The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced that federal inspectors issued 139 citations, three orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections in June at 10 coal mines and five metal and nonmetal mines.
A St.. Marys cement plant (13 citations) and a Kerford limestone plant (seven citations) were inspected.
MSHA conducted impact inspections at mines in Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.
Monthly impact inspections began in force in April 2010 at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns. MSHA inspectors have conducted 966 impact inspections and issued 14,561 citations, 1,250 orders and 57 safeguards since these inspections began.
“Recent impact inspections have resulted in fewer citations and orders,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “While this is a sign of improved industry compliance with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, there are still mines that require these specially targeted inspections.”