Violations of Mandatory Health or Safety Standards
Final Rule
- Publication Date: 4/6/2012 - See Final Rule
SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is revising its requirements for preshift, supplemental, on-shift, and weekly examinations of underground coal mines to require operators to identify violations of health or safety standards related to ventilation, methane, roof control, combustible materials, rock dust, other safeguards, and guarding, as listed in the final rule. Violations of these standards create unsafe conditions for underground coal miners. The final rule also requires that the mine operator record and correct violations of the nine safety and health standards found during these examinations. It also requires that the operator review with mine examiners on a quarterly basis all citations and orders issued in areas where preshift, supplemental, on-shift, and weekly examinations are required. The final rule will increase the identification and correction of unsafe conditions in mines earlier, and improve protection for miners in underground coal mines.
DATES: Effective date: August 6, 2012.
Proposed rule; notice of public hearing; notice of extension of comment period.
- Publication Date: 06/20/2011 - See Proposed Rule
SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will hold additional public hearings on the Agency's proposed rules for Examinations of Work Areas in Underground Coal Mines (Examinations of Work Areas) and for Pattern of Violations.
Proposed rule; notice of public hearings; notice of re-opening and close of comment period.
- Publication Date: 05/04/2011 - See Proposed Rule
SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will hold four public hearings on the Agency's proposed rules for Examinations of Work Areas in Underground Coal Mines (Examinations of Work Areas) and for Pattern of Violations. Each hearing will cover the major issues raised by commenters in response to the respective proposed rules.
Proposed rule; extension of comment period.
- Publication Date: 03/01/2011 - See Proposed Rule
SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is extending the comment period on the proposed rule addressing Examinations of Work Areas in Underground Coal Mines for Violations of Mandatory Health or Safety Standards. It proposed revising MSHA requirements for preshift, supplemental, and on-shift, and weekly examinations of underground coal mines. This extension gives commenters an additional 30 days to comment on the proposed rule.
Proposed Rules - Publication Date: 12/27/2010 - See Proposed Rules
SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is proposing to revise its requirements for preshift, supplemental, on-shift, and weekly examinations of underground coal mines. The proposed rule would require operators to identify violations of mandatory health or safety standards. The proposal would also require that the mine operator record and correct violations and review with mine examiners (e.g. the mine foreman, assistant mine foreman, or other certified persons) on a quarterly basis all citations and orders issued in areas where preshift, supplemental, on-shift, and weekly examinations are required. The proposal would assure that underground coal mine operators find and fix violations of mandatory health or safety standards, thereby improving health and safety for miners.
Below is the list of Fatal Accident Investigation Reports, as well as the citation and order narratives for non-fatal accidents cited in the preamble to the proposed rule.
Tables of Details Preventable Non-fatals 2005 to 2009 - See Tables
Harmony Mine
UAE Coalcorp Associates
Mount Carmel, Northumberland Co., PA
June 16, 2008
Harmony Accident Report - June 16, 2008
Maverick Mining Company, LLC -- Mine #1
Pikeville, Pike County, KY
January 10, 2006
Maverick Accident Report - Jan 10, 2006
Aracoma Alma Mine #1
Aracoma Coal Company, Inc.
Stollings, Logan County, WV
January 19, 2006
Aracoma Report - Jan 19, 2006
Jacob Mining Company LLC -- No. 1 Mine
Naugatuck, Mingo County, WV
April 7, 2006
Jacob Accident Report - Apr 7, 2006
Tri Star Coal L.L.C. No. 1
Phelps, Pike County, KY
April 20, 2006
Tri Star Accident Report - Apr 20, 2006
Sycamore Mine No. 2
Wolf Run Mining Company
Jarvisville, Harrison Co., WV
May 24, 2006
Sycamore Accident Report - May 24, 2006
Jim Walter Resources, Inc. -- No. 7 Mine
Brookwood, Tuscaloosa Co., AL
October 12, 2006
JWalter Accident Report - Oct 12, 2006
Rockhouse Energy Mining Company -- Mine #1
Sidney, Pike County, KY
March 29, 2005
Rockhouse Accident Report - Mar 29, 2005
South Central Coal Company, Inc. South Central Mine
Spiro, Le Flore Co., OK
June 6, 2005
South Central Accident Report - June 10, 2005
Tracy Lynne Rosebud Mining Co.
Apollo, Armstrong County, PA
June 10, 2005
Rosebud accdnt Report - June 10, 2005
NEWCO #1 Mine Sunrise Coal Company, LLC
Jefferson County, Alabama
July 12, 2005
Sunrise Accident Report - July 12, 2005