By Randy K. Logsdon
This is the fifth in a series of six columns exploring traditional principles of safety. Previous parts were entitled: “Safety First,” “Safety is Just Common Sense,” “Compliance = Safety” and “Accidents are a Matter of (Bad) Luck.” – Ed.
By Ellen Smith
A limestone operator’s guarding violations did not constitute a “reckless disregard” or flagrant violations of mine safety standards, and MSHA’s total proposed fines of $547,100 for six violations of §56.14107(a), and one violation of §56.14112(b), were reduced to a total of $44,000 by Review Commission Judge David Simonton.
Read more: Guarding Violations Not ‘Flagrant’ Violations Under Mine Act
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released a summary of U.S. mining deaths that occurred during the first quarter of 2014. From Jan. 1 to March 31, eight miners died in accidents in the U.S. mining industry. Three were killed in coal mining accidents and five in metal and nonmetal mining accidents. The previous quarter was marked by 15 deaths and an increase in the metal and nonmetal sector.
This is the fourth in a series of six columns exploring traditional principles of safety. Previous parts were entitled: “Safety First,” “Safety is Just Common Sense, ” and “Compliance = Safety.” – Ed.
Read more: Principle Number Four: Accidents Are A Matter Of (Bad) Luck
By Ellen Smith
The unambiguous language of accident reporting requirements of §50.20(a) impose an unconditional duty of operators to submit accident reports to MSHA when contractor employees are injured at the operator’s mine when those employees are under the control of the operator, according to a ruling of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Read more: Operators Must File Accident Reports of Contractors Under Their Control
