By Ellen Smith If your company is looking to settle a case for MSHA citations that were initially contested, have all of the justifications in place for any significant penalty reduction, or be ready for protracted proceedings to get approval from a Commission judge.ALJ William Moran recently rejected two settlements where the attorney for the Secretary refused to voluntarily produce…
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Sweat What Counts, Even If It Is ‘Small Stuff’
By Randy K. Logsdon A popular “big picture” management recommendation suggests that management focus should be on the highly critical issues that have potentially broad effect and if not addressed properly may have potentially catastrophic consequences. The descriptive phrase is “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”
Read MoreCompany Fined $20,000 For Discrimination Case
By Ellen Smith Judge John Kent Lewis fined a mining company $20,000, and said it was highly negligent where a miner had been temporarily suspended, given a written warning and a negative evaluation, after complaining to management on three occasions about a possible electrical fan violation in a laboratory, which was then cited by MSHA.
Read MoreA Different Perspective
By Randy K. Logsdon A tool that MSHA is using in its continuing initiative to reverse the trend in fatal injuries experienced recently in the Metal/Non-Metal segment of the mining industry is a “2014 Fatal Comparison Chart” that constitutes a breakdown of how, when and to whom the fatal injuries occurred. This was produced from preliminary data accumulated during the…
Read MoreMain Warns Against Safety Programs That Deter Reporting Injuries
In a letter to industry stakeholders, Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, warned against safety and health programs that deter the reporting of injuries.
Read MoreThree Hurt From Underground Mine Air Blast
Three workers were hurt after ground apparently shifted at an underground limestone mine in western Pennsylvania causing a rush of air through the mine’s entrance, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Read MoreMSHA Announces Results of March Impact Inspections
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced that federal inspectors issued 188 citations and two orders as a result of special impact inspections conducted at 13 coal mines and seven metal and nonmetal mines in March.
Read MoreTwo-Person Excavating Company Not Under MSHA Jurisdiction
By Ellen Smith A two-person excavation company that provides fill for excavation sites and yards does not fall under MSHA jurisdiction. The size was not a factor, but the fact that the operation is that of a “borrow pit” under OSHA jurisdiction, according to a ruling of ALJ Jerold Feldman.
Read MoreHabits that Should Be Deliberate
By Randy K. Logsdon I don’t get as many strange looks as I used to get. That is probably because in a mining community more drivers have joined in practicing this procedure. I speak of the practice of sounding the car or truck horn prior to pulling forward or backing out of a parking space.
Read MoreMSHA Reports March Impact Inspections, Q1 Fatalities
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced that federal inspectors issued 188 citations and two orders as a result of special impact inspections conducted at 13 coal mines and seven metal and nonmetal mines in March.
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