Proximity Detection Zones: Designs to Prevent Fatalities Around Continuous Mining Machines

Details

• Personal Author:
  Bissert PT ; Carr, Jacob L. ; DuCarme, Joseph P.
• Description:
  Mine workers in an underground coal mine are exposed to many hazards and potential hazards on a daily basis such as unstable mine openings, coal and rock dust, high noise levels, fires and explosions, and heavy machinery. While many engineering and process controls have been established to mitigate the risks of these hazards, working with and in proximity to large, mobile equipment remains a significant risk to miner safety. Some of the most hazardous jobs for an underground coal miner involve operating or working in the vicinity of continuous mining machines (CMMs). Since 1984, 39 miners have been killed when struck or pinned by a CMM (MSHA, 2015). In Brief: 1. Underground coal extraction commonly utilizes remote-controlled crawler-mounted heavy equipment known as continuous mining machines that cut coal from the solid formation. 2. Miners working with or near these machines are regularly exposed to the risk of serious injury from being struck or pinned. 3. Based on an analysis of 39 fatalities involving continuous mining machines, it is estimated that proximity detection systems can help prevent such injuries by preventing hazardous machine movements. 4. Design of proximity detection zones significantly affects the effectiveness of intelligent proximity detection systems. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Dust Mining Occupational Health Safety Silicon Dioxide Surface-Active Agents
• Keywords:
  Accident Analysis Accident Prevention Coal Mining Continuous Mining Control Systems Control Technology Equipment Design Equipment Testing Hazard Recognition Machine Operation Machine Operators Machine Safety Mining-industry Mining Equipment Mortality Data Mortality Studies Protective Equipment Proximity Detection Room And Pillar Mining Underground Mining

  More +
• Series:
  Mining Publications
• ISSN:
  0099-0027
• 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
• Pages in Document:
  72-77
• Volume:
  61
• Issue:
  6
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20048604
• Citation:
  Prof Saf 2016 Jun; 61(6):72-77
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Professional Safety
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:f9d76908a392290777b8c8f6e5b125125025f76c3b0364dd2b0be9d7f3fc521c187cd30fd445f8ac5b7d795445f20494bfa4f22ec572753371f60a64657dbb67
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/228291/cdc_228291_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 996.23 KB ]