MSHA Releases January Inspection Results
The agency releases the results of January inspections, which resulted in 198 citations
According to a recent press release from MSHA, the agency has released the results of its January impact inspections. After completing inspections at 11 coal mines and three metal/nonmetal mines, the agency has issued 198 citations and 11 orders.
Due to the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion in April 2010, MSHA began conducting monthly inspections for mines that have a poor compliance history. In the press release, MSHA provided detailed information on the January inspections of two mines.
MSHA conducted an inspection at Baylor Mining Inc.’s Beckley Crystal Mine in Raleigh County West Virginia on January 2, where they issued twelve enforcement actions. The inspection included one “unwarrantable, failure citation, four unwarrantable failure orders and one 104(b) order for failure to abate a hazardous condition in a timely manner.” While inspecting the belt conveyor, MSHA found the mine failed to lock and tag the belt drive at the power source to guard against motion. The mine also received an order for accumulations of coal float dust, coal fines and loose coal along the belt, in the crosscuts and behind the take-up. The operator also failed to follow the approved ventilation plan requiring the maintenance of the maximum curtain setback of 20 feet.
In addition, MSHA completed an inspection at Norlite LLC’s Cohoes Mine and Mill in Albany County, NY on January 13. MSHA issued 41 citations and orders to the surface shale operation and seven citations to independent contractors. During the inspection, a miner was observed under a suspended load of materials, miners were exposed to inadvertent contact with a rotating conveyor tail pulley and a cover on the energized 480-volt wire tray was not secured in place. MSHA also observed a miner moving an air compressor with a forklift without securing it with safety chains.
For more information, visit MSHA.gov.