Why Slips, Trips, and Falls Are Still a Problem: A Hazard Assessment at Surface Mines

Details

• Personal Author:
  Mayton, Alan G. ; Nasarwanji, Mahiyar F. ; Pollard J
• Description:
  Slips, trips, and falls (STF) contribute significantly to nonfatal incidents at surface mines. Although fall fatalities and STF from mobile equipment have been investigated, nonfatal incidents and STF hazards encountered at mines are not well documented. This paper aims to identify occupations and activities associated with nonfatal STF incidents at surface stone, sand, and gravel mines, document through a systematic observation the STF hazards encountered, and corroborate the findings of the hazard assessment using an analysis of nonfatal injury narratives reported in the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) injury database. Mobile equipment operators, laborers/utility men, and mechanics were most often involved in nonfatal STF incidents. Walking/running, getting on/off equipment, machine maintenance and repair, and handling supplies and materials accounted for over 80% of the activities being performed at the time of the incident. Solid debris, in the form of rocks and stones on unpaved surfaces and material accumulation on paved surfaces, and liquid contaminants, primarily pooled water, were common hazards identified during the systematic observation. Stair tread issues and transitions to and from ladders were also identified as hazards. These findings were in line with injury data where rocks, ice/snow, uneven ground, water, hoses, mud, and loose/unstable material were the most common contaminants and hazards encountered at the time of the incident. In addition, several recommendations are provided to help eliminate or remediate the identified hazards. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidental Falls Accidents Environmental Exposure Hazardous Substances Maintenance Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Mining Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Equipment Operation Equipment Operators Exposure Levels Ground Stability Hazard Identification Hazards Injuries Ladders Maintenance Workers Materials Handling Mechanics Mobile Equipment Risk Assessment Risk Factors Sand And Gravel Mines Slips, Trips, And Falls STF Stone Mines Surface Mining Surface Properties Work Environment Workers

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  1071-1813
• Publisher:
  Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  PMRD - Pittsburgh Mining Research Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  63
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20058267
• Citation:
  Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 63rd Annual Meeting, October 28 - November 1, 2019, Seattle, Washington. Santa Monica, CA: Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, 2019 Nov; 63(1):1856-1860
• Contact Point Address:
  Mahiyar F. Nasarwanji, Pittsburgh Mining Research Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• NORA Priority Area:
  Mining
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 63rd Annual Meeting, October 28 - November 1, 2019, Seattle, Washington
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:d3d60cbcd8f6c72330497f4865f031453ae78925f8167163e6839c61083db64faf88cba2fce1f6e6fd440c4c55022307c7c0723e43202105460331a1001aeb5c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227942/cdc_227942_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.16 MB ]