Most of the coal mine inspections focused on compliance with respirable dust standards.

Begun in force in April 2010, the monthly inspections involve mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement because of their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns.

MSHA conducted impact inspections at mines in Alabama, California, Illinois, Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Inspectors issued four unwarrantable violations and one withdrawal order that removed 12 miners from the St Mary’s Cement-Dixon Mine in Lee County, Illinois, until they received adequate task training on maintenance of a coal hopper and how to block it from hazardous motion.

Since April 2010, MSHA has conducted 1,064 impact inspections and issued 15,532 citations, 1,294 orders and 57 safeguards.