COAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH

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COAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH

• Terry L. Bentley
• Acting Deputy Administrator
• Coal Mine Safety and Health

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Office of the Administrator
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11 Coal Districts - 44 Field Offices
District 1 Wilkes-Barre, PA
District 3 Morgantown, WV
District 5 Norton, VA
District 7 Barbourville, KY
District 9 Denver, CO
District 11 Birmingham, AL
District 2 Hunker, PA
District 8 Vincennes, IN
District 10 Madisonville, KY
District 4 Mt. Hope, WV
District 6 Pikeville, KY
Pottsville
Bridgeport
Norton
Barbourville
Aztec
Bessemer
Shamokin
Morgantown
Vansant
Harlan
Bryan FDS
Oakland
Hazard
Craig
Wilkes-Barre
St. Clairsville
Jacksboro
Delta
Elkhorn City
Gillette
Clearfield
Logan
Longview FDS
Hindman
Indiana
Madison
Martin
McAlester
Johnstown
Mt. Carbon
Phelps
Price
Kittanning
Mt. Hope
Pikeville
Ruff Creek
Pineville
Whitesburg
Benton
Beaver Dam
Princeton
Hillsboro
Madisonville
Summersville
Vincennes
Morganfield
09/07/2007
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U.S. COAL DISTRICTS
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2
2
3
8
6
9
4
10
5
7
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Note Only includes active mining areas.
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U.S. COAL BASINS
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U. S. Congress declares that the first priority
and concern of all in the coal or other mining
industry must be the health and safety of its
most precious resource - the miner1977
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act
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INSPECTION METHODOLOGIES

• MSHA mine inspection and investigation activities
  are conducted to ensure that a safe and healthful
  working environment is provided for miners
• Enforce the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of
  1977
• Inspectors right of entry (unannounced)
• Conduct education and training activities
• Provide technical assistance

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INSPECTION METHODOLOGIES GENERAL PROCEDURES

• Review the uniform mine file
• Timely arrival at the mine
• Examination of mine records
• Inspecting working places for imminent dangers
• Conduct conferences with the operator
• Inspection equipment and supplies

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INSPECTION METHODOLOGIES GENERAL PROCEDURES

• During a regular safety and health inspection the
  mine is inspected in its entirety to meet the
  requirements of Section 103(a)(3) and (4) of the
  act

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GENERAL PROCEDURES

• The inspector should arrive at the mine on the
  first day of the inspection in advance of
  starting time
• Review the mine map
• Conduct a pre-inspection conference
• Determine compliance with check-in and check-out
  system
• Check independent contractors

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GENERAL PROCEDURES

• Travel with mine examiners
• Conduct inspections on all shifts
• Determine compliance with hearing conservation
  program
• Evaluate operation of man-trips
• Check all records and determine operator
  compliance with all required examinations

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GENERAL PROCEDURES

• Conduct inspections of surface areas
• Inspect underground mine outby areas
• Conduct inspections of working sections

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OTHER INSPECTION-RELATED ACTIVITIES

• New mines and other sites
• Shaft or slope construction sites
• Other major construction sites
• Interconnected mines
• Non-producing mines
• Reopening inspections
• Spot inspections
• Explosives

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SPECIAL INITIATIVESSAFETY

• Winter Alert
• Seasonal mine explosion prevention and other
  Winter hazards
• Stand Down for Safety
• Pre-work safety talks
• Focus on Safe Work
• Maintenance and repair hazard emphasis
• Stay Out Stay Alive Campaign
• Dangers associated with abandoned mines

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SPECIAL INITIATIVESSAFETY

• Roof and Rib Control
• Stakeholder outreach seminars and accident
  prevention
• Truck Inspection Initiatives
• Safety checks of haul trucks and over-the-road
  trucks
• Impoundment Inspection Sweep
• Nationwide inspections of all coal slurry
  impoundments

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SPECIAL INITIATIVESHEALTH

• Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis (CWP)
• Respirable Dust
• Miners Choice X-Ray Screening
• Confidential X-Rays free of charge
• Noise Reduction Teams
• Engineering controls and recommendations for
  noise reduction
• Diesel Partnership
• Stakeholder involvement on implementation of
  diesel regulations

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SAFETY HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES

• Strategic partnerships to improve miners health
  and safety
• Further integrate enforcement with training and
  root cause analysis
• Expand internal employee training
• Focused rule making

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EVERY COAL MINER COUNTS