ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 374 citations, orders and safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 18 coal mines and two metal/nonmetal mines last month. The coal mines were issued 292 citations, 28 orders and one safeguard, while the metal/nonmetal operations were issued 52 citations and one order.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that it has reached a settlement with GCR Tire Centers regarding the termination of an off-road tire technician who had complained about unsafe work practices at the Notasulga Quarry in Lee County, Ala.

The agreement resolves a formal discrimination complaint that MSHA filed in court on behalf of the employee, after the agency's investigation determined that the company fired the employee in retaliation for reporting safety concerns.

Miners, mine operators urged to "knock out" winter hazards

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration has launched its annual "Winter Alert" campaign to call attention to the dangers caused by cold weather. Statistics show that coal-mine explosions occur most often during the colder months, October through March.

4th operation to be placed on potential pattern of violations status

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration has placed Kevin R. Yonts' Mine No. 2 in Letcher County, Ky., operated by Vision Coal, on potential pattern of violations status based on data gathered during agency audits. MSHA found that 19 out of 39 audited mines either failed to report injuries or underreported the lost time associated with reported injuries, and four of the 19 met the criteria for a PPOV.

National competition marks 100 years and 60 since it was last held in Columbus, Ohio

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced $1 million in grant funds to eight organizations that provide education and training within the mining industry. The Brookwood-Sago grants program was established through a provision in the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006. This funding will be used to develop and implement training and related materials for mine emergency preparedness, as well as for the prevention of accidents in underground mines.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 356 citations, orders and safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 16 coal mines and four metal/nonmetal mines last month. The coal mines were issued 272 citations, 37 orders and two safeguards, while the metal/nonmetal operations were issued 45 citations.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 166 citations and orders during special impact inspections conducted at seven coal mines and one dimension stone quarry last month. The seven coal mines were issued 127 citations and four orders; the quarry operation was issued 27 citations and eight orders.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 377 citations and orders during special impact inspections conducted at 15 coal and seven metal/nonmetal mine operations last month. The coal mines were issued 208 citations and seven orders; the metal/nonmetal mines were issued 148 citations and 14 orders.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that it will split the agency's jurisdiction over southern West Virginia coal mines into two separate districts, a process that will begin in the second quarter of fiscal year 2011. Of the nation's 2,100 coal mines, approximately 400 fall within the existing District 4 boundaries.

Mine deaths are not inevitable, says agency head

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today issued a fatality alert to the mining community profiling the causes of and circumstances surrounding the 71 fatal accidents that occurred last year.

Miner fired after cooperating in federal investigation is permanently reinstated

Rule would eliminate potential POV notification and use of final orders in review

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that a proposed rule to revise its pattern of violations regulation in 30 Code of Federal Regulations Part 104 will be published in the Federal Register on Feb. 2.The proposal, which would revise and simplify the POV criteria and MSHA's procedures for issuing a POV notice, is available at http://s.dol.gov/CQ.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 288 citations, orders and safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 13 coal and 4 metal/nonmetal mine operations last month. The coal mines were issued 170 citations, 15 orders and one safeguard; the metal/nonmetal mines were issued 90 citations and 12 orders.

WASHINGTON – Solicitor of Labor M. Patricia Smith today issued the following statement regarding new developments in the ongoing investigation of the April 5, 2010, explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, W.Va.

MSHA chief pledges continued enforcement, outreach on behalf of nations miners

ARLINGTON, Va. – Mining fatalities in the United States significantly increased in 2010, following a year marked by the fewest deaths in mining history, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration. Seventy-one miners died on the job last year, compared to 34 in 2009. Forty-eight of those deaths occurred in coal mines, and 23 occurred at metal and nonmetal operations.

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that a federal judge with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania has issued a preliminary injunction against Rosebud Mining Co. In a federal lawsuit filed on Dec.

Case involved motion for preliminary injunction against Freedom Energy

Rule underscores mine operators responsibility for conducting safety and health examinations

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 250 citations, orders and safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 12 coal and 10 metal/nonmetal mine operations last month.