FYI...

http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/msha/MSHA20080176.htm

MSHA News Release: [02/04/2008]
Contact Name: Matthew Faraci or Amy Louviere
Phone Number: (202) 693-9406 or x9423
Release Number: 08-0176-NAT

U.S. acting assistant secretary of labor unveils initiative to assess every citation

Prompt action to be taken to improve MSHA’s assessments process

ARLINGTON, Va. — Richard E. Stickler, acting assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, today announced a comprehensive plan to ensure that fines are assessed for all safety and health violations issued by MSHA's coal and metal/nonmetal enforcement personnel. MSHA recently discovered that while 99.6 percent of all citations since 1995 have been properly assessed, less than one half of one percent have gone unassessed over this period of time.

"This is an institutional problem that dates back to at least 1995 and probably earlier," Stickler said today. "The good news is that we have identified the root causes, and I am implementing a plan to ensure that MSHA improves the process going forward. Our agency will work to assess every single citation issued by our enforcement personnel."

Experts within MSHA have identified two issues that led to the small percentage of unassessed citations. First, MSHA engineers identified technical issues with the MSHA Standardized Information System (MSIS) computer system. Second, MSHA enforcement staff identified management oversight problems that required attention.

Acting Assistant Secretary Stickler has initiated a two-part corrective action plan that will address both issues. The MSIS technical problems have been identified and are being corrected immediately. On the management front, new procedures have been implemented, and district managers in the agency have spoken to their respective offices to explain these procedures. They are in the process of creating new and improved management reports that will provide real time access to assessment data that will allow sufficient oversight, thereby alerting management to any issues.

"Citing mine operators for safety and health violations is one of the most important tools we have to encourage a culture of safety," concluded Sticker, "and this improvement in the assessments process will further our mission."

Included below is a chart that provides detailed information on unassessed citations since 1995.