The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) said it issued more than 120 safety and health violations at nine mines in seven states as part of its September impact inspection initiative.
Of the total 123 violations identified by MSHA in September, 17 were evaluated as significant and substantial (S&S). The agency completed inspections at mines in Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and West Virginia.
To date, MSHA’s impact inspections in 2023 have identified 2,092 violations, including 604 S&S and 40 unwarrantable failure findings.
“The September impact inspections underscore that mine operators need to remain vigilant in ensuring the health and safety of miners,” said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson.
“We remain deeply concerned that inspectors continue to find repeat violations that we’ve identified as root causes in other fatal mining accidents, including inadequate workplace examinations and lack of training. Given the troubling increase in fatalities this year, MSHA again calls on everyone in the mining community to pay close attention to hazards and conditions that put miners’ health and safety at risk.”
MSHA’s impact inspections began after a 2010 explosion killed 29 miners in West Virginia at the Upper Big Branch underground coal mine.
Source: msha.gov