Incident involving highwall collapse spurs MSHA safety alert

Arlington, VA — Mine operators should train miners on recognizing highwall hazards and following procedures for their safe control, the Mine Safety and Health Administration advises in a recent safety alert.

A Sept. 30 incident in which a mine worker suffered serious, permanently disabling injuries prompted the alert. The miner was operating a front-end loader beneath a highwall when a roughly 50-foot section of it fell onto the equipment. It crushed the cab of the front-end loader and pinned the worker’s legs under the dashboard.

MSHA offers best practices related to working or traveling near highwalls:

• Examine highwalls from the bottom, sides and crest before working or maneuvering near them. Examine them more frequently after rain or periods of freezing and thawing.
• Before work begins, remove hazards such as loose rocks, overhangs and trees.
• Use auxiliary lighting to illuminate work areas when low light conditions exist.
• Don’t park equipment, perform maintenance or store materials beneath highwalls.