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Mine Safety and Health Administration - MSHA
- Protecting Miners' Safety and Health Since 1978
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Shaft Worker
Contact:
Palmer.Melvin@dol.gov
Home
1. 1. Start-of-Shift Activities
Sign in at mailbox
Proceed to dry house to change...
Check in at lamp house or dry ...
Obtain PPE
Obtain belt with tag
Obtain cap lamp
Obtain crew phone
Attend crew meeting
2. 2. Enter shaft
Ensure W65's are in bucket wit...
Enter bucket
Check ears on bucket
Watch for slippery bottoms in ...
Top man signals hoist operator...
Hold on to the bail
Keep all body parts inside of ...
Do not ride/sit on rim of buck...
Keep knees bent
Don't ride with supplies in bu...
Observe for rocks on service l...
Observe ribs below the concret...
Be prepared for stop at bottom...
Exit bucket when it reaches th...
Scale down loose material from...
Crew meeting
3. 3. Drilling
Hook up drill rig
Have drill put in shaft on cen...
Re-enter shaft
Hook up air hoses
Hook up water lines
Bell/call out for air/water
Crib under suspended drill rig
Bell hoist down
Discuss drill pattern
Turn on air valve on Jumbo
Install drill steels on hammer...
Drill center hole
Raise Jumbo back up
Re-stack cribbing on Jumbo rig
Put Jumbo back on center
Crib under suspended drill rig
Bell hoist down
Discuss drill pattern
Turn on air valve on Jumbo
Install drill steels on hammer...
Drill production hole
Shaft Worker
1.
1. Start-of-Shift Activities
Sign in at mailbox
Proceed to dry house to change cloths
Check in at lamp house or dry house
Obtain PPE
hard hat with hearing muffs and/or ear plus
safety glasses
metatarsal boots
leg bands
metacarpal gloves
florescent and reflective vest
respirators (when needed)
rain suits (when needed)
rubber knee boots (when needed)
Obtain belt with tag
Obtain cap lamp
Do not smoke in charging area; cap lamps give off hydrogen gas while charging
check water level
fill to line with cap lamp fully charged
do not over fill
check for charge
check the beams
check lens lock
check cord for damage
Obtain crew phone
check battery posts for tightness
check phone by blowing into receiver and push button - listen for sound
check terminal posts for wire connections
Attend crew meeting
discuss conditions
discuss assignments
2.
2. Enter shaft
Ensure W65's are in bucket with crew or worn
Enter bucket
No more than 6 persons
Step on counter-weight and put your leg over the rim
Check ears on bucket
Watch for slippery bottoms in bucket
Top man signals hoist operator to lower bucket
Hold on to the bail
Keep all body parts inside of bucket
Do not ride/sit on rim of bucket
Keep knees bent
in case of sudden stop
Don't ride with supplies in bucket - personnel only
Observe for rocks on service line and vent tube brackets
No one can work on bottom if rocks need cleaned from brackets
Observe ribs below the concrete and behind the panning tin for loose material and make plans to scale down loose materials after reaching bottom
Be prepared for stop at bottom limit
about 40 feet from bottom
Exit bucket when it reaches the bottom
Be prepared for bucket landing on uneven surface
Don't exit the bucket until all motion is stopped
Watch your footing
wet bottom
uneven ground
loose material
water depth
Scale down loose material from bucket
Obtain scale bar and picks
Bucket up to location
Don't attempt to pry down materials above your head
Don't over-reach
Scale loose material with pick or bar
Crew meeting
Talk to on-shift crew
Discuss rib conditions
Discuss equipment problems
3.
3. Drilling
Hook up drill rig
Have drill put in shaft on center
hoist operator will swing drill off center at bottom
Re-enter shaft
follow all safety precautions outlined in entering shaft
Observe for adequate clearance when re-entering shaft after drill rig is set (drill rig is on center)
Hook up air hoses
install whip checks
air pressure averages 120 psi
Hook up water lines
install whip checks
Bell/call out for air/water
Refer to bell signal card
Crib under suspended drill rig
Use cribbing and wedges
Install wedges until snug under drill
Don't beat the wedges in
Bell hoist down
Should be a slight amount of slack in the rope
Refer to bell signal card
Discuss drill pattern
Marked on drill hammer
refer to drill pattern drawing
Turn on air valve on Jumbo
Install drill steels on hammers
raise hammer
put steel straight up and down underneath hammer
let hammer down gently onto the steel
use rotation lever to slowly rotate hammer
rotation lever is labeled
raise the hammer
pull swing locking pin
Drill center hole
boss will drill center hole
Lower hammer
turn water on
turn on rotation and percussion
Adjust pressure accordingly
comes with experience
varies by rock types
Begin drilling (center holes)
Keep hand off of rotating drill steel
Never hold onto the steel
Keep clothing away from rotating drill steel
Never wear loose clothing
Observe bottom for old holes/gun holes
Never drill into an old hole/gun hole
drill approximately 18"
shut hammer off
Never run hammer outside of hole
shut off water
pick up hammer
insert collar pipe in hole
remove collar pipe bit
lower hammer
turn percussion on
raise hammer
unscrew collar pipe bit by hand
left-hand thread
install powder bit
screw on by hand
left-hand thread
turn water on
water must be seen while drilling
Lower bit into collar pipe maintaining same angle as installed collar pipe
turn percussion and rotation on
adjust down pressure
continue drilling until reaching pre-determined depth
never drill into the centralizer
shut hammer off once you get to depth
turn on the air valve and blow the hole out
raise hammer
put swing locking pin back in
Raise Jumbo back up
refer to bell signal card
Re-stack cribbing on Jumbo rig
Put Jumbo back on center
Crib under suspended drill rig
Use cribbing and wedges
Install wedges until snug under drill
Don't beat the wedges in
Bell hoist down
Should be a slight amount of slack in the rope
Refer to bell signal card
Discuss drill pattern
Marked on drill hammer
refer to drill pattern drawing
Turn on air valve on Jumbo
Discuss location of air valve shut off
Install drill steels on hammers (if necessary)
raise hammer
put steel straight up and down underneath hammer
let hammer down gently onto the steel
use rotation lever to slowly rotate hammer
rotation lever is labeled
raise the hammer
pull swing locking pin
Drill production hole
tram drill to rib holes
Turn lever on
Walk and guide hammer to desired location
Turn lever off before drilling
never leave valves turned on or leave hammer unattended
0bserve rib conditions
never drill with your back to the rib
Scale ribs if necessary
Tilt hammer vertically until indicator shows hammer is plumb
Lower hammer
Never drill into an old hole/gun hole
turn water on
Water must be seen while drilling
turn on rotation and percussion
Adjust pressure accordingly
comes with experience
varies by rock types
Drill at specified angle for each row
Refer to indicator for proper angle
refer to drill pattern diagram
Begin drilling (production holes)
Keep hands off of rotating drill steel
Never hold onto the steel
Keep clothing away from rotating drill steel
Never wear loose clothing
Observe bottom for old holes/gun holes
Never drill into an old hole/gun hole
drill approximately 18"
shut hammer off
never run hammer outside of hole
shut off water
pick up hammer
lay out outside row of drill pattern
Refer to drill pattern diagram
Keep drill hammers evenly spaced while drilling - don't crowd hammers all to one side to prevent tipping over
mark outside row of drill pattern with orange paint
insert collar pipe
normally plumb for rib holes
tram hammer to next row
Refer to drill pattern diagram and tilt for row
Tilt hammer until indicator shows correct angle
Angles change with each row
Repeat collar pipe procedure until pattern is finished
remove collar pipe bit
lower hammer
turn percussion on
raise hammer
unscrew collar pipe bit by hand
left-hand thread
install powder bit
screw on by hand
left-hand thread
turn water on
water must be seen while drilling
never drill into an old hole/gun hole
lower bit into collar pipe maintaining same angle as installed collar pipe
turn percussion and rotation on
adjust down pressure
continue drilling until reaching pre-determined depth
never drill into the centralizer
Keep water pumped out
use water tank
shut hammer off once you get to depth
turn on the air valve and blow the hole out
raise hammer
repeat drilling procedures until finished
Put swing locking pin back in
Remove drill steel
fold hammer up
turn water and air off
remove air/water hoses
Raise Jumbo back up
refer to bell signal card
Re-stack cribbing on Jumbo rig
Exit shaft
Pull rig out of shaft