Mine Inspections Result in Hundreds of Safety Citations

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration, federal inspectors issued 166 citations and orders during special impact inspections conducted at seven coal mines and one dimension stone quarry last month. The seven coal mines were issued 127 citations and four orders; the quarry operation was issued 27 citations and eight orders.

Following the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine, special impact inspections were conducted involving mines that merited increased agency attention and enforcement due to poor compliance history.

Since April 2010, MSHA has conducted 228 impact inspections. These inspections have resulted in 4,268 citations, 396 orders and 13 safeguards.