During inspections, inspectors with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) are instructed to talk with "a reasonable number of miners about safety or health concerns." An inspector learning of a hazardous condition from a miner is required to follow MSHA procedures to determine if the complaint relates to an imminent danger or a serious or nonserious hazard and if a violation exists. The inspector must document the complaint and the follow-up evaluation.

That's one of many valuable pieces of information mine operators will find in MSHA's updated Metal and Nonmetal General Inspection Procedures Handbook. The March 2009 version of the handbook includes instructions to implement provisions and regulations under the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act) and supercedes previous editions.

The handbook makes the point that MSHA inspectors should not simply march through a mine checking off items as complying with or violating safety standards. The handbook states:

"While the issuance of citations and orders may bring a mine into compliance with safety and health regulations, those actions do not always address underlying causes of violations. To remedy this, inspectors should expand their focus so they can evaluate not easily seen problems or gaps in mine safety or health programs that may lead to fatalities or injuries, particularly at mines with excessive injuries, illnesses, or violations."

To that end, the handbook states that during every regular inspection inspectors should:

• Discuss safe work practices, accident prevention, risk assessment, and current accident or illness trends at the mine with miners and mine management.
• Analyze the mine's violation history to identify significant trends and determine root causes so this information can be shared and discussed with miners and mine management.
• Focus on potentially hazardous work practices, conditions, or procedures in each work area inspected.

MSHA's handbook for inspectors is available here.

[Source: Environmental Manager's Compliance Advisor. Subscribe today!]