In an effort to assist mining operations with compliance efforts, MSHA provides a list of the “Most Frequently Cited Standards” by mine type. Following you will find the five most frequently written citations for stone producers, including the number of citations written thus far in 2014.
1. (859 citations)
56.14107(a)
Moving machine parts
(a) Moving machine parts shall be guarded to protect persons from contacting gears, sprockets, chains, drive, head, tail, and takeup pulleys, flywheels, couplings, shafts, fan blades, and similar moving parts that can cause injury.
(b) Guards shall not be required where the exposed moving parts are at least seven feet away from walking or working surfaces.
2 . (802 citations)
56.12004
Electrical conductors
Electrical conductors shall be of a sufficient size and current-carrying capacity to ensure that a rise in temperature resulting from normal operations will not damage the insulating materials. Electrical conductors exposed to mechanical damage shall be protected.
3. (676 citations)
56.14100(b)
Safety defects; examination, correction and records
(a) Self-propelled mobile equipment to be used during a shift shall be inspected by the equipment operator before being placed in operation on that shift.
(b) Defects on any equipment, machinery, and tools that affect safety shall be corrected in a timely manner to prevent the creation of a hazard to persons.
(c) When defects make continued operation hazardous to persons, the defective items including self-propelled mobile equipment shall be taken out of service and placed in a designated area posted for that purpose, or a tag or other effective method of marking the defective items shall be used to prohibit further use until the defects are corrected.
(d) Defects on self-propelled mobile equipment affecting safety, which are not corrected immediately, shall be reported to and recorded by the mine operator. The records shall be kept at the mine or nearest mine office from the date the defects are recorded, until the defects are corrected. Such records shall be made available for inspection by an authorized representative of the Secretary.
4 . (516 citations)
56.14132(a)
Horns and backup alarms
(a) Manually-operated horns or other audible warning devices provided on self-propelled mobile equipment as a safety feature shall be maintained in functional condition.
(b)(1) When the operator has an obstructed view to the rear, self-propelled mobile equipment shall have
(b)(1)(i) An automatic reverse-activated signal alarm;
(b)(1)(ii) A wheel-mounted bell alarm which sounds at least once for each three feet of reverse movement;
(b)(1)(iii) A discriminating backup alarm that covers the area of obstructed view; or
(b)(1)(iv) An observer to signal when it is safe to back up.
(b)(2) Alarms shall be audible above the surrounding noise level.
(b)(3) An automatic reverse-activated strobe light may be used at night in lieu of an audible reverse alarm.
(c) This standard does not apply to rail equipment.
5 . (457 citations)
50.30(a)
0 CFR § 50.30
Preparation and submission of MSHA Form 7000-2 – Quarterly Employment and Coal Production Report
(a) Each operator of a mine in which an individual worked during any day of a calendar quarter shall complete a MSHA Form 7000-2 in accordance with the instructions and criteria in §50.30-1 and submit the original to the MSHA Office of Injury and Employment Information, P.O. Box 25367, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colo. 80225, within 15 days after the end of each calendar quarter. These forms may be obtained from the MSHA District Office. Each operator shall retain an operator’s copy at the mine office nearest the mine for 5 years after the submission date.
The next five most cited violations are 30 CFR § 56.20003 Housekeeping; 30 CFR § 56.14100(c) Safety defects, examination, correction and records; 30 CFR § 56.11001, Safe access; 30 CFR § 56.12032 Inspection and cover plates; and 30 CFR § 56.14101 Brakes.