70 serious violations and 11 unjustified violations were found
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that the Mine Safety and Health Administration completed impact inspections at 16 mines in 10 states in July 2024, issuing 239 violations and one safety notice.
The agency began shock testing after an explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia in April 2010 killed 29 miners.
MSHA's impact inspections since 2023 have identified 4,314 violations, including 1,189 serious and significant violations and 82 unjustified violations. S&S violations are violations that may contribute in a significant and material way to the cause and consequences of a safety or health hazard. Violations designated as unjustified violations occur when inspectors find egregious conduct that goes beyond ordinary negligence.
The Agency is conducting impact inspections at mines where poor compliance histories, past accidents, injuries, illnesses or other compliance concerns warrant increased Agency attention and enforcement. Of the 239 violations in July 2024, MSHA rated 70 as S&S and 11 had unjustified failing verdicts. The Agency has completed these inspections at mines in Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming.
“The July crash inspections found a number of unjustified failures and operators should have been aware of and corrected significant health and safety hazards that put miners at risk,” said Chris Williamson, assistant secretary for mine safety and health. “Crash inspections are an important tool to hold operators accountable and eliminate hazards such as flammable materials near belts which, as history has shown, can unfortunately cause mine fires and loss of life.”
Details of the two impact tests to be conducted at mines in Utah and West Virginia in July 2024 follow:
Gentry Mine #3: This underground mine, operated by Gentry Mountain Mining LLC in Emery County, Utah, was selected for its poor compliance history. After inspectors arrived at the mine on July 16, 2024, MSHA personnel monitored the mine's communications systems until the inspectors arrived at the underground work area. MSHA inspectors identified 23 mandatory violations of safety and health standards, six of which were rated S&S. Specifically, inspectors found the following conditions:
Deposits of combustible materials were found throughout the mine, particularly on and around the conveyor belts. Inspectors found a pile of coal and coal granules approximately 30 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 2.5 feet deep under the head roller of one conveyor belt. The conveyor belts were in operation at the time of the inspection, exposing miners to the risk of fire and explosion. Numerous electrical hazards were identified throughout the mine. For example, inspectors found a hole in the side of the conveyor belt drive system, exposing miners to a 480-volt shock hazard. MSHA reminds all mine operators that safety standards require frequent inspection, testing, and proper maintenance of electrical equipment to ensure safe operating conditions, and that potentially hazardous electrical equipment must be taken out of service until unsafe conditions are corrected.
Belcher Branch: This mine, operated by Frontier Coal in Wyoming County, West Virginia, was also selected for an impact inspection due to its enforcement history. Between July 1, 2023 and June 3, 2024, MSHA issued 334 violations at the mine, including 13 unjustified deficiency orders. In July 2024, inspectors cited 20 violations of required safety and health standards, including 11 rated S&S and eight unjustified deficiency findings. Specifically, inspectors found the following conditions:
MSHA issued an imminent hazard order after finding a conveyor belt tail pulley bearing extremely hot and smoking on the first day of the impact inspection. Miners were immediately evacuated from the mine to protect them from the imminent risk of fire and explosion. Inspectors found other conveyor bearings in the mine to also be overheating and issued unjustified failure orders due to the operator's egregious conduct. Mine management failed to ensure that the fire alarm system along the conveyor belt was properly in working order, exposing miners to the risk of fire and explosion. Many of the violations identified during the impact inspections were related to conditions caused by mine operators' failure to follow MSHA's requirements to conduct proper inspections. MSHA continues to be vigilant in ensuring that operators properly identify and correct hazards and document corrective actions, especially when there is a reasonable possibility of injury. MSHA inspectors cited violations after finding that the mine operator failed to follow an approved ventilation plan, allowed unsupported roofs and ribs, failed to repair automatic fire sensors, and failed to properly maintain several conveyor belts to ensure safe operating conditions. For example, inspectors observed air on the belts shifting toward the work sections and flammable materials building up near ignition sources along the belt entrances. These conditions exposed miners to hazards associated with fires, explosions, smoke inhalation, carbon monoxide poisoning, and falls from roofs and ribs.
Learn more about MSHA.
View MSHA's monthly impact inspection results, including those for July 2024.
