MSHA Focus Shifting To Surface Mine Safety In 2012

VICKI SMITH

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Federal mine inspectors will soon refocus enforcement efforts on violations of 14 safety standards that the Mine Safety and Health Administration says are commonly behind accidents and fatalities.

Eleven of the regulations relate to surface mining, agency director Joe Main said Tuesday in announcing the third phase of the agency's ongoing "Rules to Live By" initiative. The need to shift attention became clear late last year, Main said, when a string of accidents at surface mines caused five deaths in 41 days.

Although 2011 was the second-lowest year on record for fatalities, Main said surface mines accounted for two-thirds of the total.

Officials said 37 mine-related deaths were reported last year, including 12 at coal mines on the surface and 11 at metal and nonmetal surface mines. Only nine occurred at underground coal mines and five at underground metal or nonmetal mines.

In 2010, there were 48 mining deaths, including 29 men who died in the explosion of West Virginia's Upper Big Branch mine near Montcoal.

Although operators, inspectors and miners are working to reduce fatalities, "too many miners still lose their lives in preventable accidents," Main said. "The loss of even one miner causes devastation and pain to the victim's family, friends and co-workers."

Starting April 1, the agency will train inspectors to more carefully and consistently evaluate gravity and negligence when citing violations that caused or contributed to a death. That renewed focus could lead to tougher penalties and enforcement actions, Main said.

"It's just us taking a good look at what the data's telling us and how we can take that information and use it to prevent deaths," he said.

Training materials will also be available online for the industry and the public.

The federal agency will reach out directly to miners and their representative to make sure they have both input in the safe operation of their mines and the proper information to address any hazards they encounter, Main said.