# Presentation: 529363

## Contractor Summit

- Conrad Spangler
- Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy

## Mineral Mining (2004)

_**Mineral Mining (2004)**_
**Production Tonnage: 106.3 million**
**Mine Workers: 3603**
**Production Hours: 6.99 million**
**Contractor Hours: 0.98 million**

_**Coal Mining (2004)**_
**Production Tonnage: 30.56 million **
**Mine Workers: 4558 **
**Production Hours: 9.08 million**

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## Slide 4

## Fatal and Serious Injuries at Virginia Mineral Mines – 1994 - 2004 

- Fatal and Serious Injuries at Virginia Mineral Mines – 1994 - 2004

## § 45.1-161.292:2. Definitions. 

- "Operator" means any person who operates, controls or supervises a mine or any independent contractor performing services or construction at such mine.
- "Licensed operator" means the operator who has obtained the license for a particular mine under § _[45.1-161.292:30](http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?000+cod+45.1-161.292C30)__. _
- "Independent contractor" means any person that contracts to perform services or construction at a mine.
- "Miner" means any individual working in a mineral mine.

## § 45.1-161.292:63. Notices of violations. 

- A. If the Director or a mine inspector has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of the Act has occurred, he shall with reasonable promptness issue a notice of violation to _***the person who is responsible for the violation***_.

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## RISK ASSESSMENT

- Both mines and contractors
- Fatal and serious injury rates
- CO’s & NOV’s
- Injury frequency rates
- New mine or contractor

**Notes:**
THE DIVISION OF MINERAL MINING CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF ALL MINES IN VIRGINIA USING A COMPUTERIZED PROGRAM.  THIS ANALYSIS HELPS DMM TO CHANNEL ITS RESOURCES TO THOSE SITES THAT NEED THE MOST ASSISTANCE.
COMPLIANCE INSPECTIONS ADDRESS UNSAFE CONDITIONS AND UNSAFE ACTS.  MINERAL SPECIALIST’S TALK TO INDIVIDUAL MINERS ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES WHILE ON THE MINE SITE.  INSPECTIONS COVER ALL SAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO A MINING SITE.  THE PICTURES IN THIS SLIDE, SHOW A FEW OF THE AREAS THAT ARE ADDRESSED DURING AN INSPECTION: MOBILE AND STATIONARY EQUIPMENT, HEALTH HAZARDS SUCH AS NOISE EXPOSURE, AND USE OF EXPLOSIVES.
NOISE DOSIMETERS ARE USED BY FIELD STAFF TO ANALYZE NOISE EXPOSURE TO MINERS.  FIELD INSPECTION REPORTS ARE ENTERED ON LAPTOP COMPUTERS BY FIELD STAFF AND UPLOADED TO DMME’S MAIN FRAME DATA BASE WHERE THE REPORT CAN BE ACCESSED BY ANYONE WITHIN DMME AND INSPECTION DATA CAN BE ANALYZED BY GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL. 

## General Mineral Miner Certification

- Extract or process minerals
_***Excludes***_ delivery, office, maintenance, service and construction work
- Board of Mineral Mining Examiners
- Nine members
- One appointed member an employee of an      independent contractor
- One appointed member an officer, manager or supervisor of an independent contractor

**Notes:**
Certification Training Program 
The Board of Mineral Mining Examiners requires (and the Division administers programs) for certification of persons who work in mineral mines and persons whose duties and responsibilities require competency, skill or knowledge in order to perform consistently with the health and safety of persons or property.
Participation in mineral mining certification training programs continue to increase dramatically.
 Attributable to:
	Requirements for certification of new (Virginia) miners as“General Mineral Miners”
	Renewal (updates) for all certified foremen, blasters, and electricians at 5 year intervals
	Increased customer base involving contractors working on mine sites

## Each operator shall have a training plan:

_***Each operator***_ shall have a training plan:

- New miners
- Newly-employed experienced miners
- New tasks
- Annual refresher
- Hazard training

**Notes:**
Training Program Outreach and Assistance
Under established goals and objectives in DMM’s Education and Training Plan, providing safety and environmental knowledge and hazard awareness training to our customers is a priority. In efforts to reduce (and ultimately eliminate) injuries and fatalities and their costs, promote sound environmental practices, and enhance education and training opportunities for industry personnel, DMM provides on-site services and training classes. Participation in classes has ranged close to/over 2000 miners and contractors annually over the past 4 years.   

## Fatal and Serious Injuries at Virginia Mineral Mines – 1994 - 2004 

- Fatal and Serious Injuries at Virginia Mineral Mines – 1994 - 2004