Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government.

MSHA Serious Accident Alert - Plant - Structural

PDF Version

Sand and Gravel – On September 19, 2018, two miners were injured when a building partially collapsed during construction. One miner was transported to a local hospital and the other miner was treated at the mine and released.

Best Practices
  • Construction should sequence in a systematic manner according to the design drawings.
  • Ensure a competent person conducts structural inspections periodically to identify hazards.
  • Temporary bracing should be provided at all times during construction to resist wind, earthquake, and other construction loads.
  • Routinely examine metal structures for indications of structural deficiencies (corrosion, fatigue cracks, bent/buckling structural members, loose/missing connectors, broken welds, etc.). 
  • Report structural damage to the engineer overseeing the construction project.
  • Any modifications to column base plates and anchors should be approved by the engineer of record.
  • Train all persons to recognize and understand safe job procedures before beginning work. Be alert for hazards created while the work is performed.
  • Wear fall protection where there is a danger of falling.
  • Remove personnel from the structure when there are high wind speeds or gusts.