MSHA is seeking to amend existing civil penalty regulations by simplifying the criteria for assessing safety and health violations and increasing emphasis on serious safety and health conditions. The proposed rule will be published in today's Federal Register.
MSHA Administrator Joseph Main says the proposed rule will "simplify the process and increase consistency, objectivity and efficiency in the citations and orders that inspectors issue." He says it will also help improve compliance and resolve enforcement issues quickly.
By increasing penalties for unwarrantable failure violations (i.e., those that constitute more than just ordinary negligence), according to the agency, the rule will encourage mine operators to be more accountable and proactive in addressing mine safety and health conditions.
The proposed rule is open for comment for 60 days following its July 31 publication.
A Blog From the American Society of Safety Engineers