Max Schriock doesn’t mince words when it comes to the importance of practicing safety around portable equipment.
“Fatalities have skyrocketed in the mining industry,” says Schriock, engineer and consultant at North Dakota-based AMZ Consulting. “At this point [in early March], there have been 10 fatalities. If you extrapolate that out to the end of the year, that would mean we’d hit about 55 fatalities. That’s 20 more fatalities than we had last year. If they hit that 55, you can bet that anytime MSHA (the Mine Safety & Health Administration) shows up at your site, you’re going to get scrutinized a lot harder than you have in the past.”
Schriock, who provides MSHA training, delivered these startling statistics at General Equipment & Supplies’ Aggregate Expo in Fargo, North Dakota. Since delivering his presentation on portable plant safety, setup and best practices, the number of 2022 industry fatalities has risen to 12.
According to Schriock, powered haulage remains a focus at MSHA. Because of this, he says MSHA and its latest safety program “Take Time, Save Lives,” is geared toward increasing training for employees and having up-to-date records of that training.
Better blocking
Proper blocking of equipment is one point operators must keep in mind. This provides greater efficiency of a plant’s power and increases safety, Schriock says.
According to MSHA regulations (56.14211), operators may not work on top of, under or work from mobile equipment or from a raised component of mobile equipment until the equipment or component is blocked or mechanically secured. This prevents rolling, falling or accidental lowering.
MSHA defines blocking as when a functional load-locking device or a device that prevents free and uncontrolled descent is in use. Blocking or mechanical securing is also required during repair or maintenance of elevated mobile work platforms.
“You’ve got MSHA standards,” Schriock says. “You may also have OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) standards that should be considered so you don’t make a gaff someplace. You may have a state-run MSHA and then [you have] your company’s safety policies. A lot of your safety policies are going to boil down to the mine operator watching what their employees are doing so they don’t take shortcuts.”
Proper blocking means ensuring blocks are correctly positioned in relation to the equipment.
“If you’re blocking a piece of construction equipment, you want to look at the motion [of the equipment],” Schriock says. “You want your blocks to match that. If you put them opposite, you have the tendency that [the equipment] will fall off the block. It is not a good place to be.”
And while extra time may be required during setup, Schriock emphasizes the importance of making sure blocks are level.
“Don’t mess around,” he says. “Get that little hand level out there and get all four corners [level]. It may take a little longer, but put a pad down and get it level so that you’re doing it on a good foundation.”
It is also beneficial to utilize high-quality lumber for blocks, Schriock says.
“A lot of times I’ve seen construction companies go get these old railroad ties and they’re rotted inside,” he says. “Get good, hard lumber. Stuff that won’t break down on you. If you’ve got to shim it, have the right kind of shim because you want that machine to run level.”
Hazard recognition
Schriock says the first step in achieving proper blocking is recognizing hazards. Daily workplace examinations and pre-shift inspections are also critical parts of ensuring worker safety.
If a hazard is detected, Schriock says it is crucial that it is reported and repaired promptly.
“There are three methods to report [a hazard],” he says. “One, you should write it down. Two is to report it to your supervisor or accountable person. Three is to repair it.”
But just because a hazard is repaired doesn’t mean the job is over.
“Even though you found a safety defect and you were able to repair it that same shift, you should report it on your pre-shift [inspection],” Schriock says. “I’ve had many MSHA inspectors come out, and they go through the old pre-shift [inspections] or workplace examinations that are just blank. They know darn well that you’ve got problems that have developed through that day, month or year.
“Record it, report it and repair it,” he adds. “Even if you repair it at the same time, write it down and report it. It’s not going to go against you, but it shows that you’re paying attention.”
As valuable as pre-shift inspections are, Schriock says post-shift inspections are more overlooked. Executing on anything found during those ensures sites are ready for the next shift or day.
“At the end of the shift, do a general walkaround, looking for things that are out of place,” he says. “Do proper cleanup on your catwalks, around the kit area, get rid of spillage and get it ready for the next day.”