The U.S. Department of Labor has reported that its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) conducted impact inspections at 13 mines across several states in December 2024, resulting in the issuance of 119 violations. The inspections took place in Alabama, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, and West Virginia.

These inspections target mines with poor compliance histories or those with previous accidents and health concerns. This initiative began after a tragic explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia in April 2010 claimed the lives of 29 miners.

Out of the 119 violations identified during these recent inspections, MSHA classified 32 as significant and substantial (S&S), while two were deemed unwarrantable failures. In the years 2023 and 2024 combined, MSHA carried out a total of 343 impact inspections uncovering over 5,246 violations across approximately 300 mines.

Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson stated that "MSHA’s December 2024 impact inspections identified slip, trip and fall hazards that put miners at unnecessary risk," emphasizing the need for mine operators to conduct thorough examinations to mitigate such risks proactively.

Among the inspected sites was Clintwood JOD LLC's CE #2 coal preparation plant in Pike County, Kentucky. Following a hazardous conditions complaint and subsequent investigation by MSHA, an inspection on December 11 led to citations for 31 safety standard violations including significant S&S findings.

Inspectors noted inadequate on-shift examinations at this facility with material spills creating slip hazards on steps between floors and walkways. They also found surface installation issues like deteriorated structures. Additionally, some documented hazardous conditions remained unaddressed until inspection time.

Another critical finding involved unguarded moving machine parts posing entanglement risks for workers on the third floor of the plant.