The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released its fall regulatory agenda Nov. 24. The agency states that it is on track in conducting the rulemaking on reform of civil penalties; comments are due Jan. 9, according to the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association.
Read MoreMonth: February 2015
Unwarrantable Failure Criteria Not Met In Crane Assembly Project
By Ellen Smith A company violated §56.16009, which states, “persons shall stay clear of suspended loads,” where a miner did not stay clear of a suspended load during a crane assembly project. But the violation was not due to an unwarrantable failure to comply, the Review Commission ruled on Dec. 10, 2014.
Read MoreSafety is a Local Thing
By Randy K Logsdon The former Speaker of the House of Representatives Tip O’Neil was a colorful character. Despite being on opposite sides of the political pond, he and then President Ronald Reagan became good friends and enjoyed sharing Irish jokes.
Read MoreEffective and Responsible Water Treatment for Sand Mining
By Kyle and Cliff Blaisdell A small percentage of a sand mine’s operating budget is spent on water treatment; however, the way it is implemented has a substantial impact on the bottom line. Done correctly, a good water treatment program minimizes loss of product and compliance verification, while likely eliminating environmental citations. Careful selection of effective polyacrylamides (PAM) in water…
Read MoreMSHA Rebuked, Not Deterred
An ALJ Determines That There Are Outer Limits of MSHA’s Relatively Unlimited Enforcement Authority By R. Brian Hendrix
Read MoreNew Construction Starts Decrease 16 Percent
Nonresidential Building And Nonbuilding Construction Experience Substantial Declines; Highways Up 2 Percent. By Mark S. Kuhar
Read MorePermitting – February 2015
Oregon Quarry Fights for Permit According to the Oregonian/OregonLive, a new quarry will soon be developed near Sherwood, Ore., on a 35-acre site immediately adjacent to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge. Tonquin Holdings, the company behind the proposed Tonquin Quarry, said applications for the federal permits needed to drain wetlands and commence with quarrying will be filed soon. But…
Read MoreData Lost and Found
Every Organization Needs A Plan For Handling A Data Security Breach And That Plan Needs To Contain A Communication Component. By Thomas J. Roach
Read MoreEmployee Meetings – Are They Worth The Trouble?
Getting All Of Your Employees Can Be Worthwhile, Depending On Your Objective. By Steve Schumacher
Read MoreMichelin Tires Offer Superior Tread Life
Michelin North America announced that its new BibLoad Hard Surface radial tires are on sale at tire dealers throughout North America. The Michelin BibLoad Hard Surface is an expansion of the company’s product lineup in order to offer a specialized option for end users who work mainly on hard surfaces with compact loaders and telescopic equipment. This new tread design in…
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