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Photo courtesy of the Mine Safety and Health Administration

On Aug. 9, 2011, a 24-year-old skid-steer loader operator with 12 weeks of experience was killed at 4 J’s Gravel Crushing, a construction sand and gravel operation in Minnesota, according to an Aug. 23 press release from the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

The employee accessed an elevated platform near an unguarded head pulley and became entangled in the operating conveyor system, according to the MSHA report.

To prevent this type of accident in the future, MSHA is suggesting the following best practices:

Best Practices

• Identify hazards around conveyor systems, design guards, and securely install the guarding.
• Always provide and maintain guarding sufficient to prevent contact with moving machine parts.
• Train persons to recognize the hazards associated with performing tasks.
• Follow established lock-out and tag-out procedures before working on operating systems or moving machine parts.
• Remain aware of potential hazards in your work area and take actions to eliminate the risks.
• Do not wear loose fitting clothing when working near moving machine parts.

To view the original press release from MSHA, click here ^[2].