Michigan Mine Safety Training Internet Newsletter 97-2 Highlights Program Updates - New 3 ½ Hour First Aid Program Offered - Respirator Fit Testing How to Improve Safety & Productivity while making your job easier! World Class Safety - 3rd Article in Series Repetative Stress Injuries Noise Induced Hearing Loss Information from MSHA - MSHA Tidbits - Marquette Field Office Citations Events of Interest to Mine Operators - Michigan State Grants Mine Safety Training Staff Contacts Program Manager - Dave Carlson - 906/487-2453, Email - dcarlson@mtu.edu - Mining Engineering Dept. Mary Ewert - Clerk - 906/487-2272 Michigan Technological University. Program Director & Dept. Chair - Francis Otuonye - 906/487-2610 Houghton, MI 49931 Contact Dave Carlson at the phone number listed 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 can't answer them, we will find out. We are continually expanding the informationon our internet home page. Program Updates New 3 ½ Hour First Aid Program Offered - All mines are required to have a person available that is trained in first aid. MSHA rules in Title 30, CFR Parts 56.18010 and 57.18010, and their interpretation have changed recently. CPR is no longer required, and the trained individual no longer needs to be a supervisor. A new 3 ½ hour first aid course is now available to Michigan mines. Its advantages are that first aid training can now be combined with annual refresher training, but class sizes are limited to 14. For larger class sizes separate classes are required, but only a half day of an employee's time is required for first aid. The new course, which is not American Red Cross certified, covers the following: Patient assessment Artificial respiration Bleeding Control Treatment of Shock Wounds Burns Musculoskeletal Injuries We also offer the full 6 ½ hour American Red Cross Community First Aid which includes CPR for those who request it. All Program instructors are required to maintain American Red Cross Community First Aid Instructor certification. Two different cards are issued at the end of the 3 ½ hour course. For those who pass the test, a certificate of completion is issued. For those who attend the course, but do not pass either the first or second test, a certificate of participation is issued. The certificate of completion is good for 1 year, but can be renewed for two additional years by passing the test that is offered during the first aid review portion of the each year's annual refresher training. Contact Dave Carlson (see numbers top of page) for details. Respirator Fit Testing - Steps are underway to start a respirator fit testing program for Michigan Mines. This program will be funded entirely by user fees. We expect to purchase equipment and develop procedures during the next month. A program announcement will then be made to Michigan mines and this will be followed by scheduling mine visits. To obtain additional information or schedule your group, please contact Dave Carlson (see numbers top of page). How to Improve Safety & Productivity while making your job easier. Dave Couillard, MSHA's North Central District Office Training Specialist made an informative presentation entitled "Safety in the Age of Teams" at the February 6, 1997 MSHA Winter Workshop in Marquette. The presentation was built on the following quotes. H.W. Heinrich, in Industrial Accident Prevention, 1931 states: "There is little need for substantiation of the oft-repeated assertion that the foreman is the "key man" in industry, that he, from an executive point of view, is responsible for accidents, and that he is the man upon whom dependence must be placed for the maintenance of practices and conditions that control quality and volume of work as well as safety". Dan Petersen in Safety Management: A Human Approach, 1975 adds to Heinrich's statement in the following way: "However, although the supervisor is the key to safety, management has a firm hold on the key chain. It is only when management takes the key in hand and does something with it that the key becomes useful". Because workers are usually better positioned than their supervisors to know where improvements are needed, worker suggestions and participation are essential for improvement of workplace safety and productivity. Respectful, open communication motivates wor-kers to become participants in the improvement process. Dave Couillard presented the following ground rules for effective communication. 1. People are more important than things. 2. Go directly to the person who is the source of the problem and resolve it. Do not engage in backbiting. 3. No person can make his or her point in a meeting until he or she restates the other person's point to that person's satisfaction. 4. Apologize when you make mistakes. It is of utmost importance that we ask ourselves: "What message do I communicate about the importance of safety?" If a worker expresses a concern to me the supervisor, and I carelessly give the impression that the suggestion isn't valued, that worker is frustrated and the motivation to actively participate in the workplace improvement process has been severely damaged. On the other hand, a respectful response (positive or negative) showing that the worker's suggestions are valued provides the best motivation for the worker to offer more suggestions and to become a valuable participant in all aspects of workplace improvement. Make a serious attempt to improve your communications skills using the above guidelines and you will be surprised at the results. World Class Safety - 3rd article in series by Tom Smith on the application of Statistical Process Control to safety in small mines. Control charts demonstrate the variation in data - for example, the variation in the numbers of accidents per month over several months. They also are used to determine whether this variation is random (common cause) or is attributable to a special cause. The proper use of control charts will lead to continual improvement in safety. A control chart is made where the number of visits to the clinic by workers per week is plotted for each week from week 1 to week 25. The average number of visits (5.4 per week) is calculated by dividing the total number of visits by 25. The upper control limit (UCL) is calculated by adding to the mean a value equal to three times the square root of the mean. The lower control limit (LCL) is obtained by subtracting this same value from the mean. This method for calculating upper and lower control limits is based on the work of William Shewhart in the 1920s. The upper and lower control limits are the values above and below which statistical calculations indicate that there is less than a 0.03 % probability of occurrence. The procedure assumes that all data points falling outside the control limits represent special causes, and all data points falling inside the control limits represent random variation in the system (common causes). The control chart in Figure 1 reveals that: 1) the way production operations were conducted resulted in an average of 5.4 clinic visits per week and 2) there were no unusual weeks in the 25 weeks charted. Therefore, it is concluded that employees were not doing anything different to cause more or less accidents, even on the highest and lowest weeks; that is, the numbers of clinic visits on all of the 25 weeks were within the normal range for random variations in the system. Real improvements in safety will come from efforts directed at reducing the mean - that is by identifying and correcting common causes - causes which are a part of the overall management system (people, materials, methods, machinery and equip-ment, management methods, safety training, turnover, and job experience). In summary control charts use simple engineering calculations to determine when to look for special causes. They prevent management from erroneously blaming or rewarding employees for variations that are due to random variations in the system. For more information call Tom at 1/810-391-1818. Repetitive Stress Injuries The February/March 1997 Safety Bulletin, Safety Council for West Michigan discusses repetitive stress injuries as follows: "Repetitive stress injuries (RSI's) comprise more than 100 different types of job-induced injuries and illnesses resulting from wear and tear on the body. They can severely inhibit the ability to accomplish many simple activities or destroy a worker's ability to continue to perform the job. RSI's may result from heavy lifting, awkward posture, repetitive motion, or a combination of these factors. According to OSHA, as many as 2.7 million cases of musculoskeletal disorders are reported each year by workers. In a study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the workers compensation costs incurred by employers as a result of repetitive stress and cumulative trauma injuries were estimated at $20 billion annually." Noise Induced Hearing Loss Can noise in the workplace really hurt you? You hear your family and friends mumbling something and wish they would speak up. They don't fully understand your problem and sooner or later they'll get tired of trying to communicate with you because its too frustrating for all of you. Truth is that you would have much knowledge and experience to contribute to them, but noise-induced hearing loss has taken its toll. You've worked hard for your family and the conditions haven't always been the best for your health, but they will never fully appreciate what you've gone through for them. And to your dismay, the effects of overexposure to noise in the workplace, which at the time seemed so trivial, have now become your greatest trial. Nor do you any longer hear the birds and other sounds of nature which you remember so well from your youth. Sometimes you wonder, if you had a choice, which would you give up, your hearing or your eyesight. Will this be you or one of your friends a few years from now? In mining over 400,000 workers are exposed to average noise levels exceeding 85 dBA, the level at which some experts believe hearing damage begins to occur. Can noise-induced hearing loss be repaired? Occupational noise-induced hearing loss is permanent and irreversible. Hearing aids may provide partial relief, but will not restore your ability to communicate as before. While noise-induced hearing loss is usually gradual, serious and permanent loss can occur much more quickly. A significant impairment may develop within just a few months, and an explosive blast or gun shot can cause significant impairment from a single instantaneous event. Former president Reagan's hearing impairment was traced, in part, to the dis-charge of a pistol near his ear. Hearing loss due to noise usually appears during the first five to ten years of exposure, meaning young workers are at the greatest risk. Affected employees may be more tired and irritable, experience some insomnia, be affected by temporary reductions in hearing ability at the end of the day or by ringing in the ears, or experience a greater tendency to stress-related disease, especially cardiovascular disease. What are the essential elements of a good hearing loss prevention program? A good program has historically consisted of at least seven identifiable elements: 1) monitoring hearing hazards, 2) engi-neering and administrative controls, 3) audiometric evaluation, 4) personal hearing protective devices, 5) education and motivation, 6) record keeping, and 7) program evaluation. Reliance on personal protective devices is not acceptable to MSHA, but you must use feasible engineering and administrative controls first. If these controls have been implemented and workers are still overexposed, then MSHA will require hearing protection in accordance with established guidelines What are the basic ingredients that make a hearing loss prevention program effective? For a program to be effective, management commitment in the following areas is required: A striving for excellence in the program rather than meeting minimal requirements, Management and supervisor support for hearing loss prevention goals as well as their active contribution to a safety climate that encourages employees to engage in good hearing-health practices, Integration of the program into the overall company safety and health program, Education and motivation of employees, so that hearing loss prevention practices become an integral part of on- and off-the-job behavior, Designation of a key person to serve as coordinator for the program, Striving for simplification and continuity of the program's operating procedures, Involving employees in the process of developing and implementing the program, Establishing quality assurance practices to make sure all information is accurate and current, and Reviewing the program's effectiveness no less than annually and making modifications where needed. If you suspect that you or your employees are in danger of noise-induced hearing loss start out by purchasing a personal noise dosimeter from your local equipment supplier who will most likely be able to tell you how to use it properly. Also buy some ear plugs and begin at once to require their use. When you've determined that you have a problem, go to the manufacturers of noisy equipment you're using to determine how to reduce the noise. Also contact the loss control services representative from your insurance company or workers compensation carrier. Step-by-step improvements will usually follow from these initial efforts if you follow up as directed. Information from MSHA MSHA Tidbits. This information has been provided to the MTU Mine Safety Training Program by Paul Blome, Supervisor of the Marquette MSHA Field Office. If you have any questions, contact Paul Blome at (906) 228-6805. DID YOU KNOW THAT-------- FOR NATURAL GAS, there is NOT an approved "hose." Natural gas will defuse and deteriorate any hose because of its' small molecular structure. Semi-flexible or rigid hose/piping designed for natural gas must be used. LP/PROPANE-APPROVED HOSE is labeled for that purpose and is the only hose that should be used for LP/propane. SEAT BELTS may not be complete if the tether strap connections have been removed (or are not connected) on certain pieces of mobile equipment. They, then, may not meet SAE J386 approval. The SAE J386 in effect prior to Oct, 1988, did not address tether straps. If in doubt about your specific piece of equipment, contact your manufacturer. DRILLS (quarry, underground, etc.) must always have a method being used to control the drill dust; such as use of water, dust collector, etc. Drilling with no controls is a violation. Natural water in the hole is not considered a compliance measure. HARD-SURFACE WELDING is lethal to an employee if not provided with localized ventilation. Localized ventilation is the removal of contaminants BEFORE they enter the employee's breathing zone. All welding is required to be well ventilated (inside or outside) and shielded from flashburn hazard to others in the area. ANY MINE DUST, GASES, FUMES, etc. that affect the SAME organ of an exposed employee during his work shift is considered an additive-mixture of contaminant and the exposure is calculated and compared with "unity of 1". Over "unity of 1" represents an over-exposure (violation). Formula: TLV = Threshold Limit Value, EF = Error Factor applied CHECK AN OHMS READING ON YOUR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT FRAME- GROUND WIRE. If the reading is 2 ohms or greater, the breaker may not trip out fast enough to prevent electrocution. As a "rule of thumb", anytime the resistance is divided into the voltage-to-ground and the current is less than 5 times the breaker rating, the grounding path is ineffective. The correction is to check for loose, corroded connections in the ground wire and get the resistance as close to "zero" as possible. NO MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT, OR TOOLS can be used beyond the design intended by the manufacturer. ACCIDENTS WHICH ARE REPORTABLE also include application of sutures, positive X-rays, chiropractors, prescriptions for the eyes, light duty, diagnosis of silicosis/pneumoconiosis (even after termination of employment as the mine operator becomes aware). ALL EMPLOYEES AND WORK HOURS REPORTED TO MSHA are those which employees WORKED ON mine property and are exposed to the mine environment including office workers ON mine property. (Not sick leave, vacation days, etc.) ALL ROLL-OVER-PROTECTIVE STRUCTURES (ROPS) are required to have a legible certification label. They should not be covered up, sand-blasted off, painted over, or removed. THE NO. 1 MSHA VIOLATION in the nation is lack of "GUARDING". THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH in surface mines/facilities are accidents involving HAULAGE TRUCKS and other MOBILE EQUIPMENT. BEFORE USING SELF-PROPELLED MOBILE EQUIPMENT, the operator is to INSPECT it for safety defects BEFORE putting it to use. Defects must be corrected in a timely manner; or recorded if not repaired immediately. Items not repaired immediately must not pose a safety hazard if operation continues (such as wipers and it's not raining, or lights and it is daylight). WORKING PLACES are required to be EXAMINED during each shift by a competent person to eliminate hazardous conditions that could adversely affect safety and health of miners and examinations RECORDED and kept for one year. BEFORE STARTING CRUSHERS OR MOVING SELF-PROPELLED MOBILE EQUIPMENT, persons exposed to a hazard from the equipment must be warned of the impending movement. THE PURPOSE OF STANDARD 56/57.14109 is to prevent persons from falling ON OR AGAINST an unguarded moving conveyor belt. Emergency stop cords need to be positioned in such a manner that the emergency stop switch will deactivate the conveyor if an employee were to fall on or against the moving conveyor; or the railing (option) will prevent the employee from falling on or against the moving conveyor belt. MSHA REGULATIONS serve as a minimal guideline standard of safety protection for employees. Mine operators are encouraged to exceed those standards of safety. COMPRESSED GAS CYLINDERS NOT SECURED or the cylinder valves not protected as required in 56/57.16005 and .16006 are common VIOLATIONS in laboratories on mine properties. COMPRESSED-AIR RECEIVER TANKS AND OTHER PRESSURE VESSELS must not be used until they are inspected for the appropriate required safeguards and construction by inspectors holding a valid National Board Commission Boiler and Pressure Vessel card/authority. Inappropriate tanks used for compressed-air or other pressured purposes can explode and cause serious injury or death to persons. A WRITTEN AND IMPLEMENTED RESPIRATORY PROTECTION PROGRAM consistent with the requirements of ANSI Z88.2-1969 is required if MSHA finds an over- exposure to a contaminant which requires the use of respiratory protection as an interim protection while feasible engineering controls are being pursued. ALL SAFETY FEATURES that the manufacture provided for the small BOBCAT, GEHL, UNI- LOADER, (the small cleanup loaders) must all be maintained. This is true for any safety features provided by the manufacturers. MILL HOURS HAVE BEEN MISREPORTED ON MSHA 7000-2 Quarterly Employment Report Forms by mine operators by misunderstanding the code areas. Stripping, open pit mining, or quarrying should be reported under "Code 03" on the form. Hours spent in milling (crushing, screening, prep plants, breakers, or their associated shops and yards) should be reported under "Code 30". The exception is that sand and gravel sizing operations are reported under "Code 03"; (or "Code 06" if it is a Dredge operation). Call your local MSHA office if you want the brochure, "Instructions for MSHA Form 7000-2". Top 10 MSHA Citations for 1996 - Lansing Field Office Top 10 MSHA Citations for 1996 - Marquette Field Office Events of Interest to Mine Operators Holmes Safety Association Holding National Council Meeting July 8-10, 1997 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Registration at the Tropicana Hotel meeting location will begin 12:00 p.m. on July 8. Three separate tracks each of the technical session will be held at 9:15 a.m, 10:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. on July 9. Two separate tracks of the technical session will be held at 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on July 10 and the General Meetings of HAS and JAHSA will be held at 3:00 p.m. Registration fees are $125 ($150 after May 1) which includes the 12:00 p.m. July 9 luncheon and the 6:30 p.m. July 10 banquet. Reservations at the Tropicana can be made by calling 702/739-2222 or 800/634-4000. Room costs will be $79 and a block of 200 rooms for the Holmes Safety Association Meeting has been reserved until May 1, 1997. For registration forms and additional information call Judy Tate at 214/767-8401. Great Lakes District Council Business Meeting Held March 6 at Gaylord Holiday Inn. The meeting included: 1) discussion and plans to develop a certificate for those who attend meetings such as the February 6, March 4 and March 6 workshops, 2) an election of officers, which will remain the same as last year with Joe Gentry - President, Penny Traver - Vice President, Ken Cunningham - Secretary Treasurer and Steve Truran - Safety Director, 3) a discussion about changing the name of the Michigan group from the Great Lakes District Council to the Michigan Mine Safety Council (or Association), and 4) a decision to collect information for a booklet hitting on key topics for first line supervisors. A decision was made to hold the next meeting in conjunction with the Michigan Safety Conference, to be held April 29 and 30 at the Lansing Center. Over 5000 safety professionals attend this 2-day meeting. GLDC is sponsoring two speakers each day under the Mining Section in cooperation with the Construction Division. For more information contact Ken Cunningham at 517/792-8734. The Great Lakes District Council Summer meeting and plant tour is planned for August 7 at the US Gypsum Company operation in Alabaster, MI.