Overall during the month of January, the agency completed inspections of 12 coal mines and four metal/nonmetal operations and issued 253 citations, orders and safeguards.

Of those, coal mines received 171 citations, 15 orders and two safeguards and metal/nonmetal operations received 64 citations and one order.

In December 2011, MSHA issued 321 total citations and orders, with 174 citations and 19 orders going to coal mines and 112 citations and 16 orders handed to metal/nonmetal operations.

One of the agency’s most recent impact inspections took place January 13, when officials visited Perry County Coal’s E4-1 mine in Perry County, Kentucky during the second shift.

The operation received 35 citations and three orders as a result of its evaluation.

The mine’s previous impact inspection conducted last May resulted in 27 citations and one order.

“Following January’s inspection, the mine was issued unwarrantable failure orders for noncompliance with the ventilation plan by failing to maintain a sufficient air volume at the end of the wing curtain when more than 18 inches of rock is being mined,” the agency said.

“The mine operator also failed to control draw rock that extended from 32 crosscuts outby to the working face (approximately 2080 feet), which exposed miners to the risk of being struck, injured or killed by pieces of falling roof.

“The mine operator further failed to maintain a scoop in permissible condition so that it was not a potential ignition source for explosive gases as well as to conduct an adequate weekly examination of the same scoop.”

MSHA said inspectors also found improper maintenance on the primary and secondary escapeways and required lifelines.

On the same day, MSHA conducted an impact inspection on the second shift at K and D Mining’s Mine No. 17 in Harlan County, Kentucky and issued 21 citations and seven orders.

The operation had a previous inspection in August 2010, after which it received 14 citations and six orders.

In the most recent probe, inspectors observed eight conditions resulting from the operator’s unwarrantable failures and six which involved a failure to maintain the conveyer belts and remove accumulations of combustible materials along the belt lines.

“Two belt lines were found to have missing or stuck rollers, causing friction and creating the potential for an ignition,” the agency said.

“Accumulations of combustible material were found along three belt lines, which are required to be examined at each shift.”

Two of the mine’s 104(d) withdrawal orders were issued for a failure to conduct an adequate exam of an improperly maintained section power center, as inspectors found evidence of severe arcing between receptacles on the power center as well as on the male plugs of electrical equipment.

MSHA said the mine also failed to comply with its roof control plan.

“They observed a hill seam (rock fissure) that was tied in with several stress cracks,” inspectors said.

“The hill seam and stress cracks extended across the pillar line for a distance of approximately 115 feet.”

MSHA said additional supports were not installed as required.

“While the impact inspection program has resulted in improved compliance in mines across the country, the seriousness of the violations found at these two operations demonstrates why targeted enforcement continues to be necessary to protect the health and safety of miners,” Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph Main said.

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 merited increased attention and enforcement by the agency due to a poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns, including 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 403 impact inspections which have resulted in 7162 citations, 718 orders and 26 safeguards.