♪ MUSIC ♪ <NARRATOR>
The power and speed of belt conveyors can present unique
hazards for miners working on or around them. You make think that
accidents related to belt conveyors are a low probability;
however the consequences are very high... Many belt-conveyor
accidents have led to serious injuries,
amputations and death. It can happen in an instant. That's what John Annichenni
discovered one afternoon while trying to adjust a
moving, unguarded belt. <JOHN ANNICHENNI>
I proceeded to adjust this conveyor belt. The belt was not moving like it
should have been moving, so I bent down to take a look... I put my hand on the
side of the conveyor. About that time, the conveyor
belt had snapped over and grabbed my hand and finger
and started to pull me off balance... Well I'd stuck my other arm
down to catch myself, and unfortunately, I placed it on the bottom of the
belt which was traveling in the direction of the tail pulley. It pulled me right into the tail
pulley where it then started to sever my arm... The arm was actually
severed at the elbow in this area here where it was taken
completely off and up under the armpit when it twisted it and
tried to pull it out of the chest cavity. <NARRATOR>
MSHA has investigated a high number of severe injuries and
fatalities from accidents involving belt conveyors, both
in coal and metal and nonmetal mining, on the surface and
underground, at small mines and large. The victims have been
young and old, with all levels of experience. What their deaths had in common
is they could have been prevented by following
three commonsense safeguards. First, install proper guarding; then lock out, tag out, and
block against motion; and lastly provide crossovers
for belt conveyors. <NARRATOR>
Install and maintain substantial, durable guarding
that cannot be easily bypassed and will protect people from
coming into contact with moving machine parts including conveyor
drive components, head and tail pulleys, take-up pulleys,
couplings, sprockets, rollers, idlers, and other similar moving
parts of a belt-conveyor system. Always keep guards securely
in place while conveyors are operating or energized. Guards should be designed,
constructed, and maintained to withstand vibration and shock
during normal operation. Ensure the guard itself does not
pose a hazard when workers are handling them - no points or
sharp edges. Paint guards a consistent,
recognizable color. <NARRATOR>
Before performing maintenance on any belt conveyor,
the power must be off, locked out and tagged. Apply your lock and tag to
prevent anyone else from turning on the power. Make sure you keep the key while
performing maintenance. Remember that it is extremely
important to turn off the power and lock out and
tag at the source. For example, do not just turn
off power by using start /stop controls like belt switches or
emergency stop devices, such as pull cords. If a lock and tag is not
installed on the power sources, other miners could
inadvertently start machinery, with deadly consequences. It has happened. <NARRATOR>
Crossovers need to be provided at strategic locations, along
the belt conveyor, to ensure safe access. Crossovers, like walkways,
need to be of substantial construction, provided
with handrails and toe boards where necessary, and
maintained in good condition. Do not attempt to cross a moving
conveyor, except at a designated crossing point. Taking shortcuts to cross a
moving belt can have deadly consequences. Conveyors next to walkways or
travelways need to be equipped with emergency stop devices. Belt Conveyor systems are
essential parts of many mining operations, it's easy to forget
that they are powerful and unforgiving machinery. That's why it is crucial to have
the required safeguards that keep miners safe when
working on or around belt conveyor systems. Your safety depends
on being aware and taking proper precautions.
