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Mine
Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act:
On June 15, 2006, the President signed the MINER Act into law. To date, the Mine Safety and Health
Administration’s (MSHA) actions to implement the Act include: ·
Belt Air,
Improved Belt Material, and Fire Protection Rule: On June 19, 2008, MSHA published a proposed
rule to enhance miner safety and implement the recommendations of the Technical
Study Panel on the Utilization of Belt Air and the Composition and Fire
Retardant Properties of Belt Material in Underground Coal Mining. The panel, composed of government officials,
academics and consultants, was established in accordance with Section 11 of the
MINER Act, conducted an independent scientific engineering review, and issued a
December 2007 report. This proposal will significantly reduce the hazard
of conveyor belt fires in underground coal mines and requires operators to
instill flame-resistant conveyor belts, implement a number of other fire
prevention and detection improvements, and obtain MSHA approval for the use of
air from the belt entry to ventilate working mine sections. The rule also requires standardized tactile
signals on mine lifelines so that miners can more effectively evacuate the mine
in an emergency and locate important safety equipment and landmarks in the mine
when visibility is poor. MSHA conducted four public hearings on
the proposed rule, which MSHA expects to finalize by the end of the year. ·
Refuge Alternatives
Rule: On June 16, 2008, MSHA published a proposed rule on
refuge alternatives in underground coal mines to enhance miner safety and implement
Section 13 of the MINER Act. The
proposal requires a protected, secure space with an isolated atmosphere that
creates a life-sustaining environment for trapped miners in the event escape
from the mine is not initially possible during an emergency. The proposal is based on MSHA’s experience,
research on current and developing technology, current state regulations and
recommendations from a National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) January 2008 report. The proposal allows three types of refuge
alternatives and requires training so that miners can locate, transport,
activate, use and maintain refuge alternatives.
Refuge alternatives and their components, such as breathable air and
harmful gas removal, would need to sustain persons for 96 hours, or 48 hours if
advance arrangements are made for additional supplies from the surface of the mine. Food, water, lighting, first-aid supplies and
sanitation provisions would be required, as well as a two-way communication
system. Four public hearings were conducted on the proposed
rule, which MSHA expects to finalize by the end of
the year. ·
A Final Rule on
Mine Seals: On April 18, 2008, MSHA
published a final rule replacing the May 22, 2007 Emergency Temporary Standard
(ETS) that increased protections for miners who work in underground coal mines
with sealed off abandoned areas.
Although Section 10 of the MINER Act gave MSHA until December 2007 to
issue a new standard on mine seals,
MSHA concluded that an emergency standards was necessary in May 2007 to protect
miners, based on MSHA’s accident investigations of the Sago and Darby mine
explosions, in-mine seal evaluations, and reports on explosion testing and
modeling. The final rule and ETS went beyond
the MINER Act – which requires that the standard on mine seals be greater than
the 20 pounds per square inch (psi) established in 1992 – to include
requirements to strengthen the design, construction, maintenance and repair of
seals, as well as requirements for sampling and controlling atmospheres behind
seals. The final rule requires the following improvements
for mine safety: o
Air
sampling behind seals that are less than 120 psi and withdrawal of miners when
an atmosphere behind the seal is explosive. o
Removal
of potential ignition sources from sealed areas. If insulated cables cannot be removed safely,
seal must be constructed to at least 120 psi. o
A
three-tiered approach as in the ETS, which requires additional seal strength
where sealed atmospheres are more dangerous. o
A
certified supervisor for construction and repair of seals with senior
management of the mine operator required to certify seal compliance with the
MSHA-approved ventilation plan. o
Increased
training for those involved in seal sampling, construction and repair. o
Requirements
for certification of seal designs. o
Enhanced
recordkeeping to ensure compliance. Seal manufacturers and mine operators have six
months to submit revised seal applications and ventilation plans, respectively,
to comply with the final rule. The seal manufacturers and mine operators must
act quickly because the final rule replaces the seals ETS and takes effect immediately. ·
A Final Rule on
Mine Rescue Teams: On February 8, 2008, to
implement Section 4 of the MINER Act, MSHA published a final rule that
increases training standards, as well as improves overall mine rescue capability, mine
emergency response time and mine rescue team effectiveness. The final rule includes the following safety
and health improvements: o
Requires
a person knowledgeable in mine emergency response be present at each mine on
each shift and receive annual emergency response training using an
MSHA-prescribed course. o
Requires
two certified mine rescue teams for each mine and includes criteria for
certifying the qualifications of a mine rescue team. o
Requires
mine rescue team members be available at the mine within one hour from the mine
rescue station. o
Requires
team members to participate in training at each mine serviced by the team (a
portion of which must be conducted underground), and be familiar with the
operations and ventilation of the mine. o
Requires
team members to participate annually in two local mine rescue contests. o
Provides
for four types of mine rescue teams: mine-site, composite, contract and
state-sponsored. o
Requires
annual training in smoke, simulated smoke or an equivalent environment. o
Increases
required training from 40 to 96 hours annually. ·
A Final Rule on
Civil Penalties: After passage
of the MINER Act, MSHA immediately implemented increased penalties for late
accident notification and “unwarrantable failure” violations. On Oct. 26, 2006, MSHA issued a Procedure
Instruction Letter (PIL) to implement the “flagrant” violation provision of the
MINER Act. On March 22, 2007, MSHA
published a final rule to increase civil penalty amounts for all mine safety
and health violations. Issuance of this
rule goes beyond the requirements of the MINER Act and demonstrates MSHA’s
commitment to protect the safety and health of our nation’s miners. MSHA has already assessed 69 flagrant violations, 13
of which were assessed fines at the $220,000 maximum. These are the largest proposed penalties in
the agency’s history. As prescribed by the Act, the final rule: o
Establishes a maximum
penalty of $220,000 for “flagrant” violations, as proposed in the President’s
previous budgets. o
Sets minimum penalty amounts of $2,000 and $4,000 for “unwarrantable
failure citations and orders.” o
Effective March 10, 2008, imposes a minimum penalty of $7,500 (up
to a maximum of $70,000) for failure to timely notify MSHA of a death or an
injury or entrapment with a reasonable potential to cause death. Other major provisions of the final rule applicable to all mine
operators and contractors: o
Significantly increases civil penalties overall – targeting the
most serious safety and health violations with escalating penalties. o
Adds a new provision to increase penalties – notwithstanding the
severity – for operators who repeatedly violate MSHA standards. o
Replaces the $60 single penalty with higher formula assessments
for non-significant and substantial (non-S&S) violations. These
actions have resulted in a doubling in civil penalties issued from $35 million in
CY 2006, to $75 million in CY 2007. ·
Approval of Emergency
Response Plans (ERPs): Emergency Response Plans have been approved
and are being implemented for all underground coal mines as specified in the
Act except where manufacturers are unable to supply material. Plans must address post-accident
communications (i.e., “redundant communications” until 2009, at which time a two-way,
“wireless system” or close alternative is required), tracking, and increased
air supplies for trapped miners. As of October
10, 2008, there are 575 fully approved ERPs and three ERPs submitted awaiting
review. ·
Mandated Post-Accident
Breathable Air: On February 8, 2007, MSHA issued a
Program Information Bulletin (PIB) providing mine operators guidance concerning
acceptable ways to fulfill the breathable air requirements in the MINER
Act. Options for providing acceptable
quantities of breathable air for trapped miners are: 1) Drilling
boreholes within 2,000 feet of the working sections of mines; 2) Having 48 hours
of breathable air located within 2,000 feet of working sections coupled with
contingency plans for drilling boreholes if miners are not rescued within 48
hours; 3) Having 96 hours
of breathable air within 2,000 feet of working sections; or 4) Other options
that provide equivalent protection. ·
Family Liaisons: On November 1, 2006, the Secretary of Labor signed
an Order establishing the Family Liaison and Primary Communicator
positions. To date, MSHA has trained 46 family
liaisons. The National Transportation Safety Board and
the American Red Cross have helped train these individuals. ·
Underground to Surface Communications
Systems in Coal Mines: As of October 1,
2008, MSHA has observed testing or demonstration of 50 communications and/or
tracking systems at various mine sites. We
have met with representatives from 64 communications and tracking system
companies. To date, we have had discussions with various vendors regarding 176 different
proposals for development of mine communications and tracking systems. MSHA is
currently focusing its resources on the evaluation of approval applications for
communications and tracking technology. Since the beginning of 2006, we have
issued 61 new or revised approvals for communications and tracking products,
including the first approval for a wireless tracking system in January. We are
currently investigating 36 approval applications for communications and
tracking technology. We continue to work with the Communications Partnership
Working Group sponsored by the NMA/BCOA to arrange for
demonstrations of additional systems.
MSHA met with NIOSH on March 14, 2008, to discuss underground
communications and tracking technology. MSHA
and NIOSH are working jointly to develop criteria for acceptable alternative
communication systems in the event that two-way wireless communications systems
are not available by 2009 as required by the MINER Act. ·
Brookwood-Sago Grants: On July 25, 2007, MSHA published a Federal Register notice soliciting
applications for Brookwood-Sago grants. In
October 2007, MSHA awarded approximately half a million dollars in grants to seven
organizations to develop new training modules and best practices materials to improve
miner training. MSHA published the solicitation
for 2008 grant applications in July and awarded half a million dollars to seven
organizations earlier this month. Other Improvement to Mine Safety and Health:
In addition to the
requirements of the MINER Act, MSHA has implemented a number of other important
improvements to mine safety and health over the past two years, including: ·
A Proposed Rule
on Alcohol- and Drug-Free Mines:
On September 8, 2008, MSHA published in the Federal Register a proposed rule on Alcohol- and Drug-Free
Mines: Policy, Prohibitions, Testing,
Training and Assistance. The rule would
establish a uniform drug and alcohol standard for all mines by amending the
existing standards for metal and nonmetal mines and by establishing requirements
for coal mines. MSHA will accept
comments on the proposal until October 29, 2008. This proposal would significantly
enhance miner safety by reducing the hazards posed by miners who use alcohol or
drugs and perform safety-sensitive job functions. The proposed rule would prohibit miners from
possessing or using alcohol and drugs while on mine property and from being
under the influence of alcohol or other prohibited substances when performing
safety-sensitive job functions.
Additionally, the proposed rule would require all mine operators to
establish alcohol- and drug-free workplace programs that include: o
Written policy guidance that is provided to all covered miners. o
Mandatory substance abuse education and awareness training for all
covered miners. o
Mandatory substance abuse education and awareness training for
mine personnel who supervise miners performing safety-sensitive job functions. o
An alcohol and drug testing program that includes testing under
the following circumstances:
pre-employment; prior to the initiation of safety-sensitive job
functions (by existing miners); at random, unannounced times; when reasonable
suspicion of alcohol and/or drug use exists; and post-accident. o
Assistance programs for miners with alcohol and/or drug abuse
problems. o
Procedures for conducting return-to-duty and follow-up alcohol and
drug testing on miners who have violated the policy. ·
A Final Rule on Mine Rescue
Team Equipment: MSHA’s
final rule on mine rescue team equipment was published in the Federal Register
on September 15, 2008. Having proper equipment available at mine rescue
stations is an essential element of ensuring effective mine rescue
capabilities. The final rule updates MSHA’s existing standards for equipment
required for mine rescue teams serving underground coal and metal and nonmetal
mines to increase safety and improve the overall effectiveness of mine rescue teams. MSHA published the proposed rule for Mine Rescue
Team Equipment on September 6, 2007. The Agency held four public hearings. In response to a request, MSHA extended the original comment period on the
proposed rule from November 9 to November 16, 2007.
The requirements of the Mine Rescue Team Equipment
Rule include: 1)
Four-hour
(rather than two-hour) self-contained breathing apparatuses (SCBAs); 2)
Two
(rather than one) extra oxygen bottles per six SCBAs; 3)
Eight
hours (rather than six hours) of liquid air, liquid oxygen, pressurized oxygen,
or oxygen generating chemicals and carbon dioxide absorbent chemicals to
maintain SCBAs for a longer period of time; and 4)
Four
(rather than two) gas detectors appropriate for each gas that may be
encountered. 5)
Detectors
for methane must be capable of measuring concentrations from 0.0% to 100% of
volume; 6)
Detectors
for oxygen must be capable of measuring from 0.0% to at least 20% of volume;
and 7)
Detectors
for carbon monoxide must be capable of measuring from 0.0 ppm to at least 9,999
ppm. The final rule also removes obsolete requirements
for flame safety lamps and oxygen indicators. ·
A
Final Rule on Fire Extinguishers for Underground Coal Mines:
MSHA’s final rule on fire extinguishers for underground coal mines was
published in the Federal Register on
September 15, 2008. The final rule updates MSHA’s existing standard to increase
safety and improve the effectiveness of firefighting equipment on working
sections at most underground anthracite mines and at temporary electrical
installations in all underground coal mines. MSHA’s existing standard for the quantity and
location of firefighting equipment in underground coal mines did not
accommodate the typical conditions in working sections of underground
anthracite coal mines, and caused unnecessary compliance difficulties for some
mines with temporary electrical installations underground. MSHA routinely
granted petitions for modification of these provisions. The final rule incorporates
the alternative compliance methods in granted petitions, which provide at least
the same level of protection for miners as the existing standard. MSHA
published the proposed rule for Fire Extinguishers in Underground Coal Mines on
December 20, 2007. The Agency received no comments. The final rule is the same
as the proposal. Requirements
of the Final Rule: 1) Allows the use of
portable fire extinguishers in working sections of underground anthracite coal mines that have no electrical
equipment at the face and produce less than 300 tons of coal per shift, in lieu
of existing requirements for rock dust and other firefighting equipment; and 2) Requires
an additional fire extinguisher in lieu of rock dust at temporary electrical installations in all underground
coal mines. MSHA has found that rock dust can be rendered ineffective by dampness.
A portable fire extinguisher is more effective and reliable, readily
available, and easy to transport. ·
Diesel Particulate Matter
(DPM) Notice: On May 20, 2008, MSHA published a notice
of enforcement of the DPM final limit of 160 micrograms of total carbon (TC)
per cubic meter of air (160TC μg/m3) and withdrawal of intent to issue a
proposed rule converting the total carbon exposure limit to an equivalent for
elemental carbon. MSHA’s decision ensures that miners at underground metal/nonmetal mines have
improved protection against exposure to diesel particulate matter. MSHA made this decision because it had
insufficient scientific evidence to support an appropriate conversion factor
from total carbon to elemental carbon.
To ensure the exposure limit is fairly enforced, MSHA has developed a
practical sampling strategy, which is based on the best available scientific evidence
and is mine-specific, to account for sampling interferences from non-diesel
exhaust sources. ·
A Final Rule on Asbestos
Exposure: On February 29, 2008, MSHA
published a final rule in the federal register that revised MSHA's existing
health standards for asbestos exposure at metal and nonmetal mines, surface
coal mines and surface areas of underground coal mines. This final rule will help improve health
protection for miners who work in an environment where asbestos is present and
will help lower the risk of material impairment of health or functional
capacity over a miner's working lifetime.
The Asbestos Exposure Limit final rule: o
Retains
MSHA's existing definition of asbestos, which is the same as that of the Labor
Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). o
Lowers
MSHA's Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for asbestos 95 percent, from two
fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc) to 0.1 f/cc, which is the same as OSHA's;
and lowers the excursion limit for brief exposures to higher levels from 10
f/cc (for 15 minutes) to one f/cc (for 30 minutes), which is the same as
OSHA's. These lower PELs will
significantly reduce the risk to miners. o
Retains
MSHA's existing method for analyzing asbestos samples (phase-contrast
microscopy or PCM) and the existing counting criteria (particles 5 micrometers
or longer with a length to diameter ratio of at least 3 to 1), which are the
same as OSHA's. By policy, MSHA will
continue to use transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to confirm samples that exceed
the PEL (0.1 f/cc). ·
Office of Accountability: On June 28, 2007, MSHA announced the creation
of the Office of Accountability. Charles
J. Thomas was appointed Director of the office on November 13, 2007. The purpose of this office is to increase focused
oversight and examination of existing enforcement programs within the agency. This new division conducts oversight reviews,
including in-mine inspections, to ensure that management controls are in place
and fully implemented to maintain consistent and effective enforcement policies
and procedures, and to ensure the implementation of actions recommended as a
result of MSHA audits and internal reviews.
The director of this office reports directly to the Office of the
Assistant Secretary. The Office of
Accountability conducted its first audit in January 2008, and has conducted 22 audits
to date. ·
Final Rule on Mine Evacuation: On December 8, 2006, MSHA issued a
final rule to strengthen mine evacuation practices in five key areas. The rule was based on an Emergency Temporary
Standard (ETS) issued on March 9, 2006. o
Self-Contained
Self Rescue (SCSR) Devices:
The rule requires coal mine operators to provide additional SCSRs
for each miner underground in areas such as working places, on mantrips, in escapeways,
and where outby crews work or travel.
The rule also requires that they be readily accessible in the event of
an emergency. o
Multi-Gas Detectors: The rule
goes beyond the requirements of the MINER Act by requiring coal mine operators
to provide multi-gas detectors to miners working alone and to each group of
miners. o
Lifelines: The rule requires coal mine operators
to install directional lifelines in all primary and alternate escape routes out
of the mine. Lifelines help guide miners
in poor visibility conditions toward evacuation routes and SCSR storage
locations. In accordance with the MINER
Act, lifelines must be fire-resistant by June 15, 2009. o
Training: The rule requires coal mine operators to
conduct quarterly training for miners in how to don SCSRs and especially how to
transfer from one SCSR to another at a cache location. SCSR training units for annual expectations
training have now been developed. On
March 30, 2007, MSHA published a notice in the Federal Register notifying mine operators that the units were
available. Mine operators must have had
a purchase order for these training units by April 30, 2007, and must conduct
training with them within 60 days of receipt of the units. o
Accident
Notification: The rule requires all mine
operators to “immediately contact” MSHA after an accident (within 15 minutes of
its occurrence). ·
100% Inspection
Plan: To make sure MSHA has an
increased presence at mining operations, last October Assistant Secretary
Richard Stickler announced the implementation of MSHA’s new 100% Inspection
Plan. If successful, this Plan will mark
the first time in the 31-year history of the Agency that MSHA has completed
100% of mandated regular safety and health inspections. The Plan calls for the temporary reassignment
of MSHA inspectors to areas where they are most needed and provides for
increased overtime hours needed to complete inspections until all new inspector
trainees are fully qualified. MSHA has
developed a monthly Key Indicator report to track progress in each field office
and district toward reaching the 100% completion rate. Since the announcement of the Plan, MSHA has
completed all of the mandated regular inspections required for the first three
quarters of FY 2008 and is firmly on target to meet requirements moving
forward. ·
New Mine
Inspectors: MSHA has been aggressively
hiring coal enforcement personnel. Since
July 2006, MSHA has hired 360 new coal enforcement personnel. It takes approximately 18 months for an
inspector-in-training to become an Authorized Representative (AR) of the
Secretary who is qualified to conduct inspections and issue citations and/or
orders. Once fully
certified, these new enforcement personnel will provide MSHA with more coal
enforcement personnel than at any point since 1994. In addition, the Metal/Nonmetal Safety
and Health (M/NM) program has begun a similar hiring initiative that, once
complete, will place M/NM’s enforcement ranks at their highest level in more
than 20 years. ·
Prosecution of
Bad Actors: Since February 2006, MSHA
has filed four unprecedented lawsuits seeking injunctions against mine
operators who have chronically failed to pay assessed civil money penalties for
violations of the Mine Act. They have all settled favorably, and the mine
operators and their agents are under injunction from further failures to pay
civil penalties. Additionally in 2007, MSHA
filed two cases in the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals against two mine
operators to enforce payment of overdue civil penalties. On January 22, 2008, Monroe Maynard, a former mine
foreman at James H. Taylor Mining Co.’s No. 1 Mine in Pike County was sentenced
in Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky (sitting at
London), having previously plead guilty to one misdemeanor count of knowingly
failing to clean up coal dust accumulations.
Maynard was sentenced to three months in prison followed by one year
supervised release and a $25 fine. As a
special condition, the Court ordered that Maynard not be affiliated with the
mining industry in any capacity during his probation. ·
Special Emphasis Programs –
Retreat Mining:
Beginning in February 2007, MSHA
initiated special emphasis inspection programs in Southern West Virginia and ·
Special Health Emphasis
Program – Respirable Dust: In February 2007, MSHA
conducted a nationwide targeted Special Health Emphasis enforcement program to
ensure operator compliance with the applicable respirable dust standard. ·
Pattern of Violations: MSHA has developed a database and computerized
screening system to identify mines that may have a pattern of violations. In June 2007, MSHA issued potential “pattern
of violations” notices to eight mine operators. Six of the eight mine operations significantly
improved their safety records, reducing their significant and substantial
(S&S) violation rates by an average of over 50 percent. One of the other mines that received a
warning has been inactive since July 2007 and the other mine underwent a change
in ownership. MSHA monitored the
progress of the mine that changed ownership and that operation subsequently reduced
S&S violation rates by over 30 percent. In December of last year, MSHA notified 20 additional
mine operators that they met the criteria for potential pattern of violations.
These mine operators all instituted corrective action plans and MSHA closely
monitored their progress in reducing serious violations. The results were dramatic; with 20 mines
reducing S&S violation rates an average of 65%. Although MSHA regulations require an annual
screening of mines to identify those exhibiting a potential pattern of
violations, the agency has performed its third screening since last June. The third screening identified 13 coal mines and
2 metal/nonmetal mines with notifications delivered
to the mine operators in June 2008. ·
“Great Escape” Prototype: A prototype system
developed for miners faced with an underground mine emergency, was unveiled
November 8, 2007, at MSHA’s Approval and ·
Revised Handbooks: MSHA has updated and revised its handbooks to
provide clarity and ensure consistency. Handbooks set forth proper procedures,
establish guidelines and provide instructions for conducting required MSHA
duties. o
Alternative Case Resolution (ACR) Handbook: Revised to reflect current
practices and provide Conference Litigation Representatives (CLR) and
inspectors better guidance and more transparency and accountability in
resolving cases. o
General Coal Mine Inspection Procedures Handbook and Inspection
Tracking System: Revised to provide greater clarity, consistency and
efficiency in inspection procedures.
Included checklists and tracking system to monitor and document
completion of inspections and to require inspection notes indicating that the
inspector observed or determined that gas calibrations are being performed on
schedule. o
Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Atmospheric Monitoring Systems (AMS)
Inspection Procedures Handbook: Consolidated
and updated evacuation, SCSR donning and use, fire and escapeway drills and AMS
systems into one instruction manual. Revisions provide increased clarity and
consistency for inspections in underground coal mines. o
Coal’s Safety and Health Supervisors
Handbook: Revised to improve
supervisory oversight of inspections, investigations conducted by enforcement
personnel and to ensure work products and field activities are complete and
thorough and in compliance with agency policies and procedures. o
Citation and Order Writing Handbook: Updated citation and
order writing procedures for agency inspectors and provided more guidance on
evaluating gravity, negligence and number of persons affected. Incorporated statutory requirements of the
Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act) and other
regulatory revisions, including changes to the civil penalty structure. o
Headquarter Mine Emergency Response Guidelines Handbook: Revised to streamline and update
organizational structure of the agency.
New requirements of the MINER Act such as family liaison and primary
communicator responsibilities are included.
Revisions also include a review committee for evaluating MSHA’s response
to each mine emergency that involves rescue and recovery. o
Coal and Metal /Nonmetal’s Accountability Procedures Handbook: Revisions
include using a risk-based process to prioritize the review of inspection and
enforcement activities. Also included is
the requirement of addressing root causes of deficiencies that will lead to the
prevention of recurrences, as well as rigorous follow-up and monitoring to
prevent duplication of past problems. o
Hazard Conditions Complaint Handbook: The handbook provides
guidance to MSHA compliance personnel in responding to and processing hazard
complaints. It is intended to assist in achieving consistency in those
activities. The handbook establishes
guidelines for receiving, evaluating, responding to, and processing safety and
health complaints received from miners, representatives of miners, and
others. It also establishes procedures to process appeals by miners or
their representatives when they disagree with a decision by an Authorized
Representative (AR) to not issue a citation or order as a result of a written
Section 103(g) complaint. ·
Inspection Tracking System: MSHA also developed an Inspection Tracking
System (ITS) to supplement the recently revised inspection handbook. The ITS is fully integrated with the handbook
and provides a uniform way for inspectors to document each item they inspect
and to enhance MSHA’s ability to evaluate inspection progress and compliance
with procedures. This tracking system also
enables other inspection personnel to access the inspection results in a timely
manner and safeguards inspection information. |
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