Nine coal mines and four metal/nonmetal
mines were issued multiple citations and orders during special impact
inspections last month by federal inspectors.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine
Safety and Health Administration announced Tuesday that those inspectors issued
a total of 149 citations and 16 orders.
One impact inspection conducted at
Affinity Coal Company LLC’s Affinity Mine in Raleigh County
The imminent danger order was issued
when a foreman was seen riding as a passenger in the bucket of a rubber-tired
scoop in a wet, rough and uneven entry. The Affinity Mine had already suffered
two fatalities involving scoops this year.
Five of the unwarrantable failure orders
were issued for violations of the mine’s ventilation plan. One other
unwarrantable failure order was issued for a violation of the roof control plan
where the operator did not install reflectors to signal the last row of roof
supports.
The mines inspected last month are
those that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their
poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns.
The monthly inspections have been
conducted since April 2010 after the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine.
