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Utah Worker Safety

March 28th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

“There are about 500,000 abandoned mines and another 14,000 active operations throughout the United States,” said Richard E. Stickler, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health. “Many of them contain hidden hazards and, for those not trained to work in mines, the outcome can be deadly. That’s why we urge workers, hikers, bikers, rock hounds and swimmers to “Stay Out — Stay Alive.”

That’s why the US Dept. of Labors Mine Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA, warns everyone to “Stay Out — Stay Alive.” That’s the name of a new public safety campaign designed to worn workers and outdoor enthusiasts about the dangers of trespassing on mine property.

When you think of mine accidents, you may picture a highly publicized mine collapse. In reality, most mine accidents involve workers in other industries, children, or recreational users.

Abandoned and active may mines pose a threat to Utah worker safety. More than 200 people have died since 1999 in mine-related accidents. Many of those tragic accidents involved recreational users and children. In some cases, children trespass to play on abandoned mine property. In others, workers in unrelated industries may fall into mind shafts or have accidents on mine property.

While they may look innocuous, water-filled quarries may contain hidden dangers as well. In addition to slippery slopes and unstable rock ledges, the water often conceals old machinery and sharp objects left behind after a mining operation shuts down. Even expert swimmers may encounter trouble in the dangerously cold and deceptively deep waters.

Old surface mines, often a popular spot for all terrain vehicle enthusiasts, are characterized by hills of loose materials in stockpiles or refuse heaps that can easily collapse and cause deadly rollovers.

The program includes public service announcements designed to warn people from accidentally trespassing on mine property, at work or play. As part of the program, federal mine safety and health professionals will visit schools, scouting groups and other organizations to talk to young people about the dangers of playing on mine property.