Over last month’s inspection push, federal officials issued a total of 335 citations, orders and safeguards at eight coal mines and four metal/nonmetal mines.
Coal operations received the vast majority of violations from MSHA, with 254 citations, 19 orders and one safeguard.
Metal/nonmetal operations were given 52 citations and nine orders.
Agency inspectors issued a staggering 81 of those coal enforcement actions during an April 17 visit to Rebco Coal’s Valley Mine no. 1 in Claiborne County, Tennessee, during the mine’s production shift.
After traveling the primary escapeway to inspect all four conveyor belts to the mechanized mining unit, MSHA issued 74 citations, four failure-to-abate orders for previously issued citations, one unwarrantable failure citation and two unwarrantable failure orders.
“The inspection party cited a broad spectrum of violations covering ventilation, accumulations of combustible materials, electrical equipment, trailing cables and fire protection,” the agency said.
“During previous inspections at the mine, equipment had been tagged out of service, however, when the operator resumed production a week prior to the impact inspection, the equipment had not been repaired.”
Inspectors also found numerous defects on the MMU’s roof bolter, including combustible material accumulations.
It also handed down an unwarrantable failure order for a failure to conduct an adequate electrical examination on the continuous miner.
Citations were issued for 18 defects of the CM that impacted its permissibility and officials also cited the mine additional times for failing to maintain the lighting system on the remote-controlled machine, accumulations, failure to install a methane-sensing device practically close to the working face and a failure to adequately insulate the miner’s trailing cable.
“This unexpected inspection found several safety violations that placed miners at serious risk, a failure by the mine operator to conduct basic find and fix examinations and a disregard for violations previously cited by MSHA,” assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health Joseph Main said.
“As evidenced by the recent inspection blitz, MSHA will not hesitate to take action to protect workers at risk.”
MSHA also made an April 24 surprise visit to Argus Energy WV’s Deep Mine no. 8 in Wayne County, West Virginia, a mine which previously had another impact inspection last year.
Once again, the resulting violation list was lengthy.
The inspection party issued 87 104(a) citations, one unwarrantable failure 104(d) citation and eight unwarrantable failure 104(d) orders for violations of 51 sections of MSHA regulations.
“Deep Mine no. 8 was selected for an April inspection due to its frequent number of accidents and repeated noncompliance with mandatory safety and health standards,” MSHA said.
“Since April 2011, there have been 23 separate accidents, 12 having occurred since this January.
“The operator has been issued a total of 386 citations and 22 orders, 11 of which were unwarrantable failure orders.”
The most recent review conducted last month produced citations for combustible material accumulations on the belt entry, on and under belt equipment and along moving belts as well as large coal piles for distances up to 100 feet and up to 2ft in depth in numerous locations.
“Conveyor belts were rubbing the belt structure, and the tail roller had been turning in accumulations 2ft deep and 7ft wide – conditions that pose a significant fire and explosion hazard,” inspectors noted, adding that two 104(d)(1) orders were for a failure to conduct adequate examinations on the belt conveyors.
Inadequate support of the mine’s roof and ribs also earned citations, as did multiple electrical violations, including a failure to maintain permissible face equipment and provide an accurate electrical system map, have a qualified examiner and properly install and insulate wires and cables for communications and power.
The agency’s special impact inspections began in force in April 2010 following the explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine where 29 workers were killed.
The push involved mines that warranted increased attention and enforcement by the agency due to a poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns.
These included high numbers of violations or closure orders; indications of operator tactics, such as advance notification of inspections that prevented inspectors from observing violations; frequent hazard complaints or hotline calls; plan compliance issues; inadequate workplace examinations; a high number of accidents, injuries or illnesses; fatalities; and adverse conditions such as increased methane liberation, faulty roof conditions and inadequate ventilation.
Since April 2010, MSHA has conducted 443 impact inspections, which have resulted in 7948 citations, 785 orders and 29 safeguards for a total of 8762 issuances.
