MSHA Tools Help Track Mining Violations

MSHA has launched two online tools to help operators, miners and others track regulatory violations
commonly associated with mining deaths and frequently found by mine inspectors in examinations of underground coal mines. The tools enhance other web-based methods MSHA offers the mining industry to operate more safely.

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The first tool allows the user to monitor a mine’s compliance history, such as determining its eligibility for a pattern of violations citation or to review number of significant and substantial violations issued in a given time period after a corrective action plan is put into place. It identifies the safety and health standards spotlighted in MSHA’s “Rules to Live By” outreach and enforcement program that works to prevent some common causes of mining fatalities. It will be an important part of the agency's strategy to address the spike in deaths at metal and nonmetal mines where “Rules to Live By” standards are often cited.

The second tool tracks compliance with standards associated with hazardous conditions that pose the greatest risk to underground coal miners. In April 2012, MSHA published a final rule on Examinations of Work Areas in Underground Coal Mines for Violations of Mandatory Health or Safety Standards, which requires mine operators to identify and correct hazardous conditions and violations of nine health and safety standards. These nine standards address ventilation, methane, roof control, combustible materials, rock dust, equipment guarding and other safeguards.

For more information and how to access the tools, visit this page from MSHA.

NETS Road Safety Guide Published in 21 Languages

Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) has published the "NETS' Comprehensive Guide to Road Safety" in 21 languages. First offered in English last year, the free guide is intended to help employers develop their road safety programs regardless of what stage of development they are in. The guide draws from the best practices of the companies represented on NETS' board of directors, and also draws from information gathered by the NETS Strength in Numbers road safety benchmarking program members, representing more than 100 companies with fleet operations in 153 countries.

"Making roads safer is a major global mission," says NETS Executive Director Jack Hanley. "Employers in most parts of the world now have a tool kit for contributing to the goals set by the Decade of Action for Road Safety. Through employers, the guide has the potential to reach more than 50% of the world's population."

OSHA Examines Cost Workers Pay for Injuries

OSHA’s report, “Adding Inequality to Injury: The Costs of Failing to Protect Workers on the Job,” examines the toll of work-related injuries and illnesses on workers, their families and the U.S. economy. According to the report, the ultimate price is loss of the American Dream.

“For many injured workers and their families, a workplace injury creates a trap which leaves them less able to save for the future or to make the investments in skills and education that provide the opportunity for advancement,” the report states. “These injuries and illnesses contribute to the pressing issue of income inequality: they force working families out of the middle class and into poverty, and keep the families of lower-wage workers from entering the middle class.”

Several factors contribute to this trend, OSHA says. The report indicates that the state-based workers’ compensation system is providing fewer benefits than ever to injured workers, with employers now paying only 20% of the overall financial costs of injuries. Changes in employment relationships in the U.S.—including the misclassification of wage employees as independent contractors and the widespread use of temporary labor—leave companies with even fewer incentives to provide safe working conditions despite legal obligations to do so.

Eliminating hazards and exposures that lead to life-changing injuries and illnesses is the only true solution, OSHA says. “Serious workplace injuries are devastating to the injured workers, their families and communities. Low-wage workers and their families are particularly impacted by injuries. Unless we as a society take steps to address these issues, many of these people will continue to find it difficult to enter or remain in the middle class,” the report concludes.

You can read and download the complete report here.

Fracking & Drilling Hazards: Beyond Respirable Silica

An OSHA hazard alert indicates that increased fracking and drilling may increase worker exposure to hazards other than respirable silica, including ergonomic issues, chemical exposure and potentially flammable atmospheres. The alert, “Hydraulic Fracturing and Flowback Hazards Other than Respirable Silica,” states that more workers are potentially exposed to the hazards created by hydraulic fracturing and flowback operations due to the large increase in the number of such operations in the past decade. Approximately 35,000 wells are hydraulically fractured in the U.S., per the hazard alert.

Fracking operations increased concurrently with horizontal well development, which requires multiple stimulation stages per well, according to OSHA. OSHA and EPA each have dedicated websites that provide additional information on these processes. Download the alert here to learn more about acceptable exposure levels and recommended mitigation strategies.

Beyond Traffic: DOT Looks Ahead to 2045

U.S. DOT has released a study, “Beyond Traffic,” that anticipates trends and choices facing the U.S. transportation system over the next 3 decades. It paints a bleak picture for the future of U.S. transportation if current developments remain unchanged. The report notes that existing transportation infrastructure, already unable to accommodate swelling populations, is in disrepair. U.S. demand for freight is growing, and it is projected to be $1.6 billion of the nation’s total gross domestic product in 2045. Funding is scarce and declining at a time when research by groups such as The Pew Charitable Trusts indicates that the system as a whole needs investment. The report also warns that the development of renewable energy strategies is not keeping pace with the overall demands on transportation systems.

Not all the news is bad, however. DOT highlights recent developments such as ride sharing and self-driving cars as a sign of hope that could reduce strain on the environment and infrastructure. The agency also indicates that it does not consider the study to be prescriptive. Instead, it hopes to ignite conversation among industry leaders. “Beyond Traffic is an invitation to the American public—including the users, developers, owners and operators of the transportation network and the policy officials who shape it—to have a frank conversation about the shape, size and condition of that syystem and how it will meet the needs and goals of our nation for decades to come,” the agency says. Learn more at the Beyond Traffic website. View the report here.