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…
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Case 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 MoreNo Good Deed Goes Unpunished
The Disturbing Trend Of MSHA Inspectors Relying On Corrective And Preventative Actions As Basis For Citations. By Mark Savit, Jackson Lewis P.C.
Read MoreFirst Look – March 2015
TOP NEWS Vulcan Materials Grows Vulcan Materials Co. announced results for the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, 2014, and full-year 2014. Total fourth-quarter revenues increased $75 million, or 11 percent, to $755 million, while gross profit increased $52 million, or 45 percent, to $170 million. Martin Marietta Leaps Forward Martin Marietta Materials Inc. reported its results for the fourth quarter…
Read MoreMSHA’s January Impact Inspections Target Nonmetal Plants
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced that federal inspectors issued 176 citations, eight orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at 13 coal mines and three metal and nonmetal mines in January.
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.
Read MoreMSHA Releases Regulatory Agenda
The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) released its fall regulatory agenda Nov. 24. The agency states that it is on track in conducting the rulemaking on reform of civil penalties; comments are due Jan. 9, according to the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association.
Read MoreUnwarrantable Failure Criteria Not Met In Crane Assembly Project
By Ellen Smith A company violated §56.16009, which states, “persons shall stay clear of suspended loads,” where a miner did not stay clear of a suspended load during a crane assembly project. But the violation was not due to an unwarrantable failure to comply, the Review Commission ruled on Dec. 10, 2014.
Read MoreSafety is a Local Thing
By Randy K Logsdon The former Speaker of the House of Representatives Tip O’Neil was a colorful character. Despite being on opposite sides of the political pond, he and then President Ronald Reagan became good friends and enjoyed sharing Irish jokes.
Read MoreMSHA Rebuked, Not Deterred
An ALJ Determines That There Are Outer Limits of MSHA’s Relatively Unlimited Enforcement Authority By R. Brian Hendrix
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