MSHA targets 15 mining opportunities

Charleston, W.Va. — The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said Monday it has warned 15 mining operations to clean up their health and safety practices or face stricter enforcement.

The agency said the 13 coal mines, a dirt processing plant and a gold mine have been cited repeatedly for “significant and substantial” violations that could have caused serious injuries or illnesses.

Those mining operations are supposed to craft plans for reducing violations and will be monitored closely by health and safety inspectors for 90 days.

If they improve, MSHA said they won’t be listed as having a pattern of violations, which leads to greater scrutiny and tougher disciplinary action.

Among other things, the designation allows MSHA to interrupt production by ordering workers to leave a mine until a serious violation is corrected.