metal/non-metal fatalities, underlying causes will be scrutinized in future inspections. FATALITY PREVENTION by Dana M. Svendsen Dana M. Svendsen is a member of Jackson Kelly, PLLC's Denver practice. Her practice is focused on occupational safety and health and mine safety and health. She can be reached at 303-390-0011 or via email at dmsvendsen@ jacksonkelly.com. MSHA Inspection Focus: T he Mine Safety and Health Ad- ministration (MSHA) recently an- nounced a fatality prevention initiative in response to increased fatalities within the metal and non-metal sec- tor, which has recorded 37 deaths from Octo- ber 2013 to January 2015. MSHA announced its fatality prevention focus in a Jan. 30, 2015, letter to stakeholders regarding increased efforts to prevent fatalities at metal and non- metal mines. MSHA also held outreach calls with stakeholders in January and February 2015 to discuss methods that operators can use at their sites to prevent fatalities. Common factors in the fatalities analyzed by MSHA have included deficiencies in train- ing, especially task training, and examinations of workplaces and equipment. MSHA officials also noted increases in fatalities that involved independent-contractor employees, and an in- crease in fatalities at sand, gravel, and cement operations. So what can operators do to prepare for MSHA's fatality prevention initiatives? Opera- tors in the metal and non-metal sector can expect additional emphasis and educational efforts by MSHA inspectors to assure compli- ance with "safety fundamentals." MSHA has identified several areas as "safety fundamen- tals" that have played a significant role in the metal/non-metal sector fatalities: • Workplace exams; • Corrective actions taken in response to exams; • Training, particularly task training; • Using proper personal protective equip- ment; • Lockout/tagout procedures; and • Pre-operational equipment checks, par- ticularly for mobile equipment. MSHA provided guidance to the industry on task training compliance and management considerations when working with indepen- dent contractors. Implementation of these recommendations at your mine site could go a long way to help with MSHA compliance and fatality prevention. Additionally, it is wise to review this information with miners, supervisors, and contractors, so that they will be comfortable discussing these topics with MSHA inspectors. Task training To comply with MSHA task training require- ments, operators need to ensure that miners have received task training for all new tasks. Operators must also ensure that all tasks have been properly assessed, and miners have the skills necessary to perform tasks in a safe manner. It is also important to consider that