23 MAY 2024 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Safety Near the Water Adapted from Information by U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety & Health Administration From 2010 through 2023, there has been 19 drowning deaths in the mining industry. Eleven of those deaths happened when mobile equipment, operating near water, became submerged. In Indiana, one mining operation experienced how safety and following procedures on a jobsite is very important. A man with 23 years of experience lost his life when his haul truck traveled through a berm and became submerged in a pond. His supervisor assigned him a task of hauling material from a previously built ramp to the exit road spoil pile. One witness was on his way from the exit road spoil pile when he observed dust, rocks, and a green haul truck going down the spoil pile. He got on the radio and called to the plant operator and told him what he saw. Another haul truck operator heard the radio traffic, traveled to the dump site, and noticed the berm was broken. He told the plant operator his finding and they contacted 911. The accident investigation team conducted an examination of the scene, interviewed miners, management, and reviewed conditions and work practices relevant to the accident. The haul truck operators were dumping materials over the edge of the exit road spoil pile at the time of the accident. Measurements of the berm were taken after the accident, which revealed heights ranging from 21 inches to 38 inches. The haul truck had a mid-axle height of 52 inches. The mine operator built the berms with dirt and rocks that came to a narrow, tapered point at the top which investigators determined were unsubstantial. Tire tracks on the berm revealed haul truck operators were backing up to, and contacting the berm when dumping. The haul truck flipped down the 71% slope of unconsolidated materials, coming to rest in the water approximately 350 feet east of the dump site. Investigators determined the mine operator did not ensure the berm at the dump site impeded the haul truck from overtravel, which contributed to the accident. The investigation team also determined the mine operator did not conduct an adequate workplace examination. When working near water, mine operators should conduct workplace examinations, keep equipment a safe distance from the water’s edge, and ensure miners wear a seatbelt when operating mobile equipment. Mining companies could provide the following devices to increase miners’ chances of survival if they fall into water: j Provide emergency underwater breathing devices to miners with risk of falling into the water. j Train miners in the use of underwater breathing devices in case of an emergency. j Keep water rescue equipment easily accessible. j To assist miners in exiting a submerged cab, develop an underwater emergency egress kit which may include a nose clip, mask, underwater breathing device, personal flotation device (PFD), and glass breaking device. j Provide and ensure miners wear a Coast Guard approved PFD. MIN Groundwater / Water Well by: Princeton Groundwater, Inc. The Remediation Course June 17-21 ~ Las Vegas, NV phone: 813-964-0800 www.princeton-groundwater.com More education opportunities during events can be found by clicking here online at: worldwidedrillingresource.com Education Connection
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