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Mine Type:  All Surface Category:  Drill / Blast
Mine Safety and Health Administration
MSHA's Accident Prevention Program
Miner's Tips

Avoiding Surface Drill Entanglements


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Safety, Something You Can Live With


Avoiding Surface Drill Entanglements Many accidents have occurred when miners have come into contact with rotating drills. They had tried to manually thread drill steels on, unplug clogged suction hoses, or just got to close to the rotating steels when the accident occurred. Whatever the reason, these accidents can be avoided if you follow these Best Practices.
  • Train personnel to follow the manufacturer's procedures when adding drill steels.
  • Never manually thread drill steels when the drill head is rotating.
  • Do not wear loose fitting clothing when working around drills. Also be careful of long hair that can become entangled.
  • Never over-ride or bypass the safety features on the equipment.
  • Know where your emergency stop switches are and ensure they are functional.
  • Provide safe routing of hoses and cables so they are not close to the rotation of the drill.
  • Shut down the drill when making any repairs to the drill head.
  • Make the drill operator aware of your presence when approaching.
  • Provide adequate lighting at night when drilling.


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Issued: 05/08/2009
Tag # AP2008-96044



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