Examinations of Work Areas in Underground Coal Mines for Violations of Mandatory Health or Safety Standards
MSHA has revised its requirements for preshift, supplemental, on-shift, and weekly examinations of underground coal mines to require operators to identify violations of health or safety standards related to ventilation, methane, roof control, combustible materials, rock dust, other safeguards, and guarding, as listed in the final rule. It requires that the mine operator record and correct violations of the nine safety and health standards found during these examinations. It also requires that the operator review with mine examiners on a quarterly basis all citations and orders issued in areas where preshift, supplemental, on-shift, and weekly examinations are required. The effective date is August 6, 2012. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-04-06/html/2012-8328.htm