Session 1

Health and Safety:

A Perspective
1
Outline
Hazards, accidents, emergencies, and
disasters
Safety depends on hazard identification,
assessment of hazardous situations, and
hazard control/mitigation of threats
Health and safety depends on situations
involving workers, equipment and tools, and
conditions; some examples
Behavior and performance problems;
examples 2
Outline (continued)
Use of right equipment/tool(s) for task; proper
use of equipment/tool(s); examples
Conditions change: Ground movement, gas
inflow, fire, etc.; two relevant case studies
Systematically pursuing safety is a key;
commitment, best practice, inspection,
auditing, and record-keeping
Bottom line: Achieving safe, efficient, cost-
effective production
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Hazards, accidents,
emergencies, and
disasters

4
Hazard
A condition or changing set of
circumstances that presents a potential for
injury, illness or property damage.
The potential or inherent characteristics of
an activity, condition or circumstance
which can produce adverse or harmful
consequences.
“Dictionary of Terms Used in the Safety
Profession,” ASSE, 1981.
5
Accident
General Definition -- Loss Control Perspective

(1)an event(s) that is (are) not expected, foreseen, or

intended.

(2) an unexpected, unforeseen, or unintended event that

causes injury, loss, or damage.

Encompasses:

(1)Idea of chance occurrence, (2) relationship between

accident event(s) and consequences, (3) duration of
event(s).
Brauer, 2006 6
Incident
An undesired event that, under slightly different
circumstances, could have resulted in personal harm or
property damage; any undesired loss of resources.
Sometimes referred to as near miss, such as when two
aircraft pass too near to each other. In the area of
security, an incident could result in the loss of property
through theft. The accidental release of a hazardous
substance is often called an incident, presumably
because the immediate results do not include personnel
injury, property damage, or obvious environmental
harm.
“Dictionary of Terms Used in the Safety Profession,”
ASSE, 1981. 7
Emergency
A sudden, unforeseen happening which requires
action to correct or to protect lives and/or property
www.legal-explanations.com

An unforeseen combination of circumstances or the

resulting state that calls for immediate action
Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary

8
Disaster
Disaster potential means the hazard poses
substantial threat to human life and property.

A disaster occurs when the disaster potential is

realized.

9
 Safety depends on hazard
identification, assessment of
hazardous situations, and
hazard control/mitigation of
threats

10
Sources of Hazards
Physical and mechanical conditions
Relative location of worker
Workplace behaviors
Operating practices
Organizational pressure, job stress
Lack of knowledge, skills, abilities
(Mis)Management or lack of concern
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Sources of Hazards
Planning and design oversights
Operational (production, transport, and
distribution) problems
Maintenance and repair
(Mis)Communication
Understaffing
Lack of money
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Hazards in Mining – Potential Sources

Excavated ground or rock

Other structures
Working surfaces
Equipment and tools
Electrical
Transportation and haulage
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Hazards in Mining – Potential Sources

Materials handling
Visual environment
Fires
Explosions
Heat and cold
Pressure
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Hazards in Mining – Potential Sources

Dusts, mists, fumes

Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation
Chemicals
Noise
Vibration
Biohazards, hazardous wastes
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U.S. Fatality-Injury Example
The breakdown of fatalities and
injuries over a 10-year period from
1988-1997 by type of incident
follows in the next few slides

NIOSH Worker Health Chartbook 2000:

Focus on Mining

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The following slide will give you an
idea of the impact on workers regarding
the parts of their bodies that were
injured.

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 Hazard Control
Knowledge and recognition is key
Priorities for controlling a hazard:
Eliminate it
Reduce it
Provide safety devices
Provide warnings
Provide safety procedures/PPE
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 Hazard Control Process
Identify and recognize hazards
Define them and select preventive or
mitigating actions
Assign responsibility for implementing
preventive or mitigating actions
Provide a means for measuring
effectiveness of actions
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 Hazard Analysis Methods
Fault Tree Analysis
Failure Mode and Effects Analysis
Simultaneous Timed Events Plotting Analysis
Management Oversight and Risk Tree
Energy analysis
Inspections
Investigations
Statistical analyses
Many others
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 Hierarchy of Hazard Controls in
Workplaces
Hierarchy of hazard control is a system used in
industry to minimize or eliminate exposure to
hazards. It is a widely accepted system promoted by
numerous safety organizations.
Engineering controls
Redesign of work practices
Administrative controls
Personal protective equipment 29
Health and safety depends on
situations involving workers,
equipment and tools, and
conditions; some examples

30
Examples
Situations involving workers,
equipment and tools, and
conditions

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COAL MINE FATALITY
On Friday, February 6, 2009, a 70 year old contract truck
driver with eight weeks experience on this job was fatally
injured while driving a truck on a coal haulage road. The
truck struck the left embankment at an angle, traveled
approximately 97 feet down grade, and turned over on the
road. The victim was fatally injured when he was trapped
under the cab of the truck.
What were the
problems here?
- Worker?
- Equipment?
- Conditions?
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Best Practices
• Never operate a truck or other mobile equipment without
using a seat belt.
• Observe all speed limits, traffic rules, and ensure that grades
on haulage roads are appropriate for haulage equipment
being used.
• Know the truck's capabilities, operating ranges, load-limits
and properly maintain the brakes and other safety features.
• Always select the proper gear and downshift well in
advance of descending the grade.
• Routinely monitor work habits and examine work areas to
ensure that safe work procedures are followed.
• Train all employees on proper work procedures and hazard
recognition and avoidance.
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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY
On April 21, 2009, a 51-year old contract laborer with 3 years
of experience was fatally injured at a sand and gravel dredging
operation. The victim was inside an excavation ditch while an
excavator was maneuvering a concrete box into place. The
chain used to attach the four leg sling from the box to the
excavator broke. The box fell into the hole and struck the victim
crushing him.

What were the

problems here?
- Worker?
- Equipment?
- Conditions?
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Best Practices
• Identify hazards associated with the task to be performed,
review those hazards with all personnel involved, and
implement measures to ensure persons are properly
protected.
• Communicate lift plans to all persons working in the lift zone
to ensure that no one is under a suspended load.
• Stay clear of a suspended load.
• Attach taglines to loads that may require steadying or
guidance while suspended.
• Use sling or chain assemblies (rigging) specifically intended
for lifting and adequately rated for the loads being lifted.
• Carefully inspect all rigging prior to each use.
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METAL/NONMETAL MINE FATALITY
On June 6, 2009, a 57-year old surface driller with 27 years
of experience was fatally injured at a surface gold mine. The
victim was drilling in a pit, exited the drill, and was walking
in the drill area when he was struck by a flatbed truck as it
backed up. The truck was in the area to collect drill cutting
sample bags.

What were the

problems here?
- Worker?
- Equipment?
- Conditions?
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Best Practices
• Before moving mobile equipment, look in the direction of
travel, use all mirrors, cameras, and installed proximity
detection devices to ensure no one is in the intended path.
• Sound the horn to warn persons of movement and wait to
give them time to get to a safe location.
• Operate mobile equipment at reduced speeds in work areas.
• Do not operate mobile equipment in reverse for extended
distances when it is possible to travel forward.
• Be aware of the location of mobile equipment in your work
area before exiting your equipment.
• Communicate with mobile equipment operators and ensure
they acknowledge your presence.
• Wear high visibility clothing when working around mobile
equipment.
• Train all miners to recognize work place hazards. 37
Behavior and
performance
problems;
examples

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Here are some of my choices for behavior-based
performance problems:

• Not checking the workplace for potentially

hazardous conditions

• Not doing a preoperational check on a truck

before using it

• Not using a harness when working at height

Can you name three others from your experience?

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Use of right
equipment/tool(s) for
task; proper use of
equipment/tool(s);
examples

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Here are some of my choices for not using the right
equipment/tool(s) and improper use of equipment/tool(s):

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Here are some of my choices for not using the right
equipment/tool(s) and proper use of equipment/tool(s):

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Here are some of my choices for not using the right
equipment/tool(s) and proper use of equipment/tool(s):

43
Here are some of my choices for not using
the right equipment/tool(s) and proper use of
equipment/tool(s):

Can you name three others from your

experience?

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Conditions change:
Ground movement,
gas inflow, fire, etc.;
relevant case studies

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Here are some of my choices for conditions
changing on the job:

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Here are some of my choices for conditions
changing on the job:

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Here are some of my choices for conditions
changing on the job:

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Here are some of my choices for conditions
changing on the job:

What types of condition changes are

important in your mining industry?

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Systematically pursuing
safety is a key;
commitment, best
practice, inspection,
auditing, and record-
keeping

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 Systematically Pursuing Safety
• Baseline systems’ performances
• Baseline workers’ performances
• Benchmark industry best performances
• Make commitment to excel
• Set goals and objectives
• Design data collection and reporting
mechanisms
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 Systematically Pursuing Safety
• Collect and analyze data and information
periodically
• Give performance feedback frequently
• Cross check against goals and objectives
• Plan improvements
• Implement change strategies
• Repeat continuously
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 Bottom Line
Achieving safe, efficient, cost-
effective production
It involves commitment and
everyone in the operation.
Nurture support of workforce and
government.
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