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Mine safety association launches prevention program

On Behalf of | Jul 20, 2017 | Workers' Compensation

New Jersey workers who are employed in the mining industry may be interested to learn that the Mine Safety and Health Administration stated that it planned to re-launch a preventive outreach program. This particular program, called the Preventive Roof/Rib Outreach Program, aims to expand awareness regarding roof and rib fall hazards.

According to MSHA, roof falls, rib falls and coal bursts have resulted in the deaths of five mining machine operators and injured 83 others since 2013. In fact, underground coal mine accidents are still a leading cause of injury within the industry, even though the technology to make mine roofs safer is already available and has been shown to significantly reduce the number of incidents.

The PROP program was launched in early July and will run through the end of September. Inspectors distributed information posters to those employed in underground coal mines and provided discussions regarding mine safety. The discussions included information about monitoring coal rib deterioration, how to make the mines safer by installing rib bolts and how to properly prop up loose roofs or ribs.

It is extremely important that those who work in potentially dangerous work conditions be properly trained on monitoring those conditions and dealing with conditions that become too dangerous to work in. If a worker is not properly trained or hazards in the workplace cause a job injury, an injured worker may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits that cover the medical costs associated with the injury. If a person is temporarily or permanently disabled, the worker may even be eligible for other types of compensation. If a worker was denied benefits or the benefits do not cover the costs of the injury, a workers’ comp attorney may appeal the decision and represent the injured worker.