The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) completed impact inspections at 16 mines in 10 states in July 2024, issuing 239 violations and one safeguard. The agency began conducting impact inspections after an April 2010 explosion in West Virginia at the Upper Big Branch Mine killed 29 miners. MSHA’s impact inspections since 2023 have identified 4,314…
Read MoreTag: Mine Safety and Health Administration
A new Guardian for miner safety
By Jeanne Grunert Mines pose unique safety challenges. Dark and damp conditions, low ceilings, poor visibility, and a noisy environment make it imperative that mine owners do everything they can to prevent accidents and fatalities. In the demanding conditions of an underground mine, even the most cautious and vigilant miner can meet with an accident. According to the Mine Safety…
Read MoreMSHA impact inspections in June target 15 mines
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) completed impact inspections at 15 mines in 12 states in June 2024 and cited mine operators for 195 violations. The agency conducts impact inspections at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to poor compliance history; previous accidents, injuries, and illnesses; and other compliance…
Read MoreMSHA issues final silica rule
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has issued a final rule to better protect the nation’s miners from health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica. It lowers the permissible exposure limit to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air for a full-shift exposure, calculated as an eight-hour, time-weighted average. If a miner’s exposure exceeds the limit, the…
Read MoreMoving tons through the Iron Ore Range
A look at the design and maintenance of mechanical conveyors for this vital American mining region. By Dan Baxter Several factors play into the safety, reliability, and maintenance requirements of mechanical conveying systems. And while all mining and mineral processing operations are more demanding of their mechanical conveying equipment, handling iron ore and taconite in the Iron Range requires special…
Read MoreMSHA issues multiple violations in January
The Mine Safety and Health Administration completed impact inspections at 15 mines in 10 states in January, issuing 188 violations. Since 2023, the agency has identified 2,927 violations, including 827 significant and substantial and 57 unwarrantable failure findings during its impact inspections. Of the violations MSHA identified in January, 63 were evaluated as S&S and one had unwarrantable failure findings.…
Read MoreUnited Coal bolsters mine rescue training at Virginia Tech
United Coal Company (UCC) has donated Biomarine mine rescue equipment to Virginia Tech’s Mine Engineering Department to help facilitate students’ development into proficient mining engineers. “The impact of this donation on the Virginia Tech Mine Engineering Department is expected to be profound, enhancing their ability to train and prepare for mine rescue operations,” said UCC officials. “The equipment enables more…
Read MoreMSHA’s November impact inspections: 184 violations at 14 mines
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration completed impact inspections at 14 mines in 10 states in November 2023, issuing 184 violations and one safeguard. The agency began impact inspections after an April 2010 explosion in West Virginia at the Upper Big Branch Mine killed 29 miners. To date, MSHA’s impact inspections in 2023 have identified 2,491…
Read MoreFirst silica hearing held
Louisville Public Media reported in August details of the first Mine Safety and Health Administration hearing to gather comments on the recently proposed silica standards. The regulation would affect every mine, cement plant, and rock quarry in the country regardless of the material produced there. It would add protections for non-coal workers like requiring companies to offer free medical exams…
Read MoreMSHA impact inspections target 16 mines, yield 279 violations in May
MSHA completed impact inspections at 16 mines in May, issuing 279 violations and one safeguard. MSHA conducts impact inspections at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to poor compliance history; previous accidents, injuries and illnesses; and other compliance concerns. Among the violations, MSHA cited 83 significant and substantial violations. MSHA conducted inspections at mines in Colorado, Indiana,…
Read More