No POV Notices in Latest Year: MSHA
"A number of mine operators have proactively implemented corrective action programs to address specific hazards at their mines to improve miner safety and health, and those efforts are paying off," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Patricia W. Silvey.
The Mine Safety and Health Administration announced Aug. 2 that, for the third consecutive year, none of the nation's more than 13,000 mining operations met the criteria for a Pattern of Violations (POV) notice from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017.
DOL noted that the POV provision in the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 is one of MSHA's toughest enforcement tools, one it reserves for mines that pose the greatest risk to the health and safety of miners -- particularly those with chronic violation records. The act authorizes MSHA to issue a POV notice to mine operators that demonstrate a disregard for the health and safety of miners through a pattern of significant and substantial violations and requires mines that receive POV notices to be issued withdrawal orders – temporarily ceasing operations until the violation is abated – for all significant and substantial ("S&S") violations.
"A number of mine operators have proactively implemented corrective action programs to address specific hazards at their mines to improve miner safety and health, and those efforts are paying off," said Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Patricia W. Silvey. "Throughout the year, MSHA works with mine operators and miners to identify and correct recurring hazards."