A Resource Blog on MSHA and Above Ground Aggregate Mines

Navigating This Website:

Hi,

Thanks for stopping by to take a look! We hope that you will find some useful information as you browse this site. We welcome you as part of this informal group where we can communicate about what is going on in the industry regarding MSHA. Please feel free to leave your comments (but remember that MSHA does read this site too.) To contact us through the phone or email with your stories and concerns, call Cary or Kathy Matthews, at 541-536-1771 or 541-410-4673 (Cary's cell). Our fax number is 541-536-1772. You can email us at: lapineredimixinc@hotmail.com

New blog posts are featured on this page, and other information is found by category by clicking on the pages links above.

We encourage you to join up with your local aggregate association, because there is strength in numbers. If there is not one in your area yet, please consider forming one.

Take care, and remember to be in contact with your state officials to voice your concerns about MSHA. Our tax dollars pay for MSHA, which is under the Department of Labor. Our fine money goes into the general fund, and we cannot afford to keep paying out costly fines on the more and more frequent trivial citations to essentially support government spending. At least that is how I feel about it.

~ Kathy


______________________________________________

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Highwalls, Banks and Haulage Roads from the MSHA Safety Log:

Highwalls and Banks

Falling and Sliding Material


Unstable highwalls and banks with falling or sliding material can create potentially dangerous conditions.

* Use mining methods that maintain highwall, material, and bank stability.

* Experienced competent persons should contiually evaluate bank and highwall conditions.

* Re-examine the site after every rain, freeze or thaw.

* Scale hazardous areas from a safe location before performing other work.

* Cut back to angle of response to control spoil material piles.

* Construct benches as needed to protect workers from material that may slide or slough from the highwall.

* Closely check the edge of dump sites above highwalls for cracks or sloughs while approaching the dump site.

********************************************************************

Haulage Roads

Road Maintenance and Housekeeping


* Maintain the roadway.

* Avoid spillage by not overloading haulage trucks.

* Maintain berms.

* Sand and/or deice icy conditions.

* Maintain traffic control signs.

* Grade the road surface to eliminate unnecessary bumps that cause bouncing and vehicle wear and tear.

* Clear or report all rocks, spills or loose materials right away so the hazard can be removed.

* Make sure the rules of the road are communicated to all visitors and haulage contractors.



No comments: