MSHA has posted a hazard alert to call attention to injuries that have occurred in 2010 that involve machinery.  A total of 200 dfpersons were injured working around machinery, representing 12 percent of all injuries in the aggregates sector that year, according to the  Read more »

Hazardous Content Unproven

A judge vacated a citation for an alleged violation of 47.41(a), which requires that containers of hazardous chemicals be labeled to identify their contents.  The ticket involved an unlabeled one-gallon container in a welding storage trailer.  The fine came to $308.  After the inspector admitted he had no idea what was in the container, the judge ruled MSHA had not met its burden of proving the substance was hazardous (Sr. ALJ Zielinski, MSHA v. Cemex Construction Materials of Florida, LLC, Jan 9).

MSHA shut down a Kentucky coal mine after discovering a fire and other alleged hazards during an impact inspection on the night shift in December. 

The operation was one of 13 mines – 10 coal, two metal and an aggregate site ? targeted for the special emphasis enforcement program during the month.  A total of 321 citations and orders were issued: 174 citations and 19 orders at the coal mines and 112 citations and 16 orders at the metal/non-metal operations.

Twelve Spring Thaw Seminars have been scheduled around the country beginning next month.  Four of the annual training events will be held in February, six in March and one each in April and May.  Two others will be held in California at times to be announced.  The workshops will kick off Feb. 15 with sessions in Verona, NY and Hutchinson, KS.  The seminars are held in cooperation with the metal/non-metal sector and are free to attendees.

George H. Gardner has been selected Deputy Director of the Office of Technical Support at MSHA, effective Jan. 15.  He is based at Agency headquarters in Arlington, VA

Both MSHA and OSHA are moving forward with comprehensive health rules this year.

The two agencies' regulatory agendas, released Friday, indicate action is planned on respirable crystalline silica.  Of the two, OSHA’s proposal is further along in the regulatory process, and thus is being watched especially closely by the regulatory community.  In its agenda, OSHA said it planned to release a proposed silica rule next month to cover the general industry, construction and maritime industries. 

The Department of Labor seeks stakeholder comment on an information collection initiative regarding its voice in the workplace program that it intends to pilot in the mining community.

Following a fatality involving a CAT 988 front-end loader last month, MSHA’s Technical Support group has issued a request for Agency inspectors to discuss the accident with mine operators and offer recommendations for working safety around the machine.

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A fire that injured the driver and caused extensive damage to the cab of a contract hauler’s truck in the U.K. presents a lesson in safety for everyone.  Read more »