From Deseret News archives:

A history of safety violations

Crandall Canyon Mine

Published: Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007 3:15 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
The Crandall Canyon Mine, where six miners were trapped Monday after a collapse, has a history of safety or health citations.

Since early 2005, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has cited the Crandall Canyon Mine 176 times for alleged safety or health standard violations. Many of these were deemed "significant and substantial" problems.

For a violation to be considered significant and substantial, according to MSHA rules, mine inspectors must believe that "based upon the particular facts surrounding the violation, there exists a reasonable likelihood that the hazard contributed to will result in an injury or illness of a reasonably serious nature."

MSHA issued 33 citations against the mine this year, plus three orders. Of the citations, a dozen were labeled significant and substantial. These citations included a build-up of grease and dust that was combustible, and inadequate warning devices and escape ways.

Orders considered significant and substantial were issued regarding the dust accumulation and the availability of mine rescue teams. The mine was cited for not having at least two mine rescue teams available at all times when miners are underground.

Story continues below
The rescue-team order was issued on Feb. 1, and subsequent inspections did not indicate anything lacking in that regard, so presumably the citation was not justified or any problem in this area was corrected.

Since January 2004, the Crandall Canyon Mine has paid nearly $130,000 in MSHA-assessed fines. Nearly $4,000 in additional penalties have not been settled, and proposed penalties have not been assessed for 40 citations.

Some citations result in no penalties, while the highest since January 2004 was a $6,300 penalty paid in June 2004 resulting from an order concerning examining, testing and maintaining electrical equipment.

Another assessment for $6,300, resulting from a citation issued in February 2004, was marked "delinquent" in MSHA records. The regulation involves keeping a primary escapeway clear of certain equipment.

Walter Licht, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania who has researched mine accidents, said citations can be assessed because of minor or more serious concerns.

"One of the mine inspectors can be in a mine and see a wrench lying on the ground that somebody can trip on, so they get a citation," he said. But the significant citations are to be taken seriously, he said.

Recent comments

Bob murray has mines in southern illinois,one of those is where i...

a concerned ex-miner | Aug. 11, 2007 at 11:11 a.m.

previousnext

Latest comments

It's a start in the right direction, maybe just have the UTE v. BYU game held...

We cannot overlook the performance of a man who did not diminish in any other...

I WENT TO THE SNOW GAME THERE LAST YEAR AND IT WAS GOOD TO BAD THEY LOST......

"Overall, however, I think he was one of our most gifted presidents in terms...

GOP blasts Matheson after vote

I'm conservative, but I like Matheson. A lot. Standing up to your own party...

If a Local Newspaper thinks it's news, THEN IT IS NEWS at least to the local...

When was the last time the art dept at the u of u earned 15million dollars...

Byu is Fooder for he Horned Frogs and the Utes. Your only prupose in this...

IM A HUGH UTES FAN! WOULD LOVE TO SEE UTAH BEAT TCU BUT I DOUBT IT WILL...

GOP blasts Matheson after vote

"the free market solve the health care problem" Are you kidding me? In what...

Advertisements
Advertisement