Tag: #safetyalert

BSEE issues alert on hydraulic torque wrench operations

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by Safety+Health

hydraulic-torque-rench.jpg
Photo: Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement

Washington — In response to the death of a drillship worker who lacked formal training on using a hydraulic torque wrench, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has issued a safety alert.

BSEE says the August 2020 incident occurred in part because the worker didn’t recognize the risk potential of the hydraulic torque wrench, which was stuck, when extracting bolts from a telescopic riser joint flange. While assisting with unlatching the lower marine riser package from the blowout preventer to prepare for a ship relocation, the worker was struck by the wrench and lifted into the air.

The worker hit a riser clamp about 6 feet above the elevated work deck and fell to the rig floor. He received first aid but later died after being transported to the drillship hospital.

An agency investigation determined that failure to initiate stop-work authority, along with discrepancies with drill floor observer roles and responsibilities, contributed to the worker’s death.

BSEE recommendations to operators and contractors:

  • Ensure a job safety analysis captures the limitations of the hydraulic torque wrench when in use.
  • Verify all employees understand the JSA and have been formally trained on operating both hydraulic torque wrenches and hydraulic utility wrenches.
  • Emphasize the enactment of stop-work authority if imminent danger is observed.
  • Expand drill floor observer responsibilities to monitor all aspects of jobs occurring on the rig floor.
  • Consider using a hydraulic torque wrench with a compatible design that corresponds with the beveled edge of the telescopic riser joint.
  • Explore options for employing a load indicator, or a similar design mechanism, onto the hydraulic utility wrench package.
  • Ensure pre-job reviews and promote the sharing of feedback from previous experiences.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Preventing Falls from Height – Safety Alert

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

Original article published by MSHA

PDF Version:

In the last ten years, 22 miners and contractors have been fatally injured and
over 1,000 have been disabled or lost time from work in fall-from-height accidents.

Fall from height accidents result in over 100 fatal and serious injuries every year. Prevent these injuries by providing walkways and platforms with handrails that provide safe access, and by using adequate fall protection.

Fall from height accidents result in over 100 fatal and serious injuries every year. Prevent these injuries by providing walkways and platforms with handrails that provide safe access, and by using adequate fall protection.

Los accidentes por caídas desde altura provocan cada año más de 100 lesiones graves y mortales. Prevenga estas lesiones dotando a las pasarelas y plataformas de barandillas que permitan un acceso seguro, y utilizando una protección contra caídas adecuada.

Best Practices
  • Reduce hazards. Design work areas and develop job tasks to minimize fall hazards.
  • Have a program. Establish an effective fall prevention and protection program. Provide task and site-specific hazard training that prohibits working at unprotected locations.
  • Provide fall protection to each miner who may work at an elevated height, or a location unprotected by handrails. Ensure their use.
  • Provide secure anchor points.
  • Provide mobile or stationary platforms or scaffolding at locations and on work projects where there is a risk of falling.
  • Provide safe truck tarping and bulk truck hatch access facilities.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

CSB Issues New Safety Alert Focused on the Potential Hazards of Emergency Discharges from Pressure Release Valves

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
Original article published by CSB
safety alert

Photo property of CSB

Washington, D.C. March 6, 2023 – Today, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) issued a new Safety Alert titled “Hazards Posed by Discharges from Emergency Pressure-Relief Systems.” The CSB’s alert highlights hazards identified with emergency pressure-relief systems from four CSB investigations.  The alert advises facilities that while a discharge from emergency pressure-relief systems can help protect equipment from unexpected and undesired high-pressure events, it can also seriously harm or fatally injure workers and cause extensive damage to a facility if the discharge is not made to a safe location.

CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said, “All four of the incidents highlighted in the CSB’s safety alert underscore the importance of thoroughly evaluating emergency pressure-relief systems to ensure they discharge to a safe location where they will not harm people.”

The four incidents highlighted in the CSB’s safety alert resulted in 19 deaths and 207 injuries. They include:

  • On May 19, 2018, an ethylene release ignited, injuring 23 workers at the Kuraray America, Inc. ethylene and vinyl alcohol copolymer plant in Pasadena, Texas. The CSB’s animation of this event shows how this incident occurred during the startup of a chemical reactor system following a turnaround. High-pressure conditions developed inside the reactor and activated the reactor’s emergency pressure relief system, discharging flammable ethylene vapor horizontally into the ambient air in an area where a number of contractors were working.
  • On November 15, 2014, approximately 24,000 pounds of highly toxic methyl mercaptan were released from an insecticide production unit at the E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) chemical manufacturing facility in La Porte, Texas. The release fatally injured three operators and a shift supervisor inside a manufacturing building. During the early phases of the investigation, CSB investigators identified a number of worker safety issues—separate from the release scenario— including that several emergency pressure-relief systems at the facility were designed to discharge hazardous materials in a way that posed a risk to workers and the public.
  • On May 4, 2009, highly flammable vapor released from a waste recycling process, ignited, and violently exploded at Veolia ES Technical Solutions, LLC, in West Carrollton, Ohio. The incident injured four employees, two seriously.  Following the initial explosion, multiple other explosions occurred that t significantly damaged every structure on the site. Residences and businesses in the surrounding community also sustained considerable damage. The CSB concluded that uncontrolled venting from emergency pressure-relief valves to the atmosphere allowed tetrahydrofuran (THF) vapors to accumulate to explosive concentrations outside process equipment, and the vapors subsequently found an ignition source.
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Hazardous Chemicals Health & Safety Alert

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
Original article published by MSHA
PDF Version:
Recent train derailments and chemical spills, including several incidents on mine sites, have increased the importance of maintaining awareness about hazardous chemicals used in mining. Miners working with and around chemicals can be exposed to hazards that result in injuries or illnesses from exposure to chemicals.  Safe handling of chemicals can prevent accidents, injuries, and illnesses.
Accident scene store hazardous, flammable, and combustible materials in a manner that minimizes dangers to miners.
Photo property of MSHA
Best Practices

Operators should:

  • Store hazardous, flammable, and combustible materials in a manner that minimizes dangers to miners.
  • Warn against potential hazards; caution against unsafe practices; and provide instructions on the proper use of personal protective equipment.
  • Provide miners personal protective equipment to use, such as gloves, safety glasses or goggles, and NIOSH-approved respirators, as applicable.
  • Train miners on the task to be performed; on working with or near chemical hazards; and performing appropriate emergency response procedures.
  • Provide miners a safety data sheet for each hazardous chemical they may be exposed to during each work shift.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Stone Mine Massive Pillar Collapses

Posted on by McCraren Compliance
First published by MSHA

 

Best Practices:

Address Potential for Future Massive Pillar Collapses:

•    Properly design pillars for benching (width-to-height ratio >0.8 and assess pillar stability)
•    Maintain planned dimensions
•    Account for pillar raveling or blasting overbreak
•    Assess geologic features in the pillar

Identify At-Risk Areas:

•    Recognize signs, such as spalling and hourglassing, that may indicate a pillar is overstressed
•    Assess benched areas and verify pillar dimensions
•    Evaluate potential air blast pathways

•    Reduce exposure of miners to airpaths
•    Protect mine infrastructure

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Roof and Rib – Safety Alert

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by MSHA

From January 2017 to August 2021, the coal mining industry experienced 1,967 roof and rib accidents.  Of these, there were 9 fatal accidents and 570 lost time accidents; 83% of these accidents were the result of rocks falling between bolts and 13% were from rib rolls on continuous mining sections or onto longwall face conveyors.  

From January 2017 to August 2021, the coal mining industry experienced 1,967 roof and rib accidents.
Photo property of MSHA
Best Practices:
  • Conduct thorough pre-shift and on-shift examinations of the roof, face, and ribs and conduct examinations thereafter as conditions warrant.
  • Be alert for changing conditions and report abnormal roof or rib conditions to mine management and other miners.
  • Rib support may be necessary when the mining height increases, when rock partings are present in the rib, or when encountering deeper cover.
  • Install rib bolts with adequate surface area coverage during the mining cycle and in a consistent pattern for the best protection against rib falls.
  • The approved roof control plan contains minimum requirements – know and follow the plan, provide additional support when and where needed.
  • Adequately support or scale any loose roof or rib material from a safe location, use a bar of suitable length and design when scaling.
  • While roof bolting, ensure that ATRS systems are maintained in good working condition and firmly placed against the mine roof.
  • Utilize skin control products such as straps, wire mesh, pizza pans etc. to help control rock falls between bolts.
  • When working near the longwall face, support the exposed roof and face by mechanical means in the immediate work area.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Powered Haulage Accidents – Safety Alert

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by MSHA

Stop Powered Haulage Accidents: Stay Alert!  Stay Alive!

  • Fatalities and accidents involving mobile equipment: shuttle cars, scoops, locomotives, front end loaders, haulage equipment, service and pickup trucks continue to occur at a disproportionate high rate.
Powered Haulage Accidents
Photo property of MSHA.gov
Best Practices:
  • Know where in the workplace others are and communicate with them: use radios, mirrors, cameras, headlights, strobe warning lights, horns, and buggy-whip flags.  Stay clear of mobile equipment blind spots.
  • Set mobile equipment parking brakes and chock the wheels when vehicles are unattended:  Don’t stand, walk or work directly downhill of parked vehicles.  Stay clear of moving vehicles.
  • Establish safe traffic patterns and rules: post signage, ensure rules are followed, adhere to speed limits and approach intersections with caution.
  • Use proximity detection/collision avoidance systems.
  • Ensure that seat belts are maintained in good condition and worn at all times.
  • Ensure that conveyors are deenergized, locked, tagged and blocked against motion before removing guards or beginning work.

*Make sure miners and mine operators are trained in best practices.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Recent Vehicle Rollover Accidents – Safety Alert

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by MSHA

Miners continue to die in rollover accidents.

Fatalities occurred when vehicles flipped over backwards, rolled over, and tipped over on their sides.

  • Deceased miners were operating haul trucks, excavators, bulldozers, front end loaders, and service trucks while working or traveling near the edge of dump sites, elevated roadways, embankments, ponds, and excavations.

Numerous other serious injury and close call accidents occurred involving haul trucks, water trucks, excavators, motor graders and pickup trucks. Contributing factors included the non-use or unbuckling of seat belts; jumping from vehicles; brake failure; distracted driving; loss of vehicle control; traveling or working too close to unconsolidated roadways; inadequate berms; pushing through berms; and failure to perform workplace examinations.

Accident scenes where the accidents took place
Photo property of MSHA.gov
Best Practices:
  • Examine and maintain the workplace: dump sites, roadways, ramps and berms. Unload on level, stable ground behind the dump berm or block, well back from the edge or with spotter assistance.
  • Maintain control of the vehicle: operate at safe speeds, especially on curves, and when turning or cornering; center the vehicle in the travel lane; avoid distractions.
  • Establish traffic rules: post signage where necessary and ensure these rules are followed.
  • Maintain vehicles in good condition:  brakes; wheels and tires; steering/operating controls; lights; windows; and wipers.
  • Ensure that seat belts are maintained in good condition and worn at all times: remain inside the cab; never attempt to jump clear; consider the use of four-point seat belt systems and new technology that provides early warning of tipping.

*Make sure miners and mine operators are trained in best practices.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.

Equipment Hazard Alerts

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by MSHA

Equipment Alert: – Manufacturer Notice – MSA Four Gas Calibration Cylinders – Added 4/30/2021

MSA is issuing this User Safety Notice to inform you of action required for a single production lot of Four Gas Calibration Cylinders (58L). The manufacturer of the cylinders has informed MSA that the torque used to secure the valve to MSA Four Gas Calibration Cylinders in lot 239511 may have been below specification for some cylinders in the lot.

When disconnecting the calibration cylinder from an accessory, such as the Galaxy® GX2 Automated Test System (GX2), there is potential that the cylinder will unthread from the valve. If this happens, the pressure in the cylinder can cause the cylinder to become a projectile.

MSA has not received any reports of injuries associated with this condition. However, we are requesting that you perform the actions outlined in this notice.

The composition and quality of the calibration gas in the cylinders is unaffected by this condition.

MSA is advising all customers remove from service MSA Four Gas Calibration Cylinders (58L) marked with lot 239511 and cylinder part number 10045035. Follow the instructions in this notice before attempting to disconnect a cylinder from an accessory. Dispose of the cylinders in accordance with local regulations and contact MSA for a replacement.

Potentially affected cylinders were sold as part number 10045035. In Brazil, potentially affected 10045035 cylinders were also sold as part of calibration kit part numbers 10195003, 10197496, 10214653 and 219445.

Identifying Potentially Affected Product

Review the cylinder labels for the part number and lot number (See Figure 1). Alternately, if the
cylinder is installed in a GX2 with RFID capability, you can use the test system interface to view the part number and lot number (See Figure 2). Do not loosen a cylinder installed in a GX2 in an attempt to read the label. Your cylinder is impacted if the lot number is 239511 AND cylinder part number is 10045035

McCraren Compliance assists employers in protecting their workers, starting with a comprehensive Work-site Analysis, Hazard Prevention, Controls, and Safety & Health Training.

Please contact us today at 888-758-4757 to learn how we can provide mine safety training and consulting for your business.

IME Alliance Electronic Detonators – Safety Alert

Posted on by McCraren Compliance

First published by MSHA.

Electronic Detonators are NOT the same as Electric Detonators
Electronic and electric detonators may look similar and serve the same function, but they are very different.

Key Differences:
Lead wire attachment – As demonstrated in the figure below, the wire leads of the electronic detonator do not attach directly to a match head or bridge wire, like electric detonators. In the case of electric detonators, the direct connection of the wire leads to the matchhead or bridge wire makes them susceptible to initiation from static, stray current and/or radio frequency (RF) energy, whereas electronic detonators are not.

Added protection – Electronic detonators have other components to increase protection from extraneous energy sources: a spark gap device to protect against static discharge events (high voltage spikes from static build up on personnel, equipment, etc.), the use of current limiting resistors, amongst other devices or design features.

EMP – Both electric and electronic detonators can be damaged by an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). However, electronic detonators generally have built-in protection from this type of extraneous energy.

Pressure induced damage – Both electric and electronic detonators can incorporate dynamic and static pressure resistance, however electronic detonators (which use microchip technology and logic to provide timing and firing control) may have a higher susceptibility to damage.

Enhanced control systems – Electronic Blasting Machines are the only devices designed to provide password protection, programming capability and the energy levels needed to charge the electronic detonators in a circuit and send a fire command.

Interchangeability – Electronic detonating systems are unique and system components must NEVER be interchanged. Users should read and understand all aspects of the system they use and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Electric detonators can be used with any appropriate firing device.

Training – ALWAYS consult your manufacturer for proper training information before attempting to operate any Electronic Blasting Initiation System.

diagram of Electronic Detonators, Electronic and electric detonators may look similar and serve the same function, but they are very different.
Best Practices:

ALWAYS clear the blast area of personnel, vehicles, and equipment prior to hooking up to the firing device or blast controller. In addition, the blast area should remain clear until the charge on the electronic detonators have had sufficient time to bleed off.

McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.