In order to emphasize the importance of safe working conditions in mines, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is going to publish a proposed rule to amend existing civil penalty regulations.
The rule, which will be published in the Federal Register on July 31, will simplify assessment criteria for health and safety violations and place greater emphasis on safe working conditions.
“This proposed rule would simplify the process and increase consistency, objectivity and efficiency in the citations and orders that inspectors issue,” says Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “Furthermore, it would facilitate improved compliance and early resolution of enforcement issues.”
Under the rule, the penalty price will remain generally the same; however, the prices for small metal and nonmetal mines will decrease. Minimum penalties for unwarrantable failure violations will increase.
By doing this, MSHA hopes that mine owners will become more accountable for safety hazards and more proactive about running safe operations.
