New Online Tool Aids Federal Mine Inspectors

[admin]

New Online Tool Aids Federal Mine Inspectors
Federal mine inspectors, who issue citations when a mine operator violates a specific health or safety standard, have a new online tool to assist them in their recordkeeping duties. The Mine Safety and Health Administration's Inspectors' Portable Application for Laptops, or IPAL, is now equipped with an online tool to alert federal inspectors that certain violations will be reviewed for special assessment as flagrant violations. When an inspector electronically enters a violation that meets the criteria for review as a potential flagrant violation, IPAL will display a pop-up message reminding the inspector to complete a Special Assessment Review Form for that violation. That form will automatically open after the warning message has displayed. A flagrant violation is defined as "a reckless or repeated failure to make reasonable efforts to eliminate a known violation of a mandatory safety and health standard that substantially and proximately caused, or reasonably could have been expected to cause, death or serious bodily injury." A civil penalty of up to $220,000 may be assessed for each flagrant violation. "The pop-up message is a tool to assist our inspectors in citing violations efficiently and accurately," said MSHA Assistant Secretary Joe Main.
http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=bWFpbGluZ2lkPTEzMjYyMzEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPVBSRC1CVUwtMTMyNjIzMSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTEyNzY2MTI5MDQmZW1haWxpZD1qaW10YWtlZGFAZ21haWwuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1qaW10YWtlZGFAZ21haWwuY29tJmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&138&&&http://www.msha.gov/MEDIA/PRESS/2011/NR110419.asp