MSHA issues 147 citations in April impact inspections

MSHA says federal inspectors issued 147 citations and 15 orders in April during special impact inspections of 12 coal mines and four metal and nonmetal mines.

Mines subject to monthly inspections merit increased attention and enforcement because of poor compliance history or specific compliance concerns, according to the agency.

Alcoa World Alumina LLC’s Bayer Alumina Plant in Calhoun County, Texas, was one of the mines inspected in April. MSHA began an impact inspection on April 7 and says inspectors issued 27 citations and seven orders to the mine operator.

Among the hazardous conditions cited were the operator’s failure to provide safety chains or other suitable locking devices connecting high-pressure hose lines, which created a potential hazard for flying material; and maintain guards on various pumps, which exposed miners to potentially disabling injuries from moving machine parts.

In addition, inspectors found large pieces of metal slag dropping from an overhead structure, creating a falling material hazard. They also noted the absence of warning signs to alert miners about high-voltage areas. The mine operator also was cited for failure to conduct adequate workplace examinations, during which hazards should be identified and fixed, MSHA says.

Since the monthly inspections began in force in April 2010, after an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine, MSHA has conducted 755 impact inspections and issued 12,269 citations, 1,124 orders and 51 safeguards.