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
									Compliance and Enforcement

	Mine Inspections

					More in This Section

	Close
		Citation & Order Writing Handbook*MSHA is required to inspect each underground mine four times a year and each surface mine twice a year for health and safety compliance. Certain mines with high levels of explosive or toxic gasses are inspected more often. Inspections are also conducted in response to complaints of hazardous conditions.*
MSHA inspectors work out of district offices located across the country. On finding any violation of a health or safety standard, an inspector will write a citation that specifies the standard violated and evaluates the gravity of the violation by several factors, including likelihood of injury. An inspector may determine that the violation was “significant and substantial” - or reasonably likely to result in a serious injury or illness nature - or that it was caused by the operator's unwarrantable failure to comply with the standard. These carry additional penalties and could result in an order of withdrawal.
An inspector may also issue an order to withdraw due to imminent danger, failure to correct a violation within the appropriate time period, inadequate training of miners, or an unwarrantable failure to comply.
For details, please see the Citation and Order Writing handbook and our list of Frequently Asked Questions.
An inspection ends with a close-out conference in which the inspector explains the results to the mine operator. If desired, the operator may request a safety and health conference at the district level within 10 days, briefly explaining in writing why each citation or order should be conferenced.

									Quick Links
																	Pattern of Violations (POV) Initiative
																	Merged Federal Mine Safety and Health Act and MINER Act
																	MSHA Directives
																	Monthly Impact Inspections
						
													Related Links
																	Educational Field and Small Mine Services (EFSMS)
																	Mine Safety and Health EnforcementScroll 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