1. Ground Control

2. Working Place Exams 56.18002(a) – competent person examine each work place at least once per shift for conditions that adversely affect safety or health Operator shall promptly initiate appropriate action to correct such conditions

3. Records 56.18002(b) - record of exams kept for one year & made available for review by MSHA

4. Imminent Danger 56.18002(C) - conditions that present an imminent danger shall be brought to immediate attention of operator who shall withdraw all persons from area affected until danger is abated

5. Ground Control Inspection Berms Haulroads Highwalls Water hazards Signs Stockpiles

6. Fatality 8/27/05 Loader operator (26) - 4 years Victim digging near bank toe, rocks rolled & struck cab

7. Best Practices Adopt methods that ensure miners are not positioned in hazardous areas Conduct risk analysis before starting task Examine work areas to identify hazards Ensure hazards are evaluated & eliminated

8. Hazardous Conditions Lack of adequate berms Inadequate sight distance at crest of hills or around curves Poor drainage Steep grades Narrow roadways Inadequate traffic signs Unstable slopes

9. Berm Definition Pile of material along elevated road capable of moderating or limiting force of vehicle in order to impede vehicle’s passage over bank

10. 56.9300a - Berms Berms or guardrails provided & maintained on banks of roads where a drop-off exists of sufficient grade or depth to cause a vehicle to overturn or endanger persons in equipment

11. 56.9300b - Berms Berms or guardrails at least mid- axle height of largest mobile equipment usually traveling road

12. 56.9300c - Berms Berms may have openings to extent necessary for roadway drainage

15. Fatality 9/27/05 Dozer operator (60) - 35 years Preparing site for pump when ground sloughed & dozer slid in water

16. Best Practices SLAM each task Evaluate ground stability prior to operating equipment Use equipment (excavator) that can perform work from a safe distance Require flotation devices worn where danger of falling in water

17. Fatality 9/13/05 Truck driver (64) - 25 years Not wearing seatbelt - overturned dumping material over 20’ stockpile

18. Best Practices SLAM each task Inspect dump locations prior to dumping Dump loads safe distance back Maintain berms Fasten your seat belt every time

19. Ramps Because ramps are considered roadways where mobile equipment travels, they fall under the standard for berms

21. Fatality 4/4/05 Laborer (47) 8 days Skid loader, dumping material in plant, traveled onto grizzly, overturned & landed on ground below – no seat belt

22. Best Practices Task Trained Berms or bumper blocks Pre-shift & correct defects Wear seat belt Use caution approaching dumping locations Operate at appropriate speed Travel with bucket lowered

27. 56.9301 - Dump Sites Berms, bumper blocks, safety hooks or similar impeding devices provided at dumping locations where there is a hazard of over travel or overturning

28. Fatality 10/12/04 Truck driver (58) - 15 years Driving loaded haul truck down grade, traveled over berm & came to rest 20’ below

29. Best Practices Ensure seat belt fastened Conduct pre-shift checks on mobile equipment & ensure defects are corrected before operating Ensure service brakes will stop & hold Operate trucks in appropriate gear for grade, load & speed

30. Fatality 9/1/03 Laborer (20) - 1½ years Operating forklift, lost control & overturned while traveling on road

31. Best Practices Ensure pre-shift checks on mobile equipment & correct defects Service brakes will stop & hold Berms provided on elevated roads Remove spilled material on roads Provide task training

32. Stockpiles A respectable percentage of accidents and fatalities occur on or around stockpiles. Accidents usually occur when the top of the stockpile gives way under the weight of mobile equipment, or, the sides of the stockpile gives way due to undercutting.

33. How many hazards?

34. Your analysis?

36. MINE FATALITY On September 13, 2005, a 64-year old truck driver, with 25 years mining experience, was fatally injured at a crushed stone operation. The victim, who was not wearing his seatbelt, was dumping material over a 20-foot high stockpile when the truck overturned.

37. Best Practices Stop, Look, Analyze, and Manage ( SLAM ) each task to identify all possible hazards. Initiate action so the task can be safely performed. Always inspect dumping locations prior to dumping the first load. Where material has been loaded out of the stockpile or where ground conditions may fail to support the weight of the mobile equipment, loads should be dumped a safe distance back from the edge. Maintain berms or similar impeding devices at dumping locations where there is a hazard of overtravel. Fasten your seat belt every time you operate a truck or self-propelled mobile equipment.

38. STOCKPILE WHATS WRONG!!

39. MINE FATALITY On August 27, 2005, a 26-year old front- end loader operator, with four years mining experience, was fatally injured at a crushed stone operation. The victim was digging material with a front-end loader near the toe of a bank when rocks rolled and struck the loader cab.

40. Best Practices Adopt mining methods that ensure miners are not positioned in areas where they are exposed to hazards. Conduct a risk analysis before starting the task. Examine work areas to identify all possible hazards. Ensure that all hazards are evaluated and eliminated so the task can be safely performed.

41. How would you deal with this? Allstate. Why?

42. Possible weather related effects?

43. Recommendation?

44. And

45. Highwalls Just like stockpiles, accidents and fatalities associated with highwalls occur when equipment and people go over the top edge, or, when material falls down from the wall and causes accidents below.

46. Any potential problems? Drill

52. See a Hazard? Should the area be barricaded?

54. What does this indicate? Should you tell someone?

56. Prevention? When is fall protection required?

57. Hoppers The material in the hopper collapsed, suffocating the victim. Based upon the picture, what was done wrong?

58. Water Hazards Roadways and loading areas adjacent to water hazards present their own unique problems. Numerous fatalities have occurred at mining operations when miners drowned and/or equipment was destroyed as a result of falling into water.

59. Water Hazards Roadways running along side water hazards are considered elevated roadways and therefore must be bermed. Ground conditions (banks) must be inspected before excavation and as conditions warrant.

60. What went wrong?

61. Precautions?

64. How wide does a road have to be? One and one-half width of largest vehicle per lane.

65. Planning A lot of ground control problems on roadways are due to poor planning. Plan proper road widths to allow for adequate berms. Establish proper berm heights in the beginning. Plan traffic patterns and loading procedures to avoid dangerous or tight areas, and minimize backing. Avoid single lane roads for two directional traffic.

66. Training One of the reasons for accidents relating to ground control problems is a lack of proper training. Teach employees proper methods for road and berm construction. Teach employees to recognize ground control hazards. Teach employees proper methods for loading and hauling where ground control can be a problem.

67. Supervision A lack of proper supervision at a worksite is as big a problem as a lack of training. Supervisors should have the authority to correct any dangerous situation they find. Supervisors should also know and recognize a hazard when they see one, therefore, proper supervisory training is important.