MSHA HANDBOOK SERIES - PH13-V-1 - Mine Safety and Health ...

COAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
GENERAL INSPECTION PROCEDURES HANDBOOK CHAPTER 2
H. Examination Records. Before physically inspecting an area of a mine, the inspector
should conduct a limited review of the operator’s most recent examination records
pertinent to the planned inspection activity for that day. More than one record will
often apply to an area, such as preshift, on-shift, daily and weekly examination
records. When a record of examination lists a condition that may identify a serious
hazard, the inspector should thoroughly document the hazards in the narrative
portion of the inspection notes and proceed to this area immediately. If additional
areas are inspected (other than those planned at the start of the shift), pertinent
examination records shall also be examined prior to leaving the mine property. In all
cases, mine examination records pertinent to the issuance of a citation, order, or
safeguard should be reviewed prior to placing the enforcement action in writing, and
the review should be documented.
When conducting an inspection or investigation other than a Regular Safety and
Health inspection, only the records or postings pertinent to that activity code and
area of intended inspection need be reviewed. These reviews shall be sufficient to
provide a reasonable assurance that the operator is complying with MSHA recording
and posting requirements.
The inspector’s review of the operators’ examination records is to assure that
required pre-shift, supplemental, on-shift and weekly examinations are performed
and properly recorded, and that any hazardous conditions and violations of nine
specific mandatory safety and health standards are recorded as corrected in a timely
manner. The review should be used during inspections to assure all areas of the mine
site are being examined in accordance with the 30 CFR and any approved plans.
In addition to hazardous conditions, mine operators must examine for, record and
correct violations of the following nine standards: § 75.202(a), § 75.220(a)(1), §
75.333(h), § 75.370(a)(1), § 75.400, § 75.403, § 75.1403, § 75.1722(a), and § 75.1731(a).
Inspectors should check operators’ examination records for the following:
a. Examinations have been conducted at required intervals;
b. examination records indicate violations of nine specific mandatory safety and
health standards;
c. hazardous conditions and violations of nine specific mandatory safety and
health standards have been properly recorded;
d. records of violations or hazardous conditions indicate a need for inspector to
follow up;
e. corrective actions have been recorded for reported hazardous conditions and
violations of the nine standards; and
f. ventilation of worked-out and outby areas have been evaluated properly.
Release 1 (February 2013) 2-9