• Menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
 
Ametros

Amaxx Workers Comp Blog

Reduce Workers Compensation Costs By 20-50%

Header Right

  • Home
    • Training Center
  • Search
    • Free Resources & Solutions
    • Subscribe to Free Newsletter
    • Create Free Training Center Account
    • Enroll in On-Demand Courses
    • Activate WC Mastery Membership
    • Request Strategic Coaching Session
    • Buy WC Guidebooks
  • Membership
    • Insider (free account)
    • WC Mastery
    • Teams & Managers Mastery
    • Training Partners
  • Products
    • On-Demand Courses
    • Specialty Courses
    • Certifications & Mastery Courses
    • Ultimate Guidebooks
    • Coaching
  • Blog
    • Video Blogs
    • COVID-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic
  • Login

Mobile Menu

  • Home
    • Training Center
  • Search
    • Free Resources & Solutions
    • Subscribe to Free Newsletter
    • Create Free Training Center Account
    • Enroll in On-Demand Courses
    • Activate WC Mastery Membership
    • Request Strategic Coaching Session
    • Buy WC Guidebooks
  • Membership
    • Insider (free account)
    • WC Mastery
    • Teams & Managers Mastery
    • Training Partners
  • Products
    • On-Demand Courses
    • Specialty Courses
    • Certifications & Mastery Courses
    • Ultimate Guidebooks
    • Coaching
  • Blog
    • Video Blogs
    • COVID-19 / Coronavirus Pandemic
  • Login
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
You are here: Home / Workers Comp News / Mining Inspectors Zero In On Workplace Safety

Mining Inspectors Zero In On Workplace Safety

February 27, 2013 By //  by Michael B. Stack Leave a Comment

 

Mining inspectors in Ontario are focusing in on diesel emissions and other hazards that could affect air quality during a blitz in underground mines.
 
As part of the province’s Safe at Work Ontario strategy, which was unveiled four and a half years ago, Ministry of Labor inspectors are making sure that employers are complying with recent changes to emission requirements for diesel-powered equipment under the Regulations for Mines and Mining Plants.
 
Officials believe the changes improve protection for workers from the potentially harmful effects of diesel emissions by:
 
●     Setting a lower allowed limit of carbon exposure for workers and
●     Requiring equipment be tested under consistent conditions
 
The changes went into effect on Jan. 1, 2012.
 
 
Illness and Death Result from Poor Air Quality
 
Poor air quality in underground mines can lead to occupational illness and death of workers. In particular, workers are at risk in the event they are exposed to carbon monoxide in diesel exhaust.
 
Underground mines can have poor air quality when:
 
●     There are too many "particulate particles" (a mixture of various chemical solids and gasses including carbon and nitrous oxide) and other airborne substances such as dust in the air and/or when
●     Fumes emitted by diesel-powered equipment are over the prescribed limits
 
To protect workers, the new amendments require employers to:
 
●     Perform routine testing to determine the carbon monoxide content of exhaust from diesel-powered equipment under consistent conditions
●     Develop and implement testing measures and procedures for diesel-powered equipment, in consultation with the mine's Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) or health and safety representative
●     Provide test results, as required, to the JHSC or health and safety representative
●     Investigate overexposure by workers to diesel emissions and take remedial action, if possible, to prevent future incidents
 
The mining regulations are part of Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA).
 
 
Inspectors Focus in on Diesel Equipment
 
Inspectors will target underground mines that use diesel equipment, including:
 
●     Mines with large fleets of diesel equipment operating in the underground environment
●     Recently reopened or new mines operating diesel equipment
●     Mines where previous ventilation concerns were observed, and
●     Mines with a poor health and safety compliance history
 
Inspectors will check on two types of equipment:
 
●     Diesel equipment used for underground transportation of workers and materials and blasting of rock and
●     Ventilation systems used to deliver fresh air to underground mines
 
Lastly, mining inspectors will zero in on the top priorities:
 
Committee Consultation: Inspectors will check that employers have developed and implemented testing measures and procedures for each piece of diesel equipment, in consultation with the JHSC or health and safety representative.
 
Diesel Equipment: Inspectors will check that equipment used for underground transportation of workers and materials is being regularly tested, as required.
 
Workplace Air Sampling: Inspectors will check that employers are regularly testing the air in underground mines to ensure exposure to toxic airborne substances do not exceed the prescribed limits.
 
 
Author Michael B. Stack, CPA, Director of Operations, Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. is an expert in employer communication systems and part of the Amaxx team helping companies reduce their workers compensation costs by 20% to 50%. He is a writer, speaker, and website publisher.  www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com.  Contact: mstack@reduceyourworkerscomp.com.
 
©2013 Amaxx Risk Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.

Filed Under: Workers Comp News Tagged With: Coal Mine Safety, Coal Mining, lower your workers comp, Mine Safety & Hazard Control, Miner Health and Safety, reduce your workers comp, Safety and Loss Control, Safety Investigation, Safety Issues, workers comp, Workers Comp Cost Containment, Workers Compensation, Workers Compensation Cost Containment

Related Articles

The National Medicare Secondary Payer Network Installs New Officers And Directors

The National Medicare Secondary Payer Network Installs New Officers And Directors

Paradigm Announces Acquisition of Welvie

Paradigm Announces Acquisition of Welvie

Paradigm Announces Clinical Solutions Leadership Promotions

Paradigm Announces Clinical Solutions Leadership Promotions

Paradigm Receives 2022 Great Place to Work Certification

Paradigm Receives 2022 Great Place to Work Certification

An Advocacy Approach in Claims Handling

An Advocacy Approach in Claims Handling

WCRI Pulls Out All the Stops for Its Annual Conference

WCRI Pulls Out All the Stops for Its Annual Conference

Paradigm Appoints Elizabeth Ulloa Lowry as Senior Vice President of Case Management

Paradigm Appoints Elizabeth Ulloa Lowry as Senior Vice President of Case Management

The Three Strategies to Stay Safe During an Active Shooter Situation

The Three Strategies to Stay Safe During an Active Shooter Situation

The COVID-19 Impact: Exploring the Long-Term Effects and Management of COVID-19 Cases

The COVID-19 Impact: Exploring the Long-Term Effects and Management of COVID-19 Cases

Paradigm Appoints Don Munkwitz as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Execution for Catastrophic Care Management

Paradigm Appoints Don Munkwitz as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Execution for Catastrophic Care Management

For Social Insurance Programs, Let Minnesota’s Workers’ Comp Program Be Your Guide

For Social Insurance Programs, Let Minnesota’s Workers’ Comp Program Be Your Guide

Radius Bank Partners with Professional Administrator Ametros to Offer Checking and Savings Accounts

Radius Bank Partners with Professional Administrator Ametros to Offer Checking and Savings Accounts

Free Download

The 5 Cs For Taking A Bulletproof Injured Worker Recorded Statement - FREE Download Click Here Now!

Train to Succeed

BECOME CERTIFIED IN WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

Proven Course Catalog & WC Toolbox Give You The Power To Achieve Lower Costs and Better Injured Worker Outcomes

VISIT WORKERS' COMP TRAINING CENTER

Previous Post: « What to Look For in a Structured Settlement Company
Next Post: Medical and Risk Trends for 2013 »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

FREE DOWNLOAD

The 5 Cs For Taking A Bulletproof Injured Worker Recorded Statement - FREE Download Click Here Now!

Our Sponsors

ARCADIA - Enhancing Settlement Outcomes

The Structured Settlements Company
 

Catastrophic and Risk Solutions, Case Management Solutions, and Specialty Networks
 

MSAs, Section 111 Audits, & Conditional Payment Resolutions
 

Post-Settlement Administration
 

Medcor

Injury Triage, Onsite Clinics

Read Our Award-Winning Blog

Blog Categories

Search Our Archive

Subscribe to Our FREE Newsletter

Return-to-Work Essentials

Footer

Search Our Archive

Search our continually growing archive of over 2500 articles about Workers' Comp issues.

Quiclinks

  • Calculators
  • Terms & Abbreviations
  • Glossary of WC Premium Terms
  • WC Resources
  • Best Practices
  • Industries
  • Return-to-Work Essentials

RSS Recent Blog Posts

  • WC Cost Containment For The Claims Management Team
  • Dealing with Long COVID in Work Comp
  • Common Mistakes: Medical Care and Accepting Every Claim – Article 3 of 3
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEE NEWSLETTER
Let Us Help You Stomp Down the High Cost of Workers' Comp!
Top of Page ↑
  • Home
  • Training Center
  • Search
  • Membership
  • Products
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Login
Copyright © 2023 Amaxx, LLC. All Rights Reserved. · Privacy Policy / Legal Notice