MSHA News Release: [02/26/2008]
Contact: Amy Louviere Matthew Faraci
Phone: (202) 693-9423 (202) 693-9406
Release Number 08-257-NAT
MSHA launches online violation tracking tool for operators
VPID tool allows operators to gauge safety performance at mines, initiate improvements
ARLINGTON, Va. - The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) today 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. The addition to MSHA's Data Retrieval System 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."
MSHA's Data Retrieval System currently provides 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. 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.
More specific information on the data provided by this new Web feature is located at www.msha.gov/drs/drshome.htm
