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www.rockproducts.com ROCK products • August 2018 • 89 Aggregates Industry Almanac MSHA Report Fatality #2 – On March 14, a miner sustained a fatal injury to his head while installing discharge chutes on the screen deck. The suspended chute shifted striking him. The accident occurred at a Clyde Companies sand and gravel plant in Utah. This is the second fatality reported in calendar year 2018 in metal and nonmetal mining. As of this date in 2017, there was two fatalities reported in metal and nonmetal mining. This is the first Machinery fatality in 2018. There were no Machinery fatalities during the same period in 2017. MSHA recommends the following Best Practices: • Stay clear of a suspended load. • Follow proper rigging procedures when lifting loads. • Establish safe work procedures and identify and remove hazards before beginning repair or maintenance tasks. Follow the equipment manufacturer's procedures for the work being performed to ensure that all hazards have been addressed. • Use welded lifting eyes that are specifically intended for lifting and adequately rated for the loads being lifted. • Carefully inspect all rigging prior to each use. • Train persons to recognize and control all hazards associ- ated with performing repair or maintenance tasks. • Persons should communicate during maintenance tasks with each other. • Position yourself only in areas where you will not be exposed to hazards resulting from a sudden release of energy. • Attach taglines to loads that may require steadying or guidance while suspended. Stand clear of items of mas- sive weights having the potential of becoming off-balanced while being loaded or unloaded • Assign a sufficient number of persons to repair or main- tenance tasks to ensure the tasks can be safely performed. • Do not place yourself in a position that will expose you to hazards while performing repair or maintenance tasks. • Miners should wear fall protection when working at ele- vated heights. Fatality #3 – On April 12, a 60-year-old customer truck driver was killed at Rye Dredge and Plant, Liberty County, Texas, when he fell from, and was run over by, his truck while scanning into the operator's check-in system. The victim was found underneath the belly dump of the semi-trailer, and the truck was still in gear. This is the third fatality reported in calendar year 2018 in metal and nonmetal mining. As of this date in 2017, there were three fatalities reported in metal and nonmetal mining. This is the second Powered Haulage fatality in 2018. There was only one Powered Haulage fatality during the same period in 2017. MSHA recommends the following Best Practices: • Implement check-in system technology that can be scanned remotely from inside the vehicle such as a RFID tag or indicator. • Commercial and customer truck drivers should remain in their trucks while on mine property, unless a safe area for tarping and checking their loads has been designated. • Operators should place their equipment in neutral and set the parking brakes before exiting the operator compartment. • Rules establishing safe operating procedures should be posted. • Ensure workers who operate heavy equipment are ade- quately informed, instructed, trained and supervised. Fatality #4 – At approximately 6:15 p.m. on May 9, a 27-year- old kiln technician with 32 weeks of experience was seriously burned while attempting to relight a rotary kiln. The accident occurred at a Lhoist Group facility in Alabama. During the relighting, the kiln experienced a blowback and engulfed the victim in flames. The victim was airlifted to a regional burn center with serious burns. The miner passed away on May 28, due to injuries received in this accident. MSHA did not issue a Best Practices recommendation for this fatality. Fatality #5 – On June 13, a 65-year-old truck driver with four years of experience was fatally injured when his truck trav- eled over a berm and into an impoundment of water. Divers recovered the victim in 20 ft. of water. The accident occurred at a Kay King facility in Texas. This is the fifth fatality reported in calendar year 2018 in metal and nonmetal mining. As of this date in 2018, there were four fatalities reported in metal and nonmetal mining. This is the second Powered Haulage fatality in 2018. There were two Powered Haulage fatalities during the same period in 2017. MSHA recommends the following Best Practices: • Maintain control and stay alert when operating mobile equipment. • Conduct adequate pre-operational checks and correct any defects affecting safety in a timely manner prior to operat- ing mobile equipment. • Maintain equipment braking and steering systems in good repair and adjustment. • Operate mobile equipment at speeds consistent with the conditions of roadways, tracks, grades, clearance, visibility, curves, and traffic. • Ensure that berms are adequate for the vehicles present on site, including but not limited to height, material, and built on firm ground. • Consider storing personal flotation devices in equipment that is being operated near water. • Ensure that all exits from cabs on mobile equipment, including alternate and emergency exits, are maintained and operable. • Use seat belts when operating mobile equipment.