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MSHA's Accident Prevention Program Miner's Tip Longwall Shield Safety |
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| Mine Type: Underground Coal |
| Category: Longwall and Maintenance |
Recent accidents involving miners getting caught in pinch points around longwall shields have resulted in serious injuries. One miner was hurt during a longwall move when the pontoon of the shield was advanced onto his foot. The shield was not secured against the top while he was attempting to make an alignment of the relay bar and connect the pin to the face conveyor. The advancing shield crushed the miner's foot. Another accident involved a longwall shieldman who sustained fractures when a shield was advanced onto his foot while a shearing machine wedge cut was being prepared. In both of these instances, the miners placed themselves in a pinch point area.
Remember the following best practices:
- Never position yourself between the panline and a shield while attempting any alignment/connection.
- Never place your hands in a pinch point while making pin connections.
- All persons working on the longwall face should be familiar with the shield controls and its operational functions.
- Assure the longwall shield is pressurized against the roof prior to attempting any alignment/connection.
- Familiarize yourself with pinch point areas and stay away from them.
- Pull shields while standing on the pontoons to the extent possible.
- Ensure that all "STOP" buttons are operational prior to starting your shift.
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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. |
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| Issued: | 03/04/2010 |
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| Tag # | AP2009- 97528 |