MSHA finds none of the nation’s mine operations met criteria for a pattern of violations

First published by MSHA

WASHINGTON – For the seventh year in a row, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration found none of the nation’s 12,000 mining operations met the criteria for one of the agency’s toughest enforcement tools, its pattern of violations screening.

In MSHA’s annual screening of operations from Aug. 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021, the agency found no pattern of violation notices. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 includes the pattern of violations provision for mines that pose the greatest risk to miners’ safety and health, particularly those with chronic violation records.

“While the pattern of violations provision gives us an enhanced enforcement tool that alerts us to mine operations with the most serious violations, we know more must be done to prevent mining fatalities,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Jeannette J. Galanis. “We have seen too many tragic incidents in 2021 and we encourage mine operators to intensify their efforts to ensure the safety, health and well-being of their miners.”

MSHA provides mine operators with online tools to help monitor their compliance. The POV tool informs operators how they rate against the screening criteria and when appropriate corrective actions are needed. The agency’s S&S rate calculator enables operators to monitor their “significant and substantial” violations.

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