Arlington, VA — Spurred by a miner’s death, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is warning of the dangers of performing maintenance on dipper buckets.
In a recently published safety alert, MSHA says the miner was working on a 13-ton steel dipper door when it closed, trapping him between the door and the edge of the bucket.
“Maintenance work on a dipper bucket’s door when it is separated from the bucket is dangerous,” MSHA says. “Make sure to always have a redundant blocking mechanism when performing such work.”
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Best practices for performing maintenance on bucket doors include:
- Ensure miners are positioned in safe locations and away from potential pinch points.
- Securely block equipment against motion before starting maintenance or repairs.
- Confirm blocking material is substantial and installed correctly to support and stabilize the load.
- Make sure miners conduct repairs according to manufacturer recommendations.
