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

COAL MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
GENERAL INSPECTION PROCEDURES HANDBOOK CHAPTER 3
copy of the ground control plan for reference during the inspection; and
b. Review the accident and violation histories and consider them when issuing
enforcement actions.
Discussions with the Mine Operator and Foremen/Examiners
The inspector should discuss the following with the appropriate mine officials
during an inspection:
a. Examination requirements of §§ 77.1713 (Daily inspection of surface coal
mine; certified person; reports of inspection), 77.1004(a) (Ground control;
inspection and maintenance; general), and, if applicable, 77.1501 (Auger
mining; inspections), and recordkeeping;
b. Ground control plan requirements to evaluate their knowledge and
implementation of its provisions;
c. Old underground workings that are depicted on the map required by
§ 77.1200 (Mine maps) to determine how an operator determined their
presence and extent, and any other condition shown on the map that is or
may need to be addressed in the ground control plan;
d. Reportable accidents at the mine and the methods used to prevent similar
occurrences;
e. Known near-miss accidents at the mine and similar occurrences at other
mines and prevention methods;
f. Rock falls, unstable and potentially hazardous conditions the mine is
experiencing, and any changes that were made to the ground control plan
or work practices;
g. Hazard abatement and mitigation methods;
h. Safety precautions specified in the ground control plan for working near
highwalls and for compliance with § 77.1006(c) (Highwalls; men working);
i. Barricading methods used at the mine;
j. Communication of hazards to all miners;
k. Methods used to monitor ground movement; and
Release 1 (February 2013) 3-35