MSHA Issues No Pattern of Violations Notices in Annual Screening of U.S. Mines
U.S. mines have now gone three years in a row without a pattern of violations notice, and operators can use MSHA's online calculators to track their own standing, the agency said.
- By Danielle Naidu
- Oct 28, 2026
In fiscal year 2026, no mining operation in the U.S., out of 12,000 in all, met the screening criteria used for pattern of violations (POV) notices, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) said. MSHA counts the POV notice among its toughest enforcement tools.
The annual screening covered Oct. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026. Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Wayne D. Palmer said no mine has received a POV notice in any of the last three years.
Under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, the POV provision applies to mines with a repeating pattern of violations that are significant and substantial (S&S), as well as other problems complying with safety and health requirements. S&S violations are those reasonably likely to cause a serious illness or injury. When a mine already on POV receives further S&S violations, MSHA can withdraw miners from that mine's affected area.
Mine operators are responsible for tracking their own records of violations and injuries, the agency said. That tracking lets them judge whether to take steps to keep from meeting the screening criteria.
Among MSHA's online compliance tools for operators is a POV calculator. It lets them check performance against the screening criteria and alerts them when corrective steps are needed. A second tool, the S&S calculator, gives operators a way to keep watch over their S&S violations.
About the Author
Danielle Naidu is assistant editor for Occupational Health & Safety and Environmental Protection Online.