MSHA Identified Over 120 Violations in September Mine Inspections

MSHA Identified Over 120 Violations in September Mine Inspections

The agency has issued nearly 2,100 violations so far in 2023.

  • By Robert Yaniz Jr.
  • Nov 01, 2023

The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) recently conducted impact inspections across nine mines in seven states in September 2023. The result was the issuance of 123 violations, including 17 deemed significant and substantial (S&S).

According to a release dated Oct. 30, MSHA completed impact inspections in Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia. Monthly impact inspections began after the 2010 explosion at Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia, resulting in 29 deaths. Mines are chosen due to poor compliance history, past accidents or injuries and other concerns.

“The September impact inspections underscore that mine operators need to remain vigilant in ensuring the health and safety of miners,” MSHA Assistant Secretary Chris Williamson said in a statement. “We remain deeply concerned that inspectors continue to find repeat violations that we’ve identified as root causes in other fatal mining accidents, including inadequate workplace examinations and lack of training.”

So far in 2023, MSHA's impact inspections have uncovered 2,092 violations. Of these, 604 were categorized as S&S, and 40 were deemed as unwarrantable failure findings. An S&S violation is described as one that has a reasonable likelihood of causing a severe injury or illness, while unwarrantable failures indicate more than ordinary negligence on the part of mine operators.

About the Author

Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.

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