Skip to content
Mine Safety and Health Administration MSHA's Accident Prevention Program
Miner's Tip

Driller's Fall Protection

PDF Version
 Safety Something YOU can live with!
Mine Type: All Surface
Category: Fall Protection and Drilling/Blasting/Explosives


Tomas Moreno, a drill operator at Jobe Concrete McKelligan Canyon Mine, recommends the following drilling procedure. Driller's Fall Protection

First, lay out the drill pattern. Then, drill the second row back from the face of the high wall. The vibration of the drill will help make defects at the edge of the wall more apparent.

Re-inspect the ground surface for signs of cracks or separation prior to drilling the first row of holes. When drilling the first row, use the previously drilled holes in the second row as a tie-off location for a T bar.

DO NOT tie-off to the drill. If the wall should fail and the drill goes over, it will take you with it.

MSHA advises anyone on a drill bench that depending on unique geologic conditions that may be present, the method described above may or may not be the best fall protection procedure. In such cases, other fall protection methods may be preferred.

MSHA extends a thank you and a tip of the hardhat to
Tomas Moreno of El Paso, Texas ,
a winner of a limited edition sticker and patch.
If you have a tip you would like to pass on, you can e-mail it to
zzMSHA-MinersTips@dol.gov.
If your tip is selected, you will receive credit in this space.


Issued: 03/11/2005
Tag # AP2005- M90863