Increasing roof bolter operator awareness to risks of falling roof material during the bolting cycle

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1993 · Information Circular - United States, Bureau of Mines; (United States)

OSTI ID:5627629

Klishis, M J; Althouse, R C; Lies, G M ^[1]; Layne, L A ^[2]

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1. West Virginia Univ., Morgantown, WV (United States)
2. National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, WV (United States)

The reduction of injuries due to falls of roof material is a longtime concern of the mining industry. Bolter operators are continually exposed to rib and roof falls as they perform their normal work tasks. Massive roof falls rather than the typical small falls have been the traditional focus of mine safety practitioners. However, falls of smaller amounts of roof material are a common source of injuries to roof bolter operators and other miners who perform roof-bolting work. This paper presents the findings of a study on roof bolter operators' exposure to falls of roof material. The results are important to the development of safer work practices for all underground miners who are assigned to roof-bolting tasks and related roof support activities. A detailed microanalysis of accident data was combined with worksite observations of bolting activities. Specific tasks associated with injuries as well as the causes of roof fall injuries were identified and organized according to four work routines: (1) preparing the work place, (2) tramming and positioning equipment, (3) drilling, and (4) bolting. The lack of detail on injury reports hindered the analysis of hazards that may lead to injuries among all bolters. A roof bolter observation checklist was developed to be used by safety personnel, trainers, and supervisors. In addition, the results of lost-time injuries found in the accident reports were combined with time studies of roof bolter operators to develop a set of risk and severity-weighted indices. An analysis of the four roof-bolting work routines revealed several safety problems and led to a series of recommendations for improving operator safety.

• OSTI ID: 5627629
• Journal Information: Information Circular - United States, Bureau of Mines; (United States), Vol. 9332; ISSN 0096-1914
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
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HAZARDS
ACCIDENTS
COAL MINERS
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INJURIES
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ROOF BOLTS
ROOFS
ANIMALS
EQUIPMENT
MAMMALS
MAN
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PRIMATES
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