MSHA has issue a serious accident alert following an accident at a limestone mine.
[caption id="attachment_86353" align="alignright" width="540"]
A miner performing maintenance on a screening plant at a limestone mine received a shock from a portable welder and suffered serious injuries[/caption]
A miner performing maintenance on a screening plant at a limestone mine received a shock from a portable welder and suffered serious injuries. The accident occurred on July 20, 2017.
MSHA has the following advice to help prevent such accidents.
Best Practices
- Do not attach the return welding lead to the grounded metal frame of surface structures at the welder
- Insulate yourself from the workpiece and ground yourself by wearing rubber soled shoes or stand on a dry insulated mat
- Do not touch the ground with any other part of your body
- Use fully insulated electrode holders
- Wet working conditions should be avoided. Even a person’s perspiration can lower the body’s resistance to electrical shock
- Water or perspiration may cause electrically hazardous conditions. Electrical shock may be prevented by the use of nonconductive clothing and shoes. Nonconductive gloves can be worn under welding gloves
- Observe safe procedures at all times when working with equipment with voltages necessary for arc welding. Even mild shocks can cause involuntary muscular contractions.
