Analysis of disabling injuries related to roof bolting in underground bituminous coal mines-1973

Abstract

Roof bolter operators are exposed to two principal occupational hazards. One involves the risk of being injured by the roof bolting machine itself and the other involves the risk of being injured by a roof fall during the bolting operation. This report analyzes the various factors related to both the machinery and the roof fall hazards of roof bolting. For the calendar year 1973, the roof bolting machine and the roof bolter operator are involved in approximately 33 percent of all machinery-related and roof fall-related disabling injuries that occurred in underground bituminous coal mines making roof bolting the most hazardous job in underground coal mining. As in past years the accident trend continues to remain high for the activities of inserting the roof bolt and for drilling the roof. Roof bolter operators having less than 1 year's experience accounted for 31.4 percent of the disabling injuries related to roof bolting during 1973. The high injury rate for roof bolter operators appears to be closely related to a lack of proper and adequate training. Also, there is an obvious need to develop modifications or to redesign the current roof bolting machines.