A Kentucky mine’s history of violations and complaints from miners about hazardous conditions led to a federal investigation that found three unwarrantable failures and a host of other serious safety issues.
The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) found three unwarrantable failures and 42 other violations, including 17 deemed significant and substantial (S&S) at the WV-3 Surface Mine in Logan County, West Virginia.
Violations designated as unwarrantable failures involve aggravated conduct by the mine operator that constitutes more than ordinary negligence.
One of the unwarrantable failures found during the June 2023 inspection involved aggravated conduct for failing to maintain effective dust-control measures on a drill, resulting in a heightened exposure to respirable crystalline silica. Exposure to respirable crystalline silica can lead to silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and other lung diseases.
The other two unwarrantable failures were for safety defects found on haul equipment, including defective emergency steering, damaged tires, significant oil leaks and a defective back-up alarm. Several of these issues were reported to mine management for days on pre-operation examinations without corrections being made.
Accidents involving powered haulage in the mining industry have been a leading cause of fatal workplace injuries, according to MSHA. The agency has cited this mine operator, Kentucky Fuel Corp., 13 times in the last two years for similar violations.
June 2023 inspections led to 242 violations at 18 mines
The WV-3 Surface Mine inspection was included in MSHA’s June 2023 impact inspections, which were conducted at 18 mines in 12 states and led to 242 violations being issued.
The agency conducts impact inspections at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to poor compliance history, previous incidents or injuries, and other compliance concerns.
These inspections have identified 1,435 violations so far this year, including 411 S&S and 22 unwarrantable failures.
