During February MSHA issued 253 citations and orders at 15 coal mines and two metal/nonmetal operations. Coal mines were given 235 of the citations and orders, while metal/nonmetal operations received 23 citations and six orders.

Inspectors said five of the coal mines in the impact inspection were selected because of 20 complaints MSHA received between March 1, 2011 and March 1, 2012. Twelve of those complaints were found to be accurate and citations were issued for the conditions.

One of the agency’s most recent inspections took place February 28 at Glen Alum’s Upper Cedar Grove No. 4 mine near Wharncliffe, West Virginia. That mine was targeted as a result of an anonymous tip that 11 unsafe electrical, roof control and combustible material hazards existed underground.

Officials issued 23 citations and three orders during the surprise inspection, 14 of which were classified significant and substantial.

“The first violation cited by inspectors occurred when an employee called underground to provide advance notification of the inspectors’ presence,” MSHA said.

“The gravity of this violation was magnified by the number of violations and hazardous conditions encountered in the mine, so the initial citation was subsequently modified.”

The operation also was given a closure order for inadequate permissibility examinations on electrical equipment, and two unwarrantable failure orders for inadequate preshift inspections of the section and belt conveyor entries. The agency did not indicate whether the conditions resulting in any of those orders had been abated.

MSHA also found and cited other conditions at Upper Cedar Grove including inadequate or missing firefighting equipment, improper maintenance of the continuous miner’s dust suppression sprays, combustible material accumulations, electrical violations, unsafe equipment and missing lifeline reflectors.

Another February impact inspection occurred February 9 at Clintwood Elkhorn Mining’s Laurel Branch surface mine in Hurley, Virginia. That operation received 32 citations from inspectors. Of those, 22 were S&S.

MSHA reviewed the examination records and inspected highwalls, explosive magazines and 33 pieces of equipment during its visit. It issued 11 citations for combustible materials accumulations – including oil, hydraulic fluids and/or coal dust – on the engine compartments of front end loaders, excavators, dozers and trucks.

Laurel Branch also failed to maintain effective drill dust control on three drills it used in the mine’s coal seam pit. A federal inspector reported observing large plumes of dust coming from the dust box’s doors between the drill steel and chip deflector as well as from the flap of a broken drill skirt.

The conditions, inspectors noted, put powder crews in the position of receiving high levels of silica rock dust exposure. This can result in a silicosis risk as well as the potential for other respiratory impairments.

The agency issued four citations to the Virginia mine for improper maintenance of dry chemical fire suppression systems and fire extinguishers on dozers.

“Laurel Branch relied upon its contractor, Logan Corporation, to properly check these fire suppression systems,” inspectors noted.

“As a result, MSHA cited the contractor twice for failure to examine and maintain firefighting equipment.”

These conditions, in combination with heat generated by engine, transmission, battery and fuel pump components, expose mobile equipment operators to fire and smoke inhalation hazards.

MSHA assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health Joseph Main said the agency selected many surface mine facilities in the February impact push because of a rash of fatalities.

“I am disturbed about the continuation of advance notice of mine inspections,” he said.

“It appears that current penalties are not sufficient to deter this type of conduct.”

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 420 impact inspections, which have resulted in 7,420 citations, 732 orders and 26 safeguards.