Mine Cited for Repeat Violations

The US Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) recently issued $291,600 in fines against a West Virginia mine for coal dust accumulations and failure to follow an approved ventilation plan.

Big River Mining LLC, owner of the Broad Run Mine in Mason County, WV, was issued a high-negligence unwarrantable failure order for allowing coal and coal dust to accumulate around an energized coal conveyor belt tail and bottom belt roller.

MSHA noted that the accumulations were packed so tightly around the turning rollers that the rollers and bearing housings were too hot to touch. A mine fire easily could have resulted. MSHA had issued the same operator three unwarrantable failure orders for violations of the same standard during the previous six months.

On the same day an MSHA inspector issued a high-negligence unwarrantable failure order for failure to follow the approved ventilation plan. Miners were observed working in a cloud of silica-bearing dust being generated during cutting of a sandstone roof at the mine.

Broad Run Mine was fined $147,300 for accumulation of combustible materials and $144,300 for failure to follow the approved ventilation plan.