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Mine Type: All Surface Category: Highwalls
Mine Safety and Health Administration
MSHA's Accident Prevention Program
Miner's Tip

"Falling Material Hazards"

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Tips Drawing


Fatalities have occurred when individuals operating equipment near a highwall were struck with material from the highwall. Recently, an individual operating an excavator was killed when a rock smashed through the roof of the cab. Equipment cabs are not designed to protect against the extreme forces generated by large rocks falling from highwalls but, they may create a false sense of security. Don't let this false sense of protection lure you into putting your guard down.

When operating equipment near the base of a highwall:
  • Always check the highwall and surrounding ground conditions because it's the smart thing to do.

  • Position the equipment with the cab as far away from the highwall as possibe.
When performing maintenance, always have the equipment positioned as far away as possible from the falling material danger zone.

Just because you are inside a cab don't think you are protected from rocks that could fall a highwall. Several accidents have occurred where rocks have crushed through cabs and fatally injured operators.


If you have a tip you would like to pass on, you can e-mail it to zzMSHA-MinersTips@dol.gov. If your Miner's tip is selected, you will receive credit in this space.

Reissued: 8/19/2002 
Tag # AP2002-M040



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