Catamount Consulting

MSHA, OSHA, and Work Zone Safety Training and Management

Mine Safety Supervisors and Trainers

Quote of the Day

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“Being happy doesn’t mean that everything is perfect. it means that you’ve decided to look beyond the imperfections.” – Unknown

THE IMPORTANCE Of PPE

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WHY WEAR PPE?
You’re a safe worker. You’re careful. You don’t make mistakes. Do you really need your PPE?
The answer is YES for 3 good reasons:

  • No matter how careful you are, the unexpected sometimes happens—or somebody else could make a mistake.
  • PPE is designed by experts to protect you against specific hazards by forming a barrier between you and the
    hazard.
  • Because it’s the law.

Make sure that your PPE does its job and always protects you by correctly identifying hazards and selecting
appropriate PPE.

Here’s what you need to know about personal protective equipment (PPE):

1. PPE provides a personal barrier between you and job hazards when those hazards cannot be eliminated by other
means.
2. Without assigned PPE you have no defense against work hazards and are at greater risk of being injured or
becoming sick.

Check for these potential hazards:
Falling objects Electrical shocks and burns
Dropping objects Slips, trips, and falls
Sharp objects Extreme temperatures
Rolling or pinching objects Light radiation
Chemical exposure Falls from heights
Excessive noise Harmful dust

Select PPE that:

Protects against identified hazards
Meets the safety standards
Provides more than minimum required protection
Protects against multiple hazards
Fits correctly (full coverage and comfort)
Has been inspected to ensure good condition
o Look for holes, tears, cracks, dents, wear, or other problems.
o Replace worn, damaged, defective PPE immediately.
When necessary is removed and disposed of safely:
o Remove PPE from the top down, wearing gloves to protect your skin.
o Grasp contaminated gloves on the inside and peel down without touching the outside.
o Place contaminated PPE in designated containers.
o Wash thoroughly after removing PPE.

“If you’re in charge and you stop rowing, don’t be surprised if the rest of your crew stops too.” unknown

MSHA initiative to combat the deadliest month in mining

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With cooler days on the horizon, October is often the month that mines begin annual shutdown activities, ranging from disassembling of portable plants and relocation of equipment to, for mines that operate full time, annual repairs. Unfortunately, October is also a month of high fatalities in the metal and nonmetal mining industry. This year, MSHA has launched an initiative to help combat the historically high death rates that occur during the month of October. The initiative includes enhanced enforcement and education and outreach, such as informational “walk and talks” at mine sites. Coal enforcement and personnel from MSHA’s Educational Field and Small Mines Services will assist in these activities by talking to mine operators and miners and calling attention to potentially hazardous tasks and conditions and best mining practices.

Best practices include:

  • Identifying hazards through effective workplace exams
  • Controlling hazards through a detailed work plan
  • Providing effective task training based on the work plan
  • Locking out and blocking equipment against hazardous motion
  • Providing necessary PPE

For more information, check out this article.