The Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) issued an alert to workers to remain focused and practice safety while working on jobs during this holiday season.
“Take a minute to think about each task you are about to perform as you go about your daily work,” says the administration. “Take all of the necessary safety precautions so that you, your co-workers and families can continue to enjoy the holidays for many years to come.”
MSHA reminds workers to keep these best practices in mind:
- Task train all people to recognize all potential hazardous conditions that can decrease bank or slope stability and ensure they understand safe job procedures for elimination of hazards.
- Train people to recognize the hazards of working near belt conveyors.
- De-energize and block belt conveyors against motion before working near a chute, drive, head, tail and take-up pulleys.
- Lock-out/tag-out all energy sources to belt conveyors before working on them.
- Always use fall protection when working where a fall-to-below hazard exists.
- Establish policies and procedures for safely clearing plugged material in a jaw crusher.
- Maintain and use all available methods of communication, such as sirens and radios, to warn people of an impending blast. Establish methods to ensure that all people are out of the blasting area.
- Always wear a life jacket where there is a danger of falling into the water.
