Accident Report: Fatality Reference
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fab14m01.pdf
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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY - On February 1, 2014, a 56-year old contract belt operator with 4 months of experience was killed at an iron ore mine. The victim was cleaning a return idler inside the frame of a belt conveyor when he became entangled between the return idler and the belt.
Best Practices
- Establish policies and procedures for conducting specific tasks on belt conveyors.
- Before beginning any work, ensure that persons assigned to clean belt conveyors are task trained and understand the hazards associated with the work to be performed.
- Do not perform work on a belt conveyor until the power is off, locked, and tagged, and machinery components are blocked against motion.
- Never clean pulleys or idlers manually while belt conveyors are operating.
- Identify hazards around belt conveyor systems, design guarding, and securely install the guarding to ensure miners do not contact moving parts.
Additional Information
This is the 1st fatality reported in calendar year 2014 in the metal and nonmetal mining industries. As of this date in 2013, there were 2 fatalities reported in metal and nonmetal mining. This is the 1st Powered Haulage fatality in 2014. There were 0 Powered Haulage fatalities in the same period in 2013.