Depending on their job duties, mine personnel often have the need to use fall protection at work.

Between 2010 and 2017, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued 111 fall-related imminent danger orders for using personal fall arrest systems incorrectly or not at all. 

To help miners better understand how to avoid such accidents, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has just released a new infographic called “Fall Protection: As Easy as 1-2-3″. 

Miners should always follow these three steps –

1. Select and Inspect – Select a stable anchorage and anchorage connector with the required strength, a full body harness that fits your body, and a lanyard type and length based on the work application and fall distance. Inspect your harness and lanyard for cuts, tears, dirt, grease or burn marks. Remove all damaged items from service.
2. Put On – Put on your full body harness and make the necessary adjustments for a correct fit. A proper fit of the straps around the thighs, pelvis, waist and shoulders is critical to the performance of the system.
3. Tie Off – Attach the lanyard to the full body harness D-ring first and then connect the snap-hook of the lanyard to the anchorage connector or life line.

Be sure that the anchorage point is rated for 5,000 pounds for each person attached and that all necessary safety fall prevention training is up to date.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

• To learn more about Training and Competence, click here to explore CORESafety’s Module #5.
• To read CORESafety’s Fall Protection Guidelines, click here.
• To read CORESafety’s Standard Operating Procedures on Working at Heights and Fall Protection, click here.
• For more information on CORESafety, visit www.coresafety.org.

*NIOSH infographic created by M. Masarwanji, J. Pollard, B. Eiter, J. Hirac, L. Kocher