Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/610317
AGGREGATES MANAGER December 2015 3 by Therese Dunphy, Editor-in-Chief tdunphy@randallreilly.com CONTENDING T he Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) recently issued an alert regarding deaths and injuries related to confined spaces. One recent fatality occurred when a miner was cleaning the inside of a tanker railcar. Another miner was severely burned while performing maintenance inside a baghouse screw conveyor hopper. As a result of these injuries, MSHA will "be placing special emphasis on enforcing its standards related to entering bins, hoppers, silos, tanks, and surge piles." Regulations related to confined spaces include the following: • 30 CFR §§56/57.5001(a), • 30 CFR §§56/57.5002, • 30 CFR §§56/57.5005(c), • 30 CFR §57.5015, • 30 CFR §§56/57.14105, • 30 CFR §§56/57.15005, and • 30 CFR §§56/57.16002. The agency also cautions that its definition of "confined spaces" includes areas that are not necessarily designed for people, but are large enough for workers to enter and perform certain jobs. Confined spaces also have limited or restricted means for entry or exit and are not designed for continuous occupancy. Examples include tanks, vessels, silos, storage bins, hoppers, vaults, pits, manholes, tunnels, equipment housings ductwork, and pipelines. Use the following best practices to avoid accidents in confined spaces: • Identify all possible confined spaces at a mine and associated hazards. • Inform miners by posting danger signs, and do not allow unauthorized entry. • Establish a written standard operating procedure that includes requiring permission to enter confined spaces, as well as communication and emergency plans, and train the miners on the plan. • Identify authorized entrants. • Isolate the space, and ensure that energy sources are de-energized. • Conduct pre-entry testing for oxygen content, flammable gases and vapor, and toxic air contaminants. • Monitor the atmosphere. • Assign an attendant to maintain contact with the miner working in a confined space. • Do not enter a confined space in an attempt to rescue a downed employee if you don't know the atmospheric conditions or have special life-saving equipment. Finally, remember that these rules apply to all miners, regardless of experience. According to MSHA data, many experienced miners continue to fall victim to hazardous conditions. Use these best practices and stay safe while working in confined spaces. December 2015 Vol. 20, No. 12 aggman.com /AggregatesManager @AggMan_editor Editorial Editor-in-Chief: Therese Dunphy Editorial Director: Marcia Gruver Doyle Online Editor: Wayne Grayson Online Managing Editor: Bobby Atkinson editorial@aggman.com Design & Production Art Director: Sandy Turner, Jr. Production Designer: Timothy Smith Advertising Production Manager: Linda Hapner production@aggman.com Construction Media VP of Sales, Construction Media: Joe Donald sales@randallreillyconstruction.com 3200 Rice Mine Rd NE Tuscaloosa, AL 35406 800-633-5953 randallreilly.com Corporate Chairman: Mike Reilly President and CEO: Brent Reilly Chief Operations Officer: Shane Elmore Chief Financial Officer: Russell McEwen Senior Vice President, Sales: Scott Miller Senior Vice President, Editorial and Research: Linda Longton Vice President of Events: Stacy McCants Vice President, Audience Development: Prescott Shibles Vice President, Digital Services: Nick Reid Vice President, Marketing: Julie Arsenault For change of address and other subscription inquiries, please contact: aggregatesmanager@halldata.com. Aggregates Manager TM magazine (ISSN 1552-3071) is published monthly by Randall-Reilly, LLC copyright 2015. Executive and Administrative offices, 3200 Rice Mine Rd. N.E., Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. Subscription rates: $24 annually, Non-domestic $125 annually. Single copies: $7. We assume no responsibility for the validity of claims of manufacturers in any advertisement or editorial product information or literature offered by them. Publisher reserves the right to refuse non-qualified subscriptions. Periodical circulation postage paid at Tuscaloosa, Alabama and additional entries. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage retrieval system, without written permission of the copyright owner. POSTMASTER: Send all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY FACILITIES: send address corrections to Aggregates Manager, 3200 Rice Mine Road N.E., Tuscaloosa, AL 35406. with Confined Spaces