MSHA inspections in July

The MSHA has announced that federal inspectors issued 161 citations during special impact inspections that were conducted at 11 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines during July. Inspections took place at mines in Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

The MSHA began its monthly impact inspections in force in April 2010 at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns. MSHA recently added enhanced enforcement criteria to its impact inspection initiative, including ‘Rules to Live By’ standards – which are commonly cited following mining deaths – and nine underground coal mine exam rule standards.

“MSHA has developed web tools for mine operators to better monitor these types of violations in order to improve compliance,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “Our inspectors are paying close attention to mines with high violations of these standards as well.”

Adapted from press release by Rebecca Bowden

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/01092016/msha-inspections-in-july-173/