{Washington, D.C.}...According to a new report from the U.S. Labor Department, the Obama administration has made improvements, but U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration mine safety regulators still fall short in fixing inspection and enforcement problems identified repeatedly as major problems. The inspector general's report says MSHA continues to face challenges in administering a successful accountability program. In a response to the report, MSHA chief Joe Main said that management oversight of accountability review activities, while very important, must be viewed within the context of the requirements in the Mine Act. House Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline, R-Minn, says MSHA must establish a process that identifies enforcement weaknesses and ensures they are effectively addressed. Kline says, while mine operators maintain primary responsibility for ensuring a safe workplace, MSHA has an obligation to enforce the law, and any attempt to downplay the critical role of effective enforcement policies in mine safety is a disservice to miners and their families.Wednesday, October 3, 2012
MSHA Accused Of Falling Short On Mine Safety
{Washington, D.C.}...According to a new report from the U.S. Labor Department, the Obama administration has made improvements, but U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration mine safety regulators still fall short in fixing inspection and enforcement problems identified repeatedly as major problems. The inspector general's report says MSHA continues to face challenges in administering a successful accountability program. In a response to the report, MSHA chief Joe Main said that management oversight of accountability review activities, while very important, must be viewed within the context of the requirements in the Mine Act. House Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline, R-Minn, says MSHA must establish a process that identifies enforcement weaknesses and ensures they are effectively addressed. Kline says, while mine operators maintain primary responsibility for ensuring a safe workplace, MSHA has an obligation to enforce the law, and any attempt to downplay the critical role of effective enforcement policies in mine safety is a disservice to miners and their families.