Washington — Miners should regularly examine equipment motors and belt components for defects, the Mine Safety and Health Administration recommends in a recent safety alert.
The alert stems from an incident in which a surface limestone miner suffered serious injuries during a belt-drive motor repair. A tensioner bolt failed, causing it to come loose and strike the miner in the face.
“Spring-integrated designs with constant pressure and continuous vibrations pose potential safety concerns,” MSHA says.
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The agency offers best practices for working with this equipment:
- Train miners to identify workplace hazards and perform work safely.
- Maintain all equipment and safety devices. Review manufacturer manuals before service, replace worn or damaged components, and use tightening sequences and tightening as recommended.
- Conduct risk assessments before starting work to identify and control all forms of stored energy, including mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, gravitational hazards and unintended motion of equipment.
- Make sure components are properly aligned before bolts are installed. “Misalignment can lead to uneven stress distribution within the system,” MSHA says, “possibly leading to their premature failure.”
