Targeted mine inspections of some of the most nation's mosttroubled mines continue to find some of the same problems that ledto the launch of federal impact inspection blitz. The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and HealthAdministration has been conducting "impact inspections," targetedinspections at specific mines, since the April 2010 explosion atthe Upper Big Branch Mine. The Raleigh County mine explosion led tothe deaths of 29 miners. Some of the problems – such as inadequate ventilation and theallowed accumulation of coal float dust – continued to showup during the agency's impact inspections.
Monday, MSHA announced that federal inspectors issued 249violations during special impact inspections conducted at nine coalmines and two metal/nonmetal mines last month. Coal mines wereissued 187 citations, 25 orders and two safeguards, while themetal/nonmetal operations were issued 35 citations. Three West Virginia mines were targeted for impact inspections inApril. The mines in West Virginia collectively received a total of56 citations, five orders and one safeguard. Mines are targeted by the agency due to poor compliance history orparticular compliance concerns.
When a mine appears to presentdanger to the miners at the operation, MSHA has the option to closethe mine. "The closure order is still one of the most effective toolsinspectors have to bring about compliance, even during impactinspections," said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor formine safety and health. "We will not hesitate to use these andother enforcement tools to protect the nation's miners." At a Floyd County, Ky., mine, inspectors found that ventilation atidle and active coal faces was not being maintained as required bythe mine's ventilation plans. "Properly maintained and operating dust controls are critical inpreventing miners from contracting diseases associated with theinhalation of respirable coal mine dust such as pneumoconiosis,silicosis, bronchitis and emphysema," the report found.
A high amount of coal dust was believed to have been the fuel thatturned a smaller methane ignition into a much larger explosion atUpper Big Branch. An autopsy of the 29 miners at Upper Big Branchfound the majority had appeared to have pneumoconiosis, or blacklung. The Floyd County mine was shut down for 72 hours. At another mine in Perry County, Ky., MSHA issued 38 citations and16 unwarrantable failure orders, including for accumulations ofcombustible materials 14 times during the inspection. "Accumulations of combustible materials were extensive in all mineareas where inspectors traveled and included both MMUs, multiplebelt conveyors, escapeways, track entries, a return aircourse andequipment," a release from the agency states.
"At one MMU, accumulations of combustible materials in the form ofloose coal, coal dust and float coal dust were black in color, dryto the touch and ranged in depth from paper thin to 3 feet from thesection loading point to the face area (360 feet), as well as onthe mine floor and ribs in all areas of the section. No effort hadbeen made to control the dust, apply rock dust or remove theaccumulations." According to the news release, since April 2010, MSHA has conducted431 impact inspections at coal and metal/nonmetal mines. Theseinspections have resulted in 7,642 citations, 757 orders and 28safeguards for a total of 8,427 issuances. I am a professional writer from Personal Care, which contains a great deal of information about lip stain gloss , lip plumper gloss, welcome to visit!
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