Brian Goepfert

District Staff Assistant

Metal/Non-metal

Rocky Mountain District

Denver, CO

www.msha.gov

22 Fatalities in 2008 (RECORD)

Metal and Nonmetal FatalitiesMetal and Nonmetal Fatalities

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

3

Fatality RatesMetal/Non-Metal 2000-2008** Preliminary

REDUCED 61%.0248

.0144

.0201

.0176

.0134

.0167

.0137.0146

.0096

.0000

.0025

.0050

.0075

.0100

.0125

.0150

.0175

.0200

.0225

.0250

.0275

.0300

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008*

Fiscal Year

Fa

tali

ty R

ate

All Injury RatesMetal/Non-Metal2000-2008**Preliminary

4.384.23

3.903.68 3.55 3.56

3.263.08

2.86

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008*

Fiscal Year

All

-In

jury

Rat

e

REDUCED 35%

Non-Fatal Days Lost Rate Metal/Non Metal MinesFY 2000 – FY 2008**Preliminary

2.77 2.712.54

2.462.34 2.31

2.132.01

1.88

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

2.50

3.00

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008*

Fiscal Year

NF

DL

Ra

te

REDUCED 32%

Root Causes

No Risk Assessment Conducted Inadequate Policies, Procedures, Controls Did not use Personal Protective Equipment Lack of Pre-operation Checks Equipment not Maintained Failure to Conduct Examinations Training Inadequate

Human Element

Victims - Did not assess risk Did not attach fall protection Did not wear life jacket Did not wear seat belt Did not barricade below Worked near open hole Did not cover opening Circumvented guard

2008 Rocky Mountain

The Rocky Mountain Metal/Non-metal district lost five miners in 2008.

ALL WERE EASILY PREVENTABLE One involved fall of person One involved fall of materials Two involved electricity

January 23, 2008 Dredge Operation 64 year-old Dredge operator (Owner) 24 years experience Victim was working alone, fell into the

water and drown. He was not wearing a life jacket

Fatal #4 Kansas

Accident occurred on September 14, 2007 Victim died on July 7, 2008 46 year-old assistant electrical supervisor 20 years experience Victim was checking a 4160 VAC switch gear,

contacted an energized component, and received an electrical shock

The circuit was not locked/tagged out Proper PPE including arc flash protection was

not worn

Fatal #33 (2007) Arizona

August 15, 2008 (Friday) Electrical Copper Operation - Surface 41 year-old Apprentice Electrician 14 years experience The victim was working on a 480-volt

floodlight when he contacted energized electrical wiring supplying power to the light

Fatal #13 Arizona

September 1, 2008 (Monday) Slip & Fall Copper Operation 67 year-old Contractor Consultant 46 years experience Victim had been instructing persons

making a belt splice when he fell 28 feet through a 4’x6’ opening

Fatal #15 Arizona

October 29, 2008 (Wednesday) Fall of Material Surface Copper Operation 81 year-old truck driver with 55 years

experience The victim was unfastening a load of pipe

when one 50 section rolled off the trailer and struck him.

Fatal #21 Utah

Keys to continued success

Identify and mitigate risk Dig deep Sometimes risks are

not obvious Study ALL activities Other 20%

Production 38%

Maintenance 42%

Success continued

Develop and implement effective program

FOLLOW THROUGH WITH PROGRAM Pro-active Reward positive behavior Take corrective action when needed (this

is where most programs fail)

Fall Protection Best Practices Stop, Look, Analyze, and Manage, SLAM

each task to identify all potential hazards. Initiate action to protect yourself when performing every task.

Train all miners to recognize hazards from falling and ensure that safety harnesses are located throughout the plant.

Always wear appropriate fall protective equipment where hazards from falling exist.

Electrical Safety Best Practices De-energize power from the circuit and

lock out/tag the switch. Verify that the circuit is de-energized by

testing the circuit for voltage using properly rated test equipment.

Closely supervise and monitor persons with limited electrical experience.

Establish and follow safe work procedures when working with less experienced miners.

Housekeeping Best Practices

Find the root cause and correct (equipment, process, human factors)

Spillage should be cleaned up ASAP Applies to ALL areas of workplace

including, mobile equipment and lunchrooms

Provide and empty trash receptacles, as needed.

Instill pride in the workplace.

THANK-YOU

Be sure to visit: WWW.MSHA.GOV