By Ellen Smith Signal Peak Energy in Musselshell County, Mont., was found to have acted with “reckless disregard” when it failed to immediately report an accident where a miner sustained serious injuries. The Commission fined the operator $60,000 – the statutory maximum fine allowed under the Mine Act at the time the accident occurred on Dec. 23, 2009.
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Rocket Science – Made Simple
By Randy K. Logsdon Sometimes, when stumped by a problem, it pays to take a few moments, step back and refocus on the basics. If that problem is determining an effective injury reduction strategy, the approach to a solution may be shrouded by the complexity of an array of contributing causes – so-called root causes and other analyses.
Read MoreChasing The Elusive ‘Zero Incidents’
A Study Of OMG Midwest Employees Shows They Prefer Face-To-Face Communication and Safety Training Where Small Group Discussion Can Take Place. By Joe McGuire
Read MorePenalties Cut Where Contractor Was Responsible for Housekeeping
By Ellen Smith ALJ David Barbour upheld eight citations issued against Northshore Mining Co.’s mine in Silver Bay, Minn., and vacated one guarding citation for lack of fair notice. The Secretary and company settled 25 additional violations stemming from multiple inspections that occurred between January 2013 and August 2013 for fines totaling $27,626, down from MSHA’s $79,023 in proposed penalties.…
Read MoreFull Court Press on Fatals
By Randy K. Logsdon Just in case you’ve been locked up in a cave for the last nine months or so, MSHA has responded to an increase in the number of fatal injury incidents that have been occurring in the metal/non-metal segment of the mining industry.
Read MoreChasing The Elusive ‘Zero Incidents’
A Study Of OMG Midwest Employees Shows They Prefer Face-To-Face Communication and Safety Training Where Small Group Discussion Can Take Place. By Joe McGuire
Read MoreMSHA to Increase Education, Outreach, Enforcement
On Jan. 30, Joseph A. Main, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health, sent the following letter to stakeholders in the metal and nonmetal mining community to announce heightened efforts to reduce fatalities. MSHA also held outreach conference calls with key stakeholders in the industry concerning the 37 deaths that have occurred since October 2013 and outlining best…
Read MoreCase Sent Back to Judge For Unwarrantable Failure Findings
A 104(d) order modified to a 104(a) citation was sent back to ALJ Richard Manning, after he based his findings on a separate order issued under another standard.
Read MoreThe Six Sides of the Box
Last year, this column featured a six-part series focused on expanding our approach to safety beyond the six sides of a proverbial box. This is a recap of those six articles. – Ed Most can agree that the typical box is made up of six panels – top, bottom and four sides. That same structure can be applied to the…
Read MoreDecember Impact Inspections Target Cement Plant
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced that federal inspectors issued 135 citations, 24 orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at 11 coal mines and two metal and nonmetal mines in December.
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