Mine Safety Update 2007

July 8th, 2007 Posted by Amelia

In the past year, the MINER Act has significantly improved safety for workers in the nation’s mines, according to sources close to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The MINER Act was signed into law on June 15, 2006 and introduced a number of significant changes in the way the mining industry does business.

“The MINER Act was the most significant federal mine safety law in nearly 30 years, and we at MSHA are fully committed to putting its protections in place for America’s miners,” said Richard E. Stickler, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “MSHA has made great strides in implementing the MINER Act in the past year, and we are continuing to meet or beat the deadlines set by the act.”

Three major mining accidents were in the news during early 2006, prompting passage of this legislation. An explosion occurred on January 2, 2006, in the Sago Mine in Sago, West Virginia. The blast trapped thirteen miners for nearly two days. Only one miner survived. It was the worst mining disaster in the U.S. since 2001, and the worst disaster in West Virginia since a 1968 incident that killed 78 people.

That same month, a fire at the Aracoma Alma Mine in Melville, West Virginia poured smoke into the miner’s escape route, killing two people. In May 2006, a methane explosion at the Darby Mine No. 1 in Kentucky killed five workers.

In an important move under the MINER Act, MSHA assigned three liaisons to work with affected families in the Sago incident. In addition, MSHA has trained 11 family liaisons nationwide to be available for any future mining accidents. 

In just one short year, the MINER Act has made significant inroads in safety for many American workers. Under this Act, MSHA issued an Emergency Temporary Standard, an ETS to increase the strength of seals in underground coal mines to 120 pounds per square inch (or psi). The ETS also requires that the environment behind the 50 psi seals be monitored and maintained inert. The MINER Act set a time limit for that ETS to be established. In fact, the MSHA delivered the ETS seven months earlier than required.

One of the most important changes under the MINER Act was to establish higher maximum penalties for flagrant violations. MSHA has already issued 13 citations for repeat offenders under this provision. One of those fines went to a coalmine operator who did not report a serious accident within 15 minutes.

MSHA put eight mine operators on notice that the agency will use its strongest tool against them if they continue to disregard safety and health regulations.

Even before the MINER Act was passed, MSHA proposed the largest civil penalties every levied in response to an accident. MSHA also moved swiftly to increase mining penalties across the board.

Other changes under the MINER Act include lifelines, safety training and communication systems. Directional lifelines are now required on all alternate escape routes out of a mine, as well as the primary routes. MSHA now requires additional safety training on the use of self-contained self-rescuers at underground coal mines. Communication systems between the surface and underground mines have been added, so back-up systems are available. 

MSHA issued comprehensive accident reports on the Sago, Aracoma and Darby accidents that provide great teaching models to improve response to future accidents and enhance safety.  As a response to those accidents, all underground coalmines are now required to create emergency response plans that include post-accident breathable air for the trapped miners. 

MSHA had also taken a number of steps to strengthen mine safety before the passage of the MINER Act. These include issuing an ETS on mine evacuations three months before the act was passed. MSHA also launched special emphasis programs to examine retreat mining practices including highwalls, roof and rib supports, black lung awareness and coal dust control methods.

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