Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/94387
by Tina Grady Barbaccia, News and Digital Editor Agg For daily news updates and web-exclusive news items, visit the "AggBeat Online" section of our website at www.aggman.com EQUIPMENT GUARDING Compliance with proper The Mine Safety and Health Administration develops a guide to help producers abide by industry rules and protect against guarding-related violations. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rolled out a new compliance assistance resource on Oct. 4 to address one of the most commonly cited violations in the metal and non-metal mining industry: improperly guarded machinery. Guarding Machinery at Metal & Non-metal Mines is a se- quel to a compliance guide for guarding conveyor belts pub- lished in 2010. Guarding-related violations peaked at 10,877 that year and accounted for one of ev- ery seven violations cited, accord- ing to MSHA. "I believe the actions we are taking at MSHA and by many in the industry are moving safety and health in in the right direction," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main in remarks to aggregates producers this summer. Main says the purpose of the new guide, which is designed to improve mine safety, is threefold: to improve the mining industry's injury. Guards are not required when the exposed moving parts are at least 7 feet away from walking or working surfaces, accord- ing to MSHA. Guarding-related citations and orders issued through the third quarter of fiscal year 2012 are down 39 percent from 2010 level. — Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) understanding of good guarding principles; ensure the construction, installation, and maintenance of high-quality, effective guards; and improve compliance, inspection, and enforcement consistency. According to Parts 56/57.14107 of 30 Code of Federal Regulations, moving machine parts must be guarded to protect individuals from contacting gears; sprockets; chains; drive, head, tail and take-up pulleys; flywheels; couplings; shafts; fan blades; and similar moving parts that can cause 4 AGGREGATES MANAGER December 2012 Injuries related to equipment guarding typically occur because guards are missing or inadequately sized or positioned. They al- so may be due to miners handling or dropping heavy, unwieldy, and other poorly designed, construct- ed, or maintained guards, according to MSHA. The agency gives the example of lacerations or other injuries occur- ring because of a guard's construction. The new guide gives examples of good guarding practice and compli- ance information relating to all types of mining equipment, including drive and power transmission components; crushers and screens; rotating, packag- ing, and palletizing equipment; power tools; and auxiliary equipment. The conveyor belt guarding guide was well received by the mining in- dustry and has resulted in increased compliance and more consistent en- forcement, MSHA says. Guarding-related citations and orders issued through the third quarter of fiscal year 2012 are down 39 percent from 2010 levels, according to MSHA. Both guides have the same format: a photo-illustrated PowerPoint presentation with detailed explanatory notes. Equipment guarding standards are among the most frequently cited violations in metal/non-metal mines, Main says. The number of citations and orders issued for guarding violations dropped 26 percent from 2010 to 2011, according to MSHA.