Improving electrical safety in mining

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1983 · Coal Min. Process.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6864908

Morley, L A

Electricity is a major cause of lost time accidents and fatalities in the mining industry. In the period 1977-1980 alone, 1,622 mine accidents involving electricity were reported to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Most of the means of electrical injury prevention are now within the technical and practical grasp of the mining industry, and should not require increased federal intervention nor changes in existing regulations. Pertinent to this are the results of a recently completed study funded by the US Bureau of Mines in which major hazards and unsafe practices contributing to electrical accidents were isolated. Recommendations were formulated for solving many of the shock-hazard problems prevalent in the industry. The study had two main phases: A preliminary analysis of previous electrical accidents; and an in-depth investigation of selected accident-prevention concepts to assess their safety potential. Information for the study was compiled from personal interviews with MSHA's Divisions of Coal Mine Safety, Metal/Nonmetal Safety, and Technical Support; from accident reports of MSHA's Health and Safety Analysis Center (HSAC); and from the Department of Electrical Engineering at the West Virginia University, which has carried out research for the BoM on mine grounding practices and mine electrical accidents. Numerous mining companies and organizations supplied additional information.

• Research Organization: Pennsylvania State University
• OSTI ID: 6864908
• Journal Information: Coal Min. Process.; (United States), Journal Name: Coal Min. Process.; (United States) Vol. 20:10; ISSN CMPRB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
016000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
200301 -- Power Transmission & Distribution-- AC Systems
EHV & UHV-- (-1989)
24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
ACCIDENTS
COAL MINERS
COAL MINES
COAL MINING
ELECTRIC GROUNDS
ELECTRIC SHOCK
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL FAULTS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENGINEERING
EQUIPMENT
INJURIES
MINERS
MINES
MINING
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PERSONNEL
POWER SYSTEMS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SAFETY
SAFETY ENGINEERING
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
US BUREAU OF MINES
US DOI
US ORGANIZATIONS