Tag Archives: cave-in

General Safety Issues

NUMBER 7 – HIGHEST PENALTIES ASSESSED BY OSHA 2010

It has taken a while to list and attempt to describe all the top ten OSHA violations and highest penalties assessed for last year, but this is the next-to-last one.  It is my hope that in some way, by seeing not just the list, but what each violation means, workers and employers may be more aware if any hazards exist in their place of work.  Many companies go for years without a lost-time incident; they are very conscientious of the importance of safety.  However, there are many others that may think that safety is not as important, and may put profit ahead of the well-being of their employees.  Safety pays off in the long run, and by doing these reviews,  I hope that attention will be paid to costs incurred, not only in fines, but more importantly, injuries and lives lost. 

Number 7 on our list of highest penalties assessed is: Excavations, requirements for protective systems, construction (29 CFR 1926.652).  Excavation and trenching are among the most hazardous construction operations.  An excavation is any man-made cavity, trench, cut or depression in the earth’s surface formed by earth removal.  A trench is defined as a narrow underground excavation that is deeper than it is wide, and is no wider than 15 feet.   First of all, OSHA standards require that trenches be inspected daily and as conditions change, by a competent person prior to work entry  to ensure elimination of excavation hazards.  This person should be authorized to take prompt corrective measures to eliminate or control these hazards and conditions. 

Cave-ins are the greatest risk and are much more likely than other excavation-related accidents to result in worker fatalities.  According to OSHA, the fatality rate for excavation work is 112% higher than the rate for general construction.  Falls, falling loads, hazardous atmospheres, and incidents involving mobile equipment are other potential hazards.  Collapses of trenches cause dozens of fatalities and hundreds of injuries each year.  This seems to be a job only for the bravest of the brave! 

There are three different types of protective systems, and persons should never enter an unprotected trench.   There are many things to consider when designing a protective system, such as soil classification, water content of soil, changes due to weather or climate, depth of cut, and other materials that will be used in the trench.   Here are ways of making the trench safer: 

  1. Sloping.  This involves cutting back the trench wall at an angle inclined away from the excavation.
  2. Shoring.  This requires installing aluminum hydraulic or other types of supports to prevent soil movement and cave-ins.
  3. Shielding.  This protects workers by using trench boxes or other types of supports to prevent soil cave-ins. 

General Trenching and Excavation Rules from OSHA include:

  • Keep surcharge loads at least 2’ from trench edges.
  • Inspect trenches at the start of each shift.
  • Inspect trenches following a rainstorm.
  • Keep heavy equipment away from trench edges.
  • Know where underground utilities are located, in order to avoid electrocution or explosion.
  • Test for low oxygen, hazardous fumes and toxic gases.
  • Never work under raised loads.

Trenches 20′ deep or greater require that the protective system be designed by a registered professional engineer or be based on tabulated data prepared and/or approved by a registered professional engineer.  Evidentally, excavation safety has not improved to the point of not making the list of highest penalties assessed, since it was classified as 7th.  Let’s hope next year, excavation safety will be off the Top Ten list!

Source: OSHA

General Safety Issues

STEP BY STEP, SAVING THE MINERS IN CHILE

There was great news on Saturday, October 9th, when a T-130 drill, operated by U.S. contractor, Jeff Hart, of Denver, Colorado, along with other contractors, broke through to thirty-three trapped Chilean miners after 28 days of drilling.  These miners have been trapped underground for more than two months, following a cave-in August 5, 2010.  This sets the world record for length of time that workers have survived being underground.  Rescuers are hopeful that the miners will begin their trip out of the mine by Tuesday, October 12, around midnight.  The capsule that will carry the miners to safety has been named Phoenix I, after the mythical bird that rose from the ashes.  The Phoenix I is a steel capsule, which will be lowered to pick up the miners, giving each man a twisting ride for approximately 2,041’, lasting around 20 minutes.  Each round trip will be approximately one hour.  The top part of the escape shaft is lined with steel sleeves for reinforcement.

The miners are in great spirits, arguing over who will be the last one to leave the mine!  A Navy special forces paramedic and a mine expert will be lowered into the mine, one at a time, to evaluate the condition of the workers.  They will oversee the upward journey, sending the most technically adept miners first, who would be able to help with the rescue if necessary.  Those with health concerns will go next, with the emotionally stronger ones going last. 

The miners have been given a diet donated by NASA, consisting of liquids, vitamins, and minerals to prepare for the trip.  Among the many challenges of the rescue are the possibilities of becoming dizzy or panicked.    Harnesses and oxygen masks will be placed on each miner, and the ones being lifted after sunrise will don safety sunglasses to protect their eyes from sunlight, which they have not seen for more than 60 days.   

There will be a make-shift hospital where the miners will have health checks, and following a brief reunion with families, they will be airlifted to a hospital in nearby Copiaco, about a 15-minute flight.  One can only imagine the jubilation from the families of  the miners opon seeing their loved ones safely back on the earth, instead of inside it.  There will also be approximately 750 journalists and Chilean officials waiting, as well.  These miners will long be telling their stories of the amazing journey they have experienced.  It will be interesting to hear the tales and see if the bonds of friendship and companionship will last.   Families have endured extreme stress during this time; they and their husbands, fathers, sons, and other family members should be given time to recouperate.

It is to the credit of these brave and dedicated rescuers from Chile and various other countries that these men have survived this harrowing event.  We are anxious, along with the rest of the world, to know that they are safely back home.  This event should serve as a lesson that the world can be a much better place if we all work together.