MSHA
has announced the formation of the Office of Assessments, Accountability,
Special Enforcement and Investigations (OAASEI). According to the agency, this reorganization
is designed to centralize oversight of certain cross-cutting,
compliance-related actions, including citing flagrant violations,
investigations of retaliation claims and possible criminal violations, impact
inspections, pattern of violations program, and the use of injunctive
authority.
As described by the agency, the reorganization will incorporate
current headquarters accountability functions as carried out by the Office of Accountability
within the OAASEI, thereby enhancing the management, administrative and
analytical support for the program while retaining its independence from the
mine inspection program areas. The Office of Accountability originally was
created in response to internal reviews of the Sago, Aracoma and Darby mine
disasters that were critical of MSHA's pre-accident enforcement activities and
questioned whether policies intended to prevent serious mine disasters were
being properly and effectively implemented.
"MSHA conducts regular mandated inspections and
enforcement actions to support compliance in U.S. mines," says Joseph Main,
assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “However, some mines
require targeted, enhanced enforcement methods. The formation of OAASEI will enable
MSHA to better manage and coordinate its use of special enforcement tools
against the most serious violators of the Mine Act.”