Federal Safety

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January 31, 2012

MSHA’s Accident Prevention Program: New Miner/New Hire Training

Training a new miner, a newly hired experienced miner, or any miner assigned to a task in which they have no previous experience is very important. These statistics for 2011 illustrate that importance.

New Miner Training

 

Mine Operators should consider adopting more training programs that emphasize the tasks and activities new miners will be performing. Whether a miner is new to the industry or is experienced and new to the mine, there may be inherent dangers associated with geological conditions, different types of equipment used or specific practices of which these miners may not be aware.

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January 25, 2012

MSHA shuts Ky. mine over coal fire, other hazards

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) – Federal inspectors issued 174 citations and 19 orders at troubled coal mines last month, and shut down a Kentucky operation with explosives near a burning pile of coal.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration says it issued 32 citations and 12 orders against Coal Creek Mining LLC’s No. 2 Mine in Floyd County, Ky.

Inspectors found a 5- by 10-foot coal pile on fire about 23 feet from two unsecured cases of explosives.

They also found a 5-gallon oil bucket full of burning coal near a portal and loose coal up to 30 inches deep under conveyor belts and near ignition sources.

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January 19, 2012

Panel aims to improve mine safety programs

By Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Miner self-rescue techniques, equipment and training are much better now than they were before the Sago mine disaster in January 2006, but an interdisciplinary committee of the National Academies has begun a yearlong study to determine if they could be better.

The interdisciplinary committee, which held its first three-day meeting in southwestern Pennsylvania last week, will review technological advances that could help miners escape and study how judgement and decision making is affected in a mining explosion or cave-in situation.

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January 12, 2012

Slips, Trips & Falls Hazard Alert

From: MSHA

In 2010, 23 percent of all aggregates sector injuries were due to a slip or fall. During this period, about 400 persons fell or lost their footing and suffered an injury. 

January 5, 2012

Mine safety advocate reacts to Capito’s bill

From: West Virginia Public Broadcasting

January 4, 2012 · Republican Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito introduced a new mine safety bill shortly after the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration released its report into what happened at Upper Big Branch.

California Democrat George Miller introduced the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2010. It was meant to address issues learned at the Upper Big Branch explosion. It failed to pass the House along party lines. The National Mining Association and Republicans cited the need to find out the results of ongoing investigations before voting in favor of new laws.

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