Coal mine safety / Terrance V. Newhouse, editor.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Newhouse, Terrance V.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Coal mines and mining--Safety measures.

Coal mines and mining.

Energy industries--Safety measures.

Energy industries.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (204 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Nova Science Publishers, c2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Dramatic mine accidents early in 2006 have led to passage of the first major amendment to federal mine safety law since 1977. The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act requires each mine to have an emergency plan, increased supplies of oxygen, and improved rescue teams. Penalties for violations have also been increased. Although the bill had wide support in Congress, some Members have characterised it as only a "first step," to be followed by additional measures that would include a lower maximum limit on dust concentrations, underground refuges, communications and tracking devices, and greater emphasis on enforcement of standards. On January 2, 2006, the nation was reminded of the dangers of underground mining, as 12 miners died in an explosion and fire in the Sago mine in West Virginia. Subsequently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued new regulations; Congress has passed the first major revision of the mine safety law since 1977 and has taken further bills under consideration; and state legislatures in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Illinois have tightened their own laws. These responses have emphasised factors thought to have played a part in the Sago tragedy, including emergency oxygen supplies, tracking and communication systems, and deployment of rescue teams. There have also been proposals to increase the penalties for violations of safety standards.

Contents:

Intro

COAL MINE SAFETY

CONTENTS

PREFACE

MINE SAFETY: BETTER OVERSIGHT AND COORDINATION BY MSHA AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES COULD IMPROVE SAFETY FOR UNDERGROUND COAL MINERS*

RESULTS IN BRIEF

BACKGROUND

UNDERGROUND COAL MINES FACE CHALLENGES IN PREPARING MINE WORKERS AND RESCUE TEAMS FOR EMERGENCIES

MSHA REVIEWS MINES' TRAINING PLANS AND INSPECTS TRAINING RECORDS BUT DOES NOT ADEQUATELY MONITOR INSTRUCTORS OR TRAINING

MSHA AND NIOSH LACK A FORMAL AGREEMENT TO GUIDE MINE SAFETY COORDINATION

MOST PENALTIES ASSESSED BY MSHA ARE PAID WITHOUT OPPOSITION, BUT MANY OF THOSE APPEALED ARE REDUCED SUBSTANTIALLY

CONCLUSIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EXECUTIVE ACTION

AGENCY COMMENTS

APPENDIX I: SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY

APPENDIX II: SURVEY OF UNDERGROUND COAL MINES

APPENDIX III : COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

APPENDIX IV: COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

APPENDIX V. COMMENTS FROM THE FEDERAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

APPENDIX VI : GAO CONTACT AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

REFERENCES

MINE SAFETY: ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE AND OVERSIGHT OF MINES' EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS WOULD IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF UNDERGROUND COAL MINERS*

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF MSHA'S APPROVAL PROCESS WAS HAMPERED BY SEVERAL FACTORS THAT DELAYED APPROVAL AND RESULTED IN VARIATIONS IN THE PLANS

WHILE MOST PLAN COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED, TWO KEY COMPONENTS HAVE NOT

WHILE MSHA'S DISTRICT OFFICES HAVE ENFORCED MINES' IMPLEMENTATION OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS, MSHA HEADQUARTERS HAS PROVIDED LIMITED OVERSIGHT OF ENFORCEMENT AND PLAN QUALITY

AGENCY COMMENTS AND OUR EVALUATION

APPENDIX I: SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY.

APPENDIX II: CITATIONS ISSUED BY MSHA RELATED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF MINES' EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS

APPENDIX III: COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

APPENDIX IV. COMMENTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

APPENDIX V: GAO CONTACT AND STAFF ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

COAL MINE HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THE UNITED STATES

CRANDALL CANYON MINE DISASTER

ASSESSMENT OF CIVIL PENALTIES

PATTERN OF VIOLATIONS

FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS

CONFERENCING OF CITATIONS

CLOSURE ORDERS

BELT AIR

BELT FLAMMABILITY

SEALING OF ABANDONED/WORKED-OUT AREAS

COMMUNICATION/TRACKING DEVICES

MINE INSPECTORS/MINE INSPECTIONS

REGULATIONS

INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIVE BODY

PROGRAM FUNDING

SUPPLEMENTAL MINER ACT (S-MINER)

CONCLUSION

"TWO YEARS AFTER THE MINER ACT: HOW SAFE IS MINING TODAY?"

INTRODUCTION

NIOSH MANDATES UNDER THE MINER ACT

EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS

FY 2008 APPROPRIATIONS ACT ACTIVITIES

STATEMENT OF RICHARD E. STICKLER ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE SAFETY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EMPLOYMENT, LABOR AND PENSIONS UNITED STATES SENATE JUNE 19, 2008

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MINER ACT

POST CRANDALL CANYON GROUND CONTROL ACTION

COMPREHENSIVE ENFORCEMENT

ASSESSMENTS

STATEMENT OF RICHARD E. STICKLER ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF LABOR MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MAY 16, 2007

ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS

MSHA ACTIONS TO IMPROVE MINE SAFETY

EMERGENCY MINE EVACUATION

EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANS

POST-ACCIDENT BREATHABLE AIR

POST-ACCIDENT COMMUNICATIONS AND POST-ACCIDENT TRACKING

MINE RESCUE TEAMS

CIVIL PENALTIES

FAMILY LIAISON PROGRAM.

SEALING OF ABANDONED AREAS IN UNDERGROUND COAL MINES

RECRUITMENT

TESTIMONY OF BRUCE WATZMAN VICE PRESIDENT OF SAFETY AND HEALTH, NATIONAL MINING ASSOCIATION BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR AND PENSIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE SAFETY OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE JUNE 19, 2008

MINER ACT

VOLUNTARY ACTIONS

CREATING A CULTURE OF PREVENTION

COAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH*

ABSTRACT

WORKING CONDITIONS IN THE COAL MINING INDUSTRY

HEALTH

THE REGULATORY REGIME

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY

COAL MINE SAFETY*

THE RECORD - PAST AND PRESENT

REGULATORY REGIME

LEGISLATION

INDEX.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-60741-410-4

OCLC:

425966246