Analysis of Fall-Related Imminent Danger Orders in the Metal/Nonmetal Mining Sector

Details

• Personal Author:
  Eiter BM ; Hrica JK ; Kocher LM ; Nasarwanji, Mahiyar F. ; Pollard, Jonisha P.
• Description:
  Within the metal/nonmetal mining sector, fall-related incidents account for a large proportion of fatal and non-fatal injuries. However, the events and contributing factors leading up to these incidents have not been fully investigated. To help provide a clearer picture of these factors, an analysis of imminent danger orders issued by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) between 2010 and 2017 at both surface and underground metal/nonmetal mine sites revealed that most orders are associated with fall risks. Of these cases, 84% involved the workers not using fall protection, fall protection not being provided, or the improper use of fall protection. Fall risks for workers most frequently occurred when standing on mobile equipment, performing maintenance and repairs on plant equipment, or working near highwalls. In most cases, a single, basic, corrective action (e.g., using fall protection) would have allowed workers to perform the task safely. Overall, these findings suggest that a systematic approach is needed to identify, eliminate, and prevent imminent danger situations. Furthermore, to protect mineworkers from falls from height, frequently performed tasks requiring fall protection should be redesigned to eliminate the reliance on personal fall protection. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidental Falls Accidents Environmental Exposure Hazardous Substances Mining Mortality Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Workplace

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• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Imminent Danger Coal Mines Exposure Levels Fall Injuries Fall Prevention Fall Protection Falls Fatalities Hazard Recognition Hazards Injuries Metal Mining Mining Industry Mobile Equipment Personal Protection Personal Protective Equipment PPE Risk Factors Safety Equipment Statistical Analysis Traumatic Injuries Underground Mines Work Environment Workers

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• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  2524-3462
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• 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:
  37
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20058494
• Citation:
  Min Metall Explor 2020 Apr; 37(2):619-630
• Contact Point Address:
  Jonathan K. Hrica, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15236, USA
• Email:
  jhrica@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:61a48701cf04d370f2d18a541ddda920af95e5d914f75e7ff5257e50e9c4c7b4beb58bb2c15928e7683586502b46d8b309af29ee1ffb560bc31fe8256770050a
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/227952/cdc_227952_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 422.77 KB ]