Mining Publication: Developing a Playbook on Powered Haulage Safety

In 2018, the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) published a request for information (RFI) to gather details from the mining community on the availability, implementation and use of engineering controls in mobile equipment and belt conveyors.

To address the RFI, MSHA last September announced a proposed rule requiring that mine operators employing six or more mine workers develop, implement and update a written safety program for surface mobile and powered haulage equipment.

As the industry awaits the final declaration of the MSHA rule, the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) has several products available aimed at proactively improving the recognition of hazards related to surface mobile equipment. These products are ready for use and can easily be adapted to address mine site-specific needs – and then incorporated into a safety program.

Three of these NIOSH products are EXAMiner, ErgoMine, and Safety & Health Toolbox Talks.