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ISSUE DATE: July 13, 2005 PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P05-13 FROM: RAY MCKINNEY  Administrator for Coal Mine Safety and Health SUBJECT: Underground Scoop Accidents Scope Coal mine operators, miners and miners' representatives, and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) enforcement personnel should have this information. Purpose The purpose of this bulletin is to inform the mining community of best practices for reducing accidents related to the use of scoops and mobile equipment, where the equipment operators were struck by extraneous materials during operation. Information Examiners and mobile equipment operators should be alert to hazardous roadway conditions. Mine safety management systems and procedures should include methods for preventing, detecting, reporting, and correcting conditions or practices that expose scoop and other mobile equipment operators to these conditions. Examples of such hazardous roadway conditions include extraneous materials in the roadway such as belt structure parts, steel rails, loose roof bolts or partial bundles of roof bolts, steel pipe, and timbers. These conditions can be detected during applicable preshift, supplemental, or on-shift examinations of roadways, travelways, and track haulageways (refer to Sections 30 CFR 75.360, 75.361 and 75.362). Hazardous conditions found during such examinations must be corrected immediately or remain posted until corrected, pursuant to 30 CFR 75.363. Following two recent fatal accidents, MSHA issued Notice to Provide Safeguard(s) pursuant to 75.1403, requiring the operators at these mines to ensure that hazardous or extraneous materials are removed from travelways and haulageways where such equipment is to be operated. The following best practices have been identified as having the potential to prevent accidents, injuries and fatalities to scoop operators:
Two fatal coal mine accidents have occurred since January 2003 when operators of scoops or similar mobile equipment were struck and injured by extraneous material. Twenty-five similar accidents were reported over the past five years. Forty-one percent of these accidents, including both fatals, were caused by loose debris thrown from the roadway by the scoop wheels or bucket. Another 30 percent of these accidents involved eye injuries. Lack of clearance for the scoop car in the roadway and inadequate pulling or towing devices were the most common causes of the remaining accidents. Authority The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, Section 103(a). Internet Availability This information bulletin may be viewed on the Internet by accessing MSHA's home page at www.msha.gov and then choosing "Compliance Info" and "Program Information Bulletins." Issuing Office and Contact Person Coal Mine Safety and Health Chris Weaver, (202) 693-9506 E-mail: Weaver.Chris@dol.gov Distribution MSHA Program Policy Manual Holders Miners' Representatives All Mine Operators Special Interest Groups  |
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