Maintenance Hazard on Dipper Buckets
A miner died when a 13-ton steel dipper door he was working on closed, crushing him between the dipper door and the edge of the bucket. Maintenance work on a dipper bucket’s door when it is separated from the bucket is dangerous. Make sure to always have a redundant blocking mechanism when performing such work.
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Best Practices
- Make sure miners are positioned in a safe location and away from potential pinch point areas.
- Securely block equipment against motion before beginning maintenance or repairs.
- Assure blocking material is substantial and installed correctly to support and stabilize the load.
- Make sure miners conduct repairs according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
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Original article published by MSHA