MSHA Issues Safety Alert for Rotating Conveyor Rollers
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Serious and fatal injuries occur when miners clean or adjust conveyor rollers, pulleys and idlers while the belt is in motion. Injuries vary from broken bones to loss of fingers, hands, and arms. Some accidents have resulted in fatal injuries.
INJURIES RESULT FROM UNSAFE ACTIONS LIKE
• Using aerial lifts to access elevated bend, snub, and take-up pulleys, or removing or reaching around guards to work on moving conveyor components.
• Using scrapers, shovels, pry bars, hammers and torches to remove ice, mud or buildup. The tools can be caught in pinch points between the conveyor belt and rollers and pull in the tools and miners’ hands, arms, and bodies.
Three miners have been permanently disabled since the beginning of 2024.
BEST PRACTICES
• Keep guards in place. Do not defeat or circumvent any protective system.
• Have an effective lock-out program. Shut down, deenergize and lock out power switches and block conveyor parts against hazardous motion prior to performing belt roller or pulley cleaning, belt tracking or other maintenance.
• Establish policies and procedures to ensure proper and safe cleaning and maintenance of conveyor components.
• Provide task and site-specific hazard training that prohibits cleaning or working on or around moving conveyor components.
• Follow safe cleaning and maintenance policies and procedures. Supervisors, miners, and contractors are all responsible for working safely.
MSHA works to prevent death, illness and injury from mining and promote safe and healthful workplaces for U.S miners. The agency develops and enforces safety and health rules for all U.S. mines regardless of size or number of employees. MSHA also provides technical, educational and other types of assistance to mine operators. MSHA works cooperatively with industry, labor and other federal and state agencies to improve safety and health conditions for all miners in the U.S.
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