Skip to main content

MSHA: three confined space fatalities from 2017 to 2020

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has confirmed three miners were fatally injured after entering confined spaces to clear material and obstructions between 2017 and 2020. 
By Ben Spencer October 22, 2020 Read time: 1 min
All three miners were engulfed by falling material (Credit: MSHA)
All three miners were engulfed by falling material (Credit: MSHA)

The MSHA says these confined spaces included a sand and gravel bin, a sand-filled hopper, and a cone crusher. All three miners were engulfed by falling material, the administration adds. 

Best Practices: 

• Operators should identify and eliminate or control all hazards before miners begin work and when clearing blocked material. Miners should be trained in these practices.
• Lock-out, tag-out. Never enter a confined space until the supply and discharge equipment is locked out.
• Never lock-out using the start and stop controls. These do not disconnect power conductors.
• Assign a safety harness and lanyard to each miner who may work at material supply and discharge areas or any areas where an engulfment hazard exists. Do not use lanyards that depend on free-fall speed to lock.
• Place warning signs at all hopper, bin and chute access points reading: “Fall Protection Required Here” and “Confined Spaces – Engulfment Hazard”.

 

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

boombox1
boombox2