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MSHA Serious Accident Alert - Plant - Structural

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.

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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.