Pit & Quarry, February 2018

SAFETY UPDATE ZATEZALO ADDRESSES WORKPLACE EXAMS MSHA TRAINING RESOURCES D avid Zatezalo the new assistant secretary of labor for the Mine Safety Health Administration MSHA discussed several topics related to the aggregate industry in a letter to the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers IAAP IAAPs safety committee sent Zatezalo a letter late last year explaining the associations interest and concerns with the new workplace exams rule a lack of compliance training coming from MSHA the state grants program continuing regional stakeholder meetings and more Below are highlights of Zatezalos response as shared by IAAP You mentioned a few specific issues in your letter and I will do my best to respond Zatezalo writes First regarding the workplace exam rule as you know in September 2017 MSHA published a proposed rule to amend the original final rule on workplace exams The comment period on the proposed limited changes closed on November 13 and MSHA is Zatezalo now considering all comments received including those submitted by the IAAP Regarding training I agree wholeheartedly that providing appropriate training resources is an essential way for MSHA to achieve its mission he continues Maintaining and improving training resources especially for smaller mine operators is among my top priorities and I look forward to working with you and other stakeholders to ensure that the training materials and assistance we provide meets the needs of todays miners and mine operators RULING GIVES OSHA SOME JURISDICTION IN MINES A federal appeals court ruled that the Occupational Safety Health Administration OSHA can investigate and fine federally regulated mines for safety violations involving non mining operations Reuters reports According to Reuters the 2nd U S Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated more than 500000 in fines OSHA imposed against Cranesville Aggregate Cos in 2009 Cranesville is a producer near Schenectady New York After receiving complaints and conducting a May 2009 inspection OSHA issued Cranesville six citations for violations of various OSHA standards found at a bag plant Cranesville contested the citations arguing that the Mine Safety Health Act governed the cited work conditions and gave the Mine Safety Health Administration authority to enforce violations at the facility The 2nd Circuit however found that an administrative law judge erred in determining that the citations by OSHA were not enforceable MSHA PART 46 PART 48 TRAINING NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH Mine Safety Health Administration MSHA courses for Part 46 and Part 48 new miner and refresher training are now available online to Spanish speakers Vivid Learning Systems which builds online safety training is offering the training courses The demand for online MSHA training reflects the difficulty in organizing mine safety training classes in Spanish for specific mine sites to serve the huge number of new miners entering this high turnover industry year after year says Barrett Pryce Vivids director of message and media Vivid customers have requested MSHA training for Spanish speaking workers to satisfy Part 46 and Part 48 federal requirements Vivids MSHA courses include required training topics for mineral aggregate and metal mine sites such as coal emergency evacuation and fire escape explosives ground control hazard communication MSHA mandatory health and safety standards and miner rights MSHA Part 46 requires new miners to complete 24 hours of health and safety training within the first 90 days of employment with four hours completed before working at any mine Vivids MSHA Part 46 new miner certification meets MSHA 30 CFR 465 requirements H A R D N U M B E R S 911 TWO ALERT MINERS CALLED 911 when they saw a truck driver at a quarry scale house sweating and having a difficult time breathing They gave him aspirin while waiting for medical help to arrive and their quick action saved the mans life 72 PIT QUARRY February 2018 pitandquarry com