The Mine Safety and Health Administration issued a “close call accident alert” after a structural failure at a sand and gravel mine.

MSHA said that a scrubber tower located at the mine structurally failed moments after a miner traveled through the area. The agency said that four main support columns failed, causing the scrubber tower to be unstable. Fortunately, no one was injured.

To avoid such a situation, MSHA’s best practices for mine operations include:

• Periodically conduct structural inspections;
• Routinely examine metal structures for indications of weakened structural soundness, including corrosion, fatigue cracks, bent/buckling beams, braces or columns, loose/missing connectors, broken welds, and so on;
• Ensure supports are rated for the loads to which they may be subjected;
• Report all areas where indicators of structural weakness are found; and
• Maintain good housekeeping around the base of structures, columns and flanges, as well as awnings and horizontal surfaces.