Page 35 - Advances In Productive, Safe, and Responsible Coal Mining

Safety and productivity in coal mining—How to make both the top priority 21

Table 2.10 Suppliers’ average safe performance index for
surface mines

Mine size 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Large 75.1 69.0 71.1 73.5 72.2 71.6
Medium 91.4 82.3 79.2 70.1 82.5 86.8
Small 98.6 79.8 85.0 97.2 59.7 91.6
Very small 96.8 N/A 84.8 96.4 N/A 95.0

Table 2.11 Suppliers’ average safe performance index
for underground mines

Mine size 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Large 74.2 73.5 78.2 71.7 70.9 72.9
Medium 81.4 73.7 76.2 83.2 92.8 N/A
Small 82.1 89.0 56.6 55.0 N/A 81.9
Very small N/A N/A 93.9 N/A N/A N/A

2.3 Evolution of the role of the US federal safety
and health enforcement agency

MSHA’s website provides a comprehensive review of all legislative action addressing
coal mine safety and health in the United States [5]. This section highlights some
important milestones.
Mine safety legislation in 1891 is believed to have been the first, but it was admin-
istered only in territories of the country. In 1910, significant legislation (The Organic
Act) established the Bureau of Mines as a federal research institute to address primar-
ily the great death toll from mine explosions and fires in underground coal mines. No
mine inspection capability was given until 1941 when federal inspectors were given
inspection authority; however, there was no code of regulations to govern these
inspections until 1947, and enforcement authority was weak.
By 1952 annual inspections in underground coal mines were authorized, and the
Bureau of Mines was given limited enforcement power, including writing citations
and issuing imminent danger withdrawal orders. It also authorized civil penalty
assessments on withdrawal orders and against operators who did not allow inspectors
access to their mines. No authorization was given to issue citations for noncompliance
with the code of safety regulations. Finally, in 1966, inspectors were authorized to
enter all underground coal mines.
In 1969, a very comprehensive and tough piece of legislation was passed to
improve coal mine safety and health. The 1969 Coal Mine Health and Safety Act
included significant new provisions, such as: