Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) - Accident Prevention Program - Miner's Tips

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Mine Type:

Surface Stone

Category:

General Safety

MSHA's Accident Prevention Program Miner's Tip Cull Yard Safety Printer Friendly Version

Safety Tip: Prepare a firm, level work area for the placement of blocks of stone.

Recently, a miner died when, while sorting dimension limestone to be sawn, he was crushed between two stone blocks. The blocks were placed about three feet apart on uneven ground in a "cull yard". The miner had walked between the blocks, when one toppled against the other, fatally injuring him.

Photo of original location of blocks showing uneven ground

The following practices may save your life.

ALWAYS place blocks on firm, level, ground free of protrusions and other discontinuities. Keep the work area maintained, especially after heavy rain or increased traffic.
AVOID putting yourself between two blocks of stone, regardless of the appearance of the ground surface.
If access to all sides of a block is required, have enough space between blocks so there is no chance one could topple into the "work zone" of another. Leave yourself an "out".
Follow established procedures. Accidents are more likely to occur when something out of the ordinary is done, even for a brief time.

Reissued:	04/30/2002
Tag #	AP2002-M036


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