MSHA issues alerts on hazards at metal, non-metal mines

Washington – The Mine Safety and Health Administration has published a pair of hazard alerts in response to an increase in fatalities at metal and non-metal mines.

As of press time, MSHA officials said 26 workers had died at metal and non-metal mines since Oct. 1, 2013. That total included eight supervisors, eight miners and laborers, four truck drivers, two scalers, an electrician, a bulldozer operator, a mechanic and a plant operator.

One of the hazard alerts is aimed at improving workplace examinations. The other is focused on improving training. The alerts include reminders about the importance of task training and how to identify a “competent person” who can conduct workplace examinations, preferably at the beginning of every shift.

“It’s very frustrating when you investigate a fatal accident and it could have been prevented,” Marvin Lichtenfels, MSHA deputy administrator for metal and non-metal mine safety and health, said during an Aug. 27 conference call.