MSHA Impact Inspections Uncover 215 Violations in October 2023
The agency completed impact inspections across 13 mines throughout the month.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Nov 28, 2023
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced it has conducted impact inspections at 13 mines across 10 different states in October 2023. The result was the identification of 215 violations, including 50 deemed significant and substantial (S&S) and six unwarrantable failures.
Impact inspections target mines selected based on factors such as noncompliance history, prior accidents and other safety concerns. MSHA introduced them following the April 2010 explosion Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia, which resulted in the deaths of 29 miners.
“The October 2023 impact inspections show miners’ safety and health continues to be put at risk and in ways that are completely preventable,” MSHA Assistant Secretary Chris Williamson said via statement. “We remain troubled and concerned with the continued trend in our impact inspections. This trend includes inspectors finding violations that put miners’ lives at risk, such as float coal dust, improper fall protection and a lack of adequate workplace examinations.”
Thus far in 2023, MSHA's impact inspections have resulted in the issuance of 2,307 violations, including 654 S&S and 46 unwarrantable failures. S&S violations are those that could reasonably lead to a serious injury or illness, and an unwarrantable failure indicates egregious conduct beyond ordinary negligence.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.