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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Summary of some selected underground coal-mine-face-machinery fatalities-1973

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5929905· OSTI ID:5929905
This Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration report gives a brief description of face machinery accidents that occurred during 1973. Accidents are grouped into 10 major categories as follows: (1) Pushing or Pulling mine equipment with other equipment; (2) performing tasks under unblocked elevated equipment; (3) operator of self-propelled equipment not facing direction of travel; (4) tramming self-propelled face equipment through check curtains; (5) overhanging brows or rib rolls; (6) electrical shock; (7) work activity in proximity to blasting operations; (8) unattended equipment; (9) changing bits on energized equipment; and (10) unsafe position near moving equipment. These accident categories were selected in preference to the usual accident classifications of unsafe act, unsafe condition, or unsafe equipment in order to identify and pinpoint the act or task involved at the time of the accident. By doing this, we are hopeful that the accident causes may be determined and corrective measures implemented more readily. Many of the accidents are similar in nature and are repetitive. Therefore, by identifying these accidents in specific categories, we hope to be in a much better position to propose and promugate safety criteria that will be acceptable and practiced throughout the underground coal mining industry. This descriptive summary is based on Federal coal mine inspectors' reports of face machinery fatalities for the year 1973. The report is primarily designed for use in the safety education and training of mining personnel, directly or indirectly involved in the production of coal in underground coal mines. It also should be of value for evaluating and proposing safety criteria for reducing fatalities.
Research Organization:
Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration, Pittsburgh, PA (USA). Pittsburgh Technical Support Center
OSTI ID:
5929905
Report Number(s):
MESA-IR-1029; ON: DE83902970
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English