Federal Safety

From: AP

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — November inspections of problem U.S. mines produced 315 citations and orders at 10 coal operations and six metal/nonmetal mines.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration says coal mines got 200 of those citations and 50 of the orders.

MSHA increased inspections at mines with a poor compliance history after the 2010 explosion that killed 29 men in West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine.

Daystar Coal LLC’s No. 3 Mine in Pike County, Ky., drew 52 citations and 11 orders when inspectors found a bearing on a conveyor tailpiece glowing orange and smoking. Explosive coal dust was floating in the air and loose coal was piled 18 inches deep.

From: The State Journal (WV)

From: MSHA

Performance Coal Company Upper Big Branch Mine-South Massey Energy Company Mine ID: 46-08436 Fatal Underground Mine Explosion April 5, 2010 Due to the extensive nature of this report, we have chosen to break it down into pieces. This should make viewing this report a bit easier. We are providing you with the report without the appendices included, the report with the appendices included, the appendices in one file, and the appendices as separate files. You may download any of these files.

From: MSHA

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that eight mines around the country have received letters putting them on notice that each has a potential pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards under Section 104(e) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The PPOV screening from which these letters resulted represents the second since MSHA established the current criteria and procedures in September 2010.

The eight mines that received letters are as follows:

1. Marfork Coal Co. Inc.’s Parker Peerless Mine in Raleigh County, W.Va.