Fatalities strike aggregates sector

Five fatalities have occurred this year at aggregates operations; 2008 closed out with just seven, overall.

According to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), a recent fatality occurred at a dredging operation when a 36-year-old supervisor was attempting to connect a 4160 volt cable to load side terminals in the electrical panel and he was fatally injured.

MSHA reminds the industry that before electrical work is done, workers should:
• be trained and knowledgeable in the task;
• be trained on all electrical test and safety equipment necessary to safety test and ground the circuit being worked on;
• use properly-rated PPE including Arc Flash Equipment and Arc Flash Protection such as a hood, gloves shirt and pants;
• positively identify the circuit on which work is to be conducted;
• de-energize power and ensure that the circuit is visible;
• place YOUR lock and tag on the disconnecting device;
• verify that the circuit is de-energized by testing for voltage using properly-rated test equipment;
• ensure all electrical components in the cabinet are de-energized; and
• ground ALL phase conductors to the equipment grounding medium with grounding equipment that is properly rated.

This serves to remind members of one of the goals of the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association’s (NSSGA) Safety Pledge — that company leaders working at all levels of the business need to instill the appropriate knowledge of, and attitude toward, safe working procedures and practices. This is critical to our effort to help the industry reduce its injury incidence rate by 10 percent annually.

For more information, contact Joseph Casper at 703-526-1074.