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Air Lifting Bags - Safety Alert

Lapse in Appropriations

For workplace safety and health, please call 800-321-6742; for mine safety and health, please call 800-746-1553; for Job Corps, please call 800-733-5627 and for Wage and Hour, please call 1-866-487-9243 (1 866-4-US-WAGE).  This website is currently not being updated due to the suspension of Federal government services. The last update to the site was 10/1/2025.  Updates to the site will start again when the Federal government resumes operations.

A locomotive operator was fatally injured when air lifting bags dislodged while miners were working to rerail a longwall electrical power car. The movement of the air lifting bags caused the power car drawbar to strike the locomotive operator.

Shows rail cart

Best Practices

 

Follow manufacturer instructions when using air lifting bags and train miners on these procedures:

• Place air lifting bags on firm support to ensure stability before inflation.
• When using multiple air lifting bags, use bags from the same manufacturer and of the same type, and never stack more than the recommended amount.
• Place a metal plate or fiberglass board between stacked air lifting bags to distribute the load evenly.
• Control inflation and deflation of air lifting bags from a safe distance with a controller and independent air hoses for each bag.
• Never exceed the specified working pressure or lifting capacity.
• Do not work under a load that is only supported by air lifting bags.
• Secure any components on the load to prevent unplanned movement.