The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) completed impact inspections at 16 mines in 10 states in July 2024, issuing 239 violations and one safeguard.
The agency began conducting impact inspections following an April 2010 explosion in West Virginia at the Upper Big Branch Mine, which resulted in the deaths of 29 miners.
Since 2023, MSHA’s impact inspections have identified 4,314 violations, including 1,189 significant and substantial (S&S) violations and 82 unwarrantable failure findings. An S&S violation is one that could significantly contribute to a safety or health hazard. Violations designated as unwarrantable failures occur when an inspector finds aggravated conduct that constitutes more than ordinary negligence.
Impact inspections are conducted at mines requiring increased agency attention due to poor compliance history; previous accidents, injuries, and illnesses; and other compliance concerns. Of the 239 violations identified in July 2024, MSHA evaluated 70 as S&S and found 11 unwarrantable failure findings. Inspections were completed at mines in Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
“July impact inspections resulted in a troubling number of unwarrantable failure findings representing serious safety and health hazards that operators knew put miners at risk and should have corrected,” said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson. “Impact inspections remain an important tool to hold operators accountable and eliminate hazards such as combustible materials near belts—hazards that history shows can unfortunately cause mine fires and lost lives.”
Details of two July 2024 impact inspections at mines in Utah and West Virginia are provided below:
**Gentry Mine #3:** Operated by Gentry Mountain Mining LLC in Emery County, Utah, this underground coal mine was selected due to its poor compliance history. After inspectors arrived on July 16, MSHA personnel monitored the mine’s communication system until reaching underground work areas. Inspectors identified 23 violations of mandatory safety and health standards, including six evaluated as S&S. Specific conditions included:
- Accumulations of combustible materials throughout the mine.
- Numerous electrical hazards exposing miners to potential electrocution.
**Belcher Branch:** Operated by Frontier Coal Co. in Wyoming County, West Virginia, this coal mine was also selected for inspection due to its enforcement history. Between July 1, 2023, to June 3, 2024, MSHA issued 334 violations at this mine. In July 2024 alone inspectors cited another 20 violations including eight unwarrantable failure findings. Specific conditions included:
- An imminent danger order due to a hot and smoking tail pulley bearing on a belt conveyor.
- Failure to ensure fire warning systems operated properly along belt conveyors.
- Non-compliance with ventilation plans leading to various hazards.
MSHA remains vigilant in ensuring operators recognize and correct hazards adequately while recording corrective actions where injury likelihood exists.
More information about MSHA's monthly impact inspection results is available online.
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