Michigan State Grants Mine Safety Training Michigan States Grants Mine Safety Training Newsletter 96-1 READ THIS! IT CAN SAVE YOU $ -- INFORMATION FROM MSHA AND OTHER SOURCES Dave Carlson- Manager - 906/487-2453 Mary Ewert - Clerk 906/487-2272 Danny Alder - Instructor, Dept. Head - Francis Otuonye 906/487-2610 Mining Engineering Department, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan 49931 Contact Dave Carlson at the phone number above for assistance with setting up a safety training workshop. Contact Mary Ewert, for locating suitable videos and other training materials or handouts. Feel free to call us with your other safety-related questions. If we cant answer them, we will find out. FROM THE PROGRAM MANAGER - Program Funded for Training Through September 30, 1996 The contract provides funding covering over 80% of the Program costs for the period from October 1, 1995 through September 30, 1996. Eighty percent of this funding originates as a Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration grant to the Michigan Department of Labor. The State Department of Labor supplies the other 20%. Pre- and post-training surveys will be incorporated into this years program to provide the information needed to make the training more mine-specific. This years program has been slow in starting due to uncertainty about Federal funding. PROGRAM UPDATES PROGRAM INSTRUCTORS are available to teach the various certified mine safety training courses as well as American Red Cross First Aid and CPR courses. Recently Phil Eggerding, Program Instructor and Dave Carlson, Program Manager received American Red Cross certification to teach approved courses in “CPR for the Professional Rescuer” and in “Preving Disease Transmission” through blood-borne pathogens. Companies may now elect to receive the more detailed Red Cross CPR training offered to professional rescuers. The training in disease transmission is important for employees who, on the job, may become exposed to blood and other body fluids such as designated rescuers. Both the associated risks and accepted means of protection are included in the course. Dan Alder is currently certified to teach community first aid and CPR and Roger Chandonnet plans to become certified in the near future. MICHIGAN MINE SAFETY PROGRAM DEVELOPS INTERNET HOME PAGE AND DATABASES The Program Manager is now connected to the internet which provides Program access to MSHA and OSHA home pages and numerous information sources where he latest information can be obtained. Electronic mailing will now be used for reports to the sponsor. The Program has also developed a home page on the internet which can be addressed as - http://www.mm.mtu.edu/~dcarlson/mine.html. This home contains push buttons to direct the users to other pages discussing such topics as MSHA-sponsored training, contract training including various American Red Cross approved courses available through the Program, and various training materials. Push buttons are also included which connect the user to the MSHA and OSHA home pages, to the MTU Web, the Mining Department home page, and to other internet information sources that are of interest to mining people. Safety Pays$ -- WORK-RELATED ACCIDENTS Take Away Company Profits Did you know that the total cost to U.S. business for work related accidents in 1993 was $115.9 billion dollars? A brochure entitled “Accident Facts” prepared by The Safety Counl of West Michigan also states that the average workplace accident related cost is $990 per worker. Take note that the average cost of an accident is usually much greater than $990, but that accidents add an average of $990 per year to the cost of employing each worker (those not involved in accidents as well as those involved). This $115.9 billion cost for workplace accidents is equivalent to 66 cents of every dollar in 1993 Corporate Dividends to Stockholders and 25 cents of every dollar of 1993 Pre-Tax Corporate Profits. MSHA Information that Can Save You $ William W. Carlson, Supervisory Inspector, MSHA-North Central District prepared the following list of requirements that are frequently overlooked and need attention, According to Mr. Carlson, using this checklist can save you a lot of money. 1) Notify MSHA of commencement of mining, moves during the year, and closure of the mine during the winter layoff 2) Annual electrical ground test including Resistance reading, testing of all conductors (tools and stationary electrical powered equipment included), and record resistance in ohms; 3) Check Legal Identity record and notify MSHA, in writing, on company letterhead. if available; 4) Make provisions for toilets at each mine location or provide transportation and have written policy which provides for the miners to use the company vehicle for travel to use toilets; 5) Company quarterly manhour reports must be available at the mine property or faxed to the MSHA office on the day of the inspection or delivered to the mine before the inspection is completed; 6) Arrangements must be made in advance for medical and fire protect ion at each mine location. If there is a 911 system in the area this will suffice if communications are available to the office or direct to 911. Keep in mind that this will require a contact when work is performed during hours when no one is in the office; 7) Daily safety checks, record and sign off; 8) Monthly and daily fire extinguisher checks, record and sign off; 9) Check all electrical wiring entering junction boxes or control units for proper fittings and check for proper fuse sizes; 10) Keep all work areas clean while doing maintenance and replace all guards; 11) Check all mobile equipment for wipers, horns, brakes (emergency, park, and service as some equipment have emergency brakes which may not be repairable and you will need to check with the manufacturer) windows, access steps, railings if provided. If the equipment is on the property and can be operated, it will be inspected. 12) At least one person, who is in charge, shall be properly trained and available to render first aid services at all times. The Mine Safety Training Program offers the 6 1/2 hour American Red Cross Standard First Aid Course that meets these requirements. This course includes 4 hours of adult CPR and 2 1/2 hours of first aid training. 13) The guarding standard will be strictly interpreted (see letter from William W. Carlson dated October 16, 1995 to All Mine Operators). Questions? -- Call Mr. Carlson at 906/228-6805. How Do I Change Safety Attitudes in My Employees - How Do I Make My Safety Program World Class? “World class safety” is a name given to a concept that has helped companies make significant progress toward achievement of this goal. The concept is based on a common sense approach to dealing with personnel. To understand this approach, a manager must ask the following question: What motivates me to do the things that make my business successful?” Then realize that your employees are motivated similarly. One of the strongest motivating forces is the feeling that the suggestions I as an employee make are heeded and even incorporated into management decisions. The result is that the employee who knows the most about job risks begins to take an interest in contributing to workplace safety improvement. The following list of questions were developed to stimulate further thought on this potentially rewarding subject. 1. The most promising approach toward reducing or eliminating accidents is to: a) determine which employees are accident-prone, b) discipline the person(s) involved, c) discipline both the person (s) involved and the supervisor, d) give the person involved more safety training, or e) have employees define and monitor safe behavior. 2. If an accident occurs it is best to a) attempt to determine who is at fault, b) place the blame on management because most accidents are the result of not taking the time to be safe, or c) identify all contributing factors and corrections that are needed. 3. According to companies who have adopted the world class safety concept, the most useful way to monitor their safety records is a continuous graph where the number of accidents and (or) near misses is plotted on the vertical scale against the month which is plotted on the horizontal scale. True __. False __. 4. People involved in accidents are likely to be the least conscientious employees. True __. False __. 5. According to the world class safety concept, accidents can best be reduced by a) heavier enforcement, b) bi-weekly lunch safety meetings c) careful investigation by supervisor and employee teams to determine all contributing causes followed by repeated cycles of refinement, monitoring, and further refinement until close calls have been virtually eliminated, d) hiring a professional consultant?. Answers to World Class Safety Questions (Disclaimer - as I understand it) 1. e) Involving employees motivates them to be safe, makes them recognize the importance of safety, and uses the people that are most knowledgeable about dangers to identify and correct them. 2. c) One of the best way s to lose the cooperation of employees and end any useful discourse leading to identification of the safety concerns is to hint at placing blame. To maintain useful discourse, the investigation must be “fact finding”, no “fault findig. 3. True - Using such a chart allows determination of whether month to month increases or decreases are normal system variations or are due to significant improvement or degeneration in the system. Such a chart allows the operator to observe trends as needed to monitor safety to determine the effects of actions that are taken. 4. False. Large numbers of accidents involve top-notch supervisors who take shortcuts because of their dedication to the operation and their recognition of the need to complete tasks in a timely fas hion. However, they fail to recognize that, sooner or later, such unsafe behavior combined with other factors may lead to a serious accident and personal losses as well as losses to the operation that are likely to greatly exceed any gains made by unsafe behavior. 5. b) Supervisor and employee team investigations solicit employee involvement and stimulate employee knowledge, interest, concern, and discourse. Employees are more familiar with potential causes of accidents and unreported near misses, as well as unsafe behavior of fellow employees that will eventually lead to serious accidents. Events of Interest to Mine Operators Holmes Safety Association Elects New Officers at Dec. 8, 1995 Meeting - The Great Lakes District Council of the Holmes Safety Association elected the following new officers at its December 8, 1995 meeting: Pres. - Joe Gentry, Presque Isle, V. Pres. - Penny Traver, Econex North, Sec. Treas. - Ken Cunningham, Michigan Gypsum, Safety Officer - Steve Truran, Michigan Limestone, Membership Committee - Terry Wagaman, Edward Levy and Dave Smith, London Aggregate. The 2nd Quarter meeting will be held during the April 16 and 17 Michigan Safety Conference. Call Ken Cunningham for information at 517/792-8734. Sixth Intl. Mine Vent. Congress. This 5 day conference will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA May 17-22, 1997. For more information call Mr. Edward Miller at 703/235-1590. National Mine Instructor Seminar - This 3-day conference will be held at the National Mine Safety Academy in Beckley, WV August 13-15, 1996, much earlier than the usual October date. There is also talk of a possible separate August Session at a Western Location (Reno, Nevada?). Michigan Safety Conference - This 2-day conference will be held April 16 and 17, 1996 in Lansing, Michigan. Details will be distributed in February. For information call 517/882-3225. SME Annual Meeting & Exhibit This 4-day meeting will be held March 11-14, 1996 at the Phoenix, Arizona Civic Plaza Convention Center. Fees are $250 for members and $375 for nonmembers before 2/23/96. Fees are $300 for members and $425 for nonmembers after 2/23/95. Questions? -- call 303/973-9550. MINExpo INTERNATIONAL 96 This 4-day Conference sponsored by the National Mining Association will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada September 9-12, 1996. General registration is $200 until 8/1/96 and $250 after. Fees for attending the exhibition only are $40 until 8/1/96 and $75 after. Questions? 800/693-3216. Training Schedule for the Period from Now through September 30, 1996 - Schedule One of The Dates Listed for Your Area and $Save$ Call us for a training schedule for the period through September 30, 1996. Mines can also receive training at other times, but times listed are when training is offered without charging the instructor’s travel costs. This savings is offered for the dates listed because Program costs are reduced when the instructor can train more than one company during a single trip.