Mineral Processing Plant Safety Inspection Checklist

This comprehensive mineral processing plant safety inspection checklist ensures regulatory compliance with MSHA, EPA, OSHA, NFPA. Comprehensive safety inspection for mineral processing facilities including crushers, mills, flotation circuits, and conveyors per MSHA 30 CFR Part 56 and Part 57 standards. Covers machine guarding, lockout/tagout, silica dust, chemical hazards, and process containment for gold, copper, and aggregate processing plants. Complete all sections to maintain compliance docu

  • Industry: Mining & Quarrying
  • Frequency: Per Shift / Daily
  • Estimated Time: 45 minutes
  • Role: Mine Safety Officer / Site Manager
  • Total Items: 22
  • Compliance: MSHA, EPA, OSHA, NFPA

Machine Guarding and Moving Parts

Inspect machine guarding per 30 CFR 56.14107.

  • Are all crusher feed openings guarded to prevent personnel contact with moving jaws or rolls?
  • Are all belt, chain, and gear drives guarded per 30 CFR 56.14107 throughout their pinch points?
  • Are conveyor nip points at head, tail, and take-up pulleys guarded to prevent contact?
  • Are emergency stop pull-cords or e-stop buttons accessible from all sides of conveyors per 30 CFR 56.14213?
  • Are all elevated walkways, platforms, and stairways equipped with standard 42-inch guardrails per 30 CFR 56.11002?
  • Is zero mechanical state verified (blocked gravity, drained hydraulics) before maintenance on process equipment?

Silica Dust Control

Verify silica controls per MSHA 30 CFR Part 56/57 Subpart D and OSHA silica standard.

  • Are water sprays operational at all crusher discharge, screen, and transfer points generating dust?
  • Are all enclosed operator cabs equipped with filtered air supply meeting respirable silica protection?
  • Are quarterly respirable dust samples collected at crusher and mill operator positions per MSHA sampling plan?
  • Are N95 or higher respirators available and used where dust controls insufficient to meet action levels?
  • Are Table 1 engineering controls from OSHA silica standard (29 CFR 1926.1153) implemented for jackhammering and drilling?

Process Chemical Safety

Inspect chemical handling for reagents (cyanide, acids, flotation chemicals) per EPA and OSHA.

  • Is secondary containment provided for all chemical storage tanks with capacity for 110% of largest tank?
  • Are SDS available for all process chemicals and are employees trained on 30 CFR 47 HazCom?
  • Are HCN gas detectors installed and alarming at 4.7 ppm action level in cyanidation areas?
  • Are SCBA units accessible within 10 seconds for emergency response to HCN or chlorine releases?
  • Are eyewash stations and emergency showers within 10 seconds travel from chemical handling areas?
  • Is chemical spill response kit stocked and personnel trained on spill containment procedures?

Tailings and Process Water Management

Verify process water management per EPA and state permit requirements.

  • Are tailings transport pumps and pipelines operating without leaks or uncontrolled spills?
  • Are process sumps at safe levels with no overflow risk to unlined areas?
  • Is all process water discharge complying with NPDES permit limits for pH, metals, and cyanide?
  • Is site water balance maintained to prevent excess seepage to groundwater?
  • Are stormwater controls (berms, channels, retention ponds) in place and functional?

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Why Use This Mineral Processing Plant Safety Inspection Checklist?

This mineral processing plant safety inspection checklist helps mining & quarrying teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for mine safety officer / site manager professionals, this checklist covers 22 critical inspection points across 4 sections. Recommended frequency: per shift / daily.

Ensures compliance with MSHA, EPA, OSHA, NFPA. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Mineral Processing Plant Safety Inspection Checklist cover?

This checklist covers 22 inspection items across 4 sections: Machine Guarding and Moving Parts, Silica Dust Control, Process Chemical Safety, Tailings and Process Water Management. It is designed for mining & quarrying operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed per shift / daily. Each completion takes approximately 45 minutes.

Who should use this Mineral Processing Plant Safety Inspection Checklist?

This checklist is designed for Mine Safety Officer / Site Manager professionals in the mining & quarrying industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

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