MSHA announces results of October impact inspections

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 231 citations and seven orders during special impact inspections at 11 coal mines and five metal and nonmetal mines in October.

The top arrow indicates where the miner was standing without proper fall protection in relation to the 50-foot highwall drop. "Highwall" is a mining term used to describe an unexcavated face of exposed ore.

Begun in force in April 2010, the monthly inspections involve mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns. MSHA conducted impact inspections at mines in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Here are the details of one inspection:

MSHA conducted an impact inspection Oct. 13-15 at Marigold Mining Co.'s Marigold Mine, a gold ore operation in Humboldt County, Nevada. During the visit, enforcement personnel issued nine citations and orders to the mine operator, including two "unwarrantable failure" findings. MSHA also issued an imminent danger order removing the blasting foreman who was not wearing fall protection while working near a 50-foot tall unexcavated face of exposed ore called "highwall." Several other violations involved a hydraulic scissor lift, including a damaged electrical conductor and inadequate inspection of the machinery. Since April 2010, MSHA has conducted 1,041 impact inspections and issued 15,343 citations, 1,288 orders and 57 safeguards.

Editor's Note: MSHA's Monthly Impact Inspection List for October 2015 is available online.