U.S. flag
                An official website of the United States government.
                  Here’s how you know

                Here’s how you know
        Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**
                             Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.
                Https**The site is secure.**
                             The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.



		United States Department of Labor
					U.S. Department of Labor

        Mine Safety and Health Administration
			Menu
				Search
                    Search
		submenu
    Search
                    Search
            
            SAFETY & HEALTHBack

                                    
                                                                                        

                        Safety & Health
                                    
                                                                                        

                            MSHA Health Locator Tool

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Coronavirus

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Safety & Health Initiatives

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Safety & Health Materials

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mine Emergency OperationsTRAININGBack

                                    
                                                                                        

                        Training
                                    
                                                                                        

                            Training Programs & Courses

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Develop a Training Plan

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mine Rescue Training

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Instructor Materials

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Training & Education FAQs

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Quarterly Training Calls & Stakeholder Meetings

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                State Grant Participants

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Bookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants

                                    

                                                                                                                                            COMPLIANCE & ENFORCEMENTBack

                                    
                                                                                        

                        Compliance & Enforcement
                                    
                                                                                        

                            Compliance Assistance

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Mine Inspections

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Forms & Online Filing

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Equipment Approval & Certification

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Pattern of Violations

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Contesting Citations

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Penalty Assessments & Payments

                                    

                                                                                                                                            REGULATIONSBack

                                    
                                                                                        

                        Regulations
                                    
                                                                                        

                            Standards & Regulations

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Laws

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Policy and Procedures

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Rulemaking

                                    

                                                                                                                                            NEWS & UPDATESBack

                                    
                                                                                        

                        News & Updates
                                    
                                                                                        

                            What's New

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                News Releases

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Speeches & Testimony

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Events

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Alerts & Hazards

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Media Gallery

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Subscribe to Email Alerts

                                    

                                                                                                                                            DATA & REPORTSBack

                                    
                                                                                        

                        Data & Reports
                                    
                                                                                        

                            Mine Data Retrieval System

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Fatality Reports

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Data Sources & Calculators

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Statistics

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Reports

                                    

                                                                                                                                            ABOUTBack

                                    
                                                                                        

                        About
                                    
                                                                                        

                            Mission

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Miners' Rights and Responsibilities

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Leadership

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Organizational Chart

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Program Areas & Offices

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Careers

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                History

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Alliance Program

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Memoranda of Understanding

                                    

                                                                                                                                            CONTACTBack

                                    
                                                                                        

                        Contact
                                    
                                                                                        

                            Emergencies

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                General Contacts

                                    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                State Mining Agencies

	Breadcrumb
			Home
									News and Updates
									News Releases

	Department of Labor completed impact inspections at 16 mines with histories of repeated health, safety violations in December 2023

		
		MSHA New Release: [January 29,2024]
*Inspections resulted in 57 significant, substantial and 3 unwarrantable failure findings*
**WASHINGTON –**The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration completed impact inspections at 16 mines in 11 states in December 2023, issuing 247 violations.
The agency began conducting impact inspections after an April 2010 explosion in West Virginia at the Upper Big Branch Mine killed 29 miners.
MSHA’s impact inspections in 2023 identified 2,739 violations, including 764 significant and substantial and 56 unwarrantable failure findings. An S&S violation is one that is reasonably likely to cause a reasonably serious injury or illness. Violations designated as unwarrantable failures occur when an inspector finds aggravated conduct that constitutes more than ordinary negligence.
The agency conducts impact inspections at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to poor compliance history; previous accidents, injuries, and illnesses; and other compliance concerns. Of the 247 violations MSHA identified in December, 57 were evaluated as S&S and three had unwarrantable failure findings. The agency completed these inspections at mines in Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
“In 2023, MSHA employees demonstrated the importance of conducting impact inspections by identifying hazards, issuing violations, and ensuring that corrective actions were taken to protect miners’ health and safety,” said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson. “In 2024, the Biden-Harris administration will continue to focus on good jobs, including ensuring that miners are able to return home each day to their families and their communities safe and healthy,” Williamson added.
The Excel #5 Mine, an underground coal mine in Varney, Kentucky, was among the mines MSHA inspected in December. MSHA selected the mine for an impact inspection based upon numerous criteria, including enforcement history and plan compliance and examination issues. The mine is operated by Excel Mining. The inspection identified 20 violations, including nine S&S and two unwarrantable failure findings. Specifically, MSHA inspectors found the following conditions existed at the Excel #5 mine:
Failure to remove accumulation of combustible material. Combustible material accumulation was the most cited condition during this inspection. MSHA continues to remind operators of the importance of controlling the accumulation of combustible material to prevent fires and explosions.
Failure to maintain equipment in permissible condition was the second-most frequently cited condition during this inspection. These conditions exposed miners to explosion hazards due to exposed ignition sources.
Inadequate workplace examinations. Inadequate examinations have contributed to fatal mine accidents and disabling injuries and were identified as a root cause in several mining fatalities the industry suffered in 2023. MSHA has placed a priority on improving workplace examinations including the identification, correction and documentation of hazardous conditions to ensure miners’ safety and health.
Other serious violations included not adequately supporting roof and ribs and inoperable fire warning devices.Learn more about MSHA.
# # #
**Media Contacts:**
Frances Alonzo, 202-997-6977, alonzo.frances@dol.gov Patrick Malone, 202 997-3512, malone.patrick.m@dol.gov Release Number:  24-155-NATScroll to Top

	Forms
              Fatality Database
              Support & Resources
              Frequently Asked QuestionsU.S. Department of Labor
																Mine Safety and Health Administration201 12th St SSuite 401Arlington, VA 22202-5450www.msha.gov202-693-9400
				Federal Government
        
          

                      White House
              Disaster Recovery Assistance
              USA.gov
              No FEAR Act Data





Labor Department
        
          

                      A to Z Index
              Agencies
              Contact Us
              Emergency Accountability Status Link
              Leadership Team
              Office of Inspector General
              Read The DOL Newsletter
              Subscribe to the DOL Newsletter





About the Site
        
          

                      Freedom of Information Act
              Paperwork Reduction Act
              Records Retention Schedule
              Help Desk
              Privacy & Security
              Accessibility & 508 Compliance
              Disclaimers
              Language Notice
              Español
	
 
Connect With MSHAFacebookTwitterInstagramYouTubeLinkedinGovDelivery Email SignupMiner Safety and Health Application
Site Map Important Website Notices Privacy & Security Statement