MSHA Activates New Online Violation Tracking Tool
The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration has recently activated a new feature on its Web site that will provide additional tools for mine safety stakeholders to assess the safety performance at specific mines around the nation. This addition to its Data Retrieval System, MSHA says, will enable users to access specific data about violations per inspection day (VPID) and repeat violations of the same standard.
"MSHA's Web site serves as a unique tool for retrieving information about a mine's safety and health performance," said Richard E. Stickler, acting assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. "This latest enhancement will enable users to access more precise data about a mine's violation history. We are hopeful that operators will use this feature to identify compliance problems and to take positive steps to address those problems. Doing so should help improve compliance with federal standards and ultimately improve mine safety and health."
Prior to new feature, MSHA's Data Retrieval System provided users with the ability to examine data on inspections, violations, accidents, inspector samples, operator samples, quartz results, and health samples at specific mines across the United States. Now, the new feature provides additional information on the frequency of violations at mines.
Under MSHA rules, the number of violations issued by an inspector per day, and the number of repeated violations of the same safety or health standard are factors in determining the fine a mine operator must pay for each violation.
For more information, visit www.msha.gov/drs/drshome.htm.