Federal Government Doles out Grants for Mine Safety Courses

The West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training will receive more than $524,000 in federal funds for training courses aimed at reducing mining accidents, injuries and illnesses.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration announced the grants Wednesday. MSHA has awarded $8.4 million in grants to 47 states and the Navajo Nation.

The funds will be used to provide federally mandated training at all coal, metal and nonmetal mines. MSHA says that includes miners engaged in shell dredging or working at surface stone, sand and gravel mining operations.

Some states also use the funding to support mine emergency response efforts.

In Kentucky, the state Energy and Environment Cabinet will receive a $508,000 grant and the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development will receive about $148,000.

 

MSHA Proposes Rule to Prevent Crushing Deaths & Injuries

A proposed rule from the Mine Safety and Health Administration will be published Wednesday, September 2, 2015 and requires all haulage machinery in underground coal mines be equipped with technology that prevents miners from being struck, pinned, or crushed.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration estimates as of June 2015, only 155 of some 2,000 underground coal hauling machines are equipped with proximity detection systems. 

These systems are a technology that uses electronic sensors to detect motion and the distance between a miner and a machine. They provide audible and visual warnings, and then automatically stop moving machines and scoops before miners are injured.

From 1984 to 2014, MSHA claims pinning, crushing, and striking accidents killed 42 miners and injured 179 others.

The proximity detection systems have already been installed on continuous mining machines used to cut coal in underground mines.

MSHA has requested a comment period until December 1, 2015 on whether this same technology should also be required in underground metal and nonmetal mines.

June U.S. Mine Inspections Result in 139 Citations

Federal inspectors issued 139 citations and three orders at U.S. mine operations in June.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration says the inspections were conducted at 10 coal mines and five other mines in 11 states, including Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.

Patriot Coal’s Winchester Mine in Kanawha County and Coronado Coal LLC’s Powellton #1 Mine in Logan County each received nine citations. 

The impact inspections began in 2010 after the Upper Big Branch mine explosion in West Virginia killed 29 coal miners. Since April 2010, MSHA has issued 14,561 citations and 1,250 orders.

Mines targeted by the inspections are those that have compliance concerns or poor compliance history.

Jim Justice-Owned Bluestone Resources Recalling 200 Southern W.Va. Miners

Some 200 miners in southern West Virginia could be back to work by the end of the summer after an announcement Monday from Bluestone Resources.

The Jim Justice owned Bluestone Resources announced in a press release they are starting the recall process for Coal Mountain mine located in Wyoming County.

Bluestone spokesman Tom Lusk said the process to notify laid-off miners of open positions began this week and is on a “fast track” to be completed in the next few days. He predicted the mine will return to full production within a month.

Lusk said the recall process at the Red Foxx mine in McDowell County will begin as soon as the Coal Mountain project is completed. The sites are expected to employ a total 200 miners.

Justice bought Bluestone Resources from the Russian-based Mechel OAO in February after selling to the company in 2009 for $436 million.

Justice owns mines in multiple states and is working with the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration to pay more than $1.5 million in penalties in Kentucky.

In May, Justice announced he’d seek the Democratic nomination for governor. 

Manchin Bill Would Protect Whistleblowers in Unsafe W.Va. Mines

Senator Joe Manchin and Pennsylvania Democratic Senator Bob Casey have introduced comprehensive mine safety legislation to Congress.The Senators say ‘The…

Senator Joe Manchin and Pennsylvania Democratic Senator Bob Casey have introduced comprehensive mine safety legislation to Congress.

The Senators say ‘The Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2015’ will help fix a broken regulatory system.

The bill aims to close loopholes in the 1952 Federal Coal Mine Safety Act and strengthen the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s ability to enforce the rules creates in the law.

Changes include making it a felony for mine operators to knowingly violate safety standards and increases penalties for being in violation of the standards from $70,000 to $220,000. 

The legislation would also protect miners who refuse to work in unsafe conditions and extend whistleblower protections to those who report safety violations.

In a press release Thursday, Manchin said it is critical to continue to improve safety standards so miners’ lives are not put in jeopardy. A strong mining industry, he said, begins with a strong commitment to miners.

The legislation comes in response to the 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine Disaster, which killed 29 men. Massey CEO Don Blankenship, the mine’s owner, will face federal charges in July over safety violations connected to the mine explosion.

Exit mobile version