According to a March 25 filing by the company with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Cliffs Logan County Coal received the order on March 23 from the US Mine Safety and Health Administration after employees at the Chilton-Dingess mine were observed cutting timbers in a raised scoop bucket that was not blocked against motion.
“The employees deenergised the scoop, which immediately terminated the order,” the company said, noting no injuries were reported as a result of the condition.
Cliffs offered no further public comment on the incident.
Imminent danger orders are issued by MSHA under section 107(a) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, also known as the Mine Act.
Section 1503 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street and Consumer Protection Act, amended last July, now requires disclosure of all imminent danger incidents as part of new reporting requirements regarding mine safety.
The underground bituminous Chilton-Dingess operation, located in Logan County, had nine Non-Fatal Days Lost operator injuries in 2010. It produced just over 474,000 tons during that time within about 173,000 man hours.
