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

COAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
GENERAL INSPECTION PROCEDURES HANDBOOK CHAPTER 3
Chapter 3 - REGULAR SAFETY and HEALTH INSPECTION PROCEDURES
A Regular Safety and Health Inspection (E01) is one in which a mine is inspected in its
entirety pursuant to Sections 103(a)(3) and (4) of the Act. This inspection is to
determine if imminent dangers exist and to ascertain compliance with mandatory
health and safety standards, approved plans (including suitability to current mine
conditions), citations, orders, or decisions issued, and other requirements of the Act. If
other types of inspections, excluding 103(i) inspections, are used to complete a Regular
Safety and Health Inspection, comments should be included on the regular inspection
event sheet to clearly show the event numbers used.
No portion of a 103(i) spot inspection (including inspection notes, reports, bottle
samples, etc.) may be used to complete any other type of inspection, including a
Regular Safety and Health Inspection. Subsequent actions on previously issued
citations and orders are permitted as long as they are in the same general area and do
not interfere with the requirements of the 103(i) inspection.
When conducting inspections while riding on mobile equipment, the mode of
transportation should allow a complete and effective inspection of the areas from a safe
position. When extremely low coal seams are inspected, it may not be possible to
conduct an inspection from mobile equipment completely, effectively, or safely.
Conveyor belts shall be inspected from within the entry where the belt is located and
the entire conveyor length must be traveled.
Problems encountered during inspection activities that could affect the health or safety
of miners which are not covered by existing standards should be promptly
communicated to the inspector’s immediate supervisor. It is especially important that
this information is shared when other inspectors travel to the mine or mine assignments
change.
Inspection Tracking System (ITS). The ITS is designed to enhance MSHA’s ability to
determine inspection progress, fulfill established inspection procedures, and plan and
coordinate inspection activities. The ITS may be updated electronically or printed out
and updated manually. When possible, documentation should be entered onto the
Inspection Tracking System at the end of each inspection day to ensure that other
inspection personnel can access inspection results and prevent loss of information. If a
printed report is used, it shall be maintained in an established location in each office to
assure that inspection personnel can access it. A specialist who is not located at the
field office where the printed ITS is maintained may call the field office supervisor or
the inspector regularly assigned to the mine visited and provide inspection information
so the ITS may be updated. Alternatively, the specialist may provide this information
by fax or email.
Release 1 (February 2013) 3-1