MSHA impact inspection citations increased in July

By |  August 26, 2015

The U.S Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) issued 225 citations and six orders during special impact inspections at 15 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines during the month of July.

These numbers increased from June, when the administration issued 139 citations, three orders and one safeguard. The monthly inspections are conducted at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to poor compliance history or other compliance concerns.

During July, MSHA conducted impact inspections at mines in Alabama, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

During MSHA’s inspection of Ulrich Gravel’s Ulrich Pit in Valley County, Neb., it found hazards similar to those identified after a mining fatality occurred at the operation five months beforehand. This fatality occurred when a 44-year-old miner was maneuvering a haul truck along an elevated roadway next to a dredge pond, and the vehicle drifted into the water. This operation received 13 citations for violations of various health and safety standards, as well as two orders removing miners from unprotected walkways located near open water.

“MSHA is looking hard at conditions that can lead to fatal accidents to reverse the recent increase of deaths in the metal and nonmetal mining industry,” said Joe Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “This inspection identified an apparent failure by the mine operator to take necessary actions to find and fix hazards similar to ones resulting in a miner’s death at the mine. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 holds mine operators accountable for conducting workplace examinations, and MSHA will enforce that law.”

Since MSHA began conducting special impact inspections in April 2010, it’s issued 14,786 citations, 1,256 orders and 57 safeguards.

Read MSHA’s monthly impact inspection list for July 2015 here.

Allison Kral

About the Author:

Allison Kral is the former senior digital media manager for North Coast Media (NCM). She completed her undergraduate degree at Ohio University where she received a Bachelor of Science in magazine journalism from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. She works across a number of digital platforms, which include creating e-newsletters, writing articles and posting across social media sites. She also creates content for NCM's Portable Plants magazine, GPS World magazine and Geospatial Solutions. Her understanding of the ever-changing digital media world allows her to quickly grasp what a target audience desires and create content that is appealing and relevant for any client across any platform.

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