The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is seeking data on technologies that can improve safety conditions for US miners. The request for information (RFI) focuses on reducing accidents involving mobile equipment at surface mines, belt conveyors and underground mines.
The RFI is part of a larger MSHA initiative to reduce accidents involving haul trucks, front-end loaders and other large vehicles as well as belt conveyors.
David G. Zatezalo, assistant secretary of labour for mine safety and health, says: “Through the deployment of modern technologies, such as proximity detection, we can help ensure that miners return home safely at the end of their shifts. MSHA is also interested in learning more about how seat belts can be more widely used in mining operations to prevent injuries.”
The MSHA intends to hold stakeholder meetings, provide technical assistance and develop best practices and training materials to raise awareness of hazards related to mobile equipment and belt conveyors.
Additionally, the agency may consider engineering controls that increase the use of seatbelts, enhance equipment operators' ability to see all areas near the machine as well as those that warn them of potential collision hazards.
More information is available on the website.
