MSHA has just released a new web-based tool that allows miners and mine operators to track their own facility for patterns of safety violations. The tool is available to the press and public as well, and is designed to instill a culture of self-policing in an industry plagued by safety issues.
From the MSHA press release:
MSHA developed the monitoring tool based on feedback from the mining industry and others, as well as recommendations from a POV audit report issued last September by the Labor Department’s Office of Inspector General. During the course of the audit, the OIG reviewed MSHA’s policy, criteria, regulations and information systems to establish whether they were reliable and effective in determining and sanctioning habitual violators.
“We are making the process more transparent,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “We have worked hard to improve the pattern of violations process, and I am confident we have developed a tool to better serve the mining community. This self-monitoring tool will be an extremely effective way for mine operators to continuously track their compliance history and make the changes necessary to ultimately keep miners safe and healthy.”
The new tool can be found here.
Submitted by Patrick McQueen
