Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/594078
27 AGGREGATES MANAGER November 2015 SPECIAL REPORT gates, which make up the bulk of M/NM mines. "We're reach- ing out to everyone we can reach out to," Main says, referring not only to state associations, but also to labor organizations, state agencies, and state program grantees. He identifi ed 10 state associations MSHA has engaged as part of the latest fatality prevention push. Initiative's fi rst prong: outreach and education MSHA has developed a series of informational aids regarding recent fatalities, and it is asking state associations to dis- seminate them to their members. These include, but are not limited to, a letter from the Assistant Secretary, a breakdown of fatalities and the conditions that led to them based on the most recent M/NM Rules to Live By priority standards, and fatal accident summaries. In addition, MSHA has gone a step further and asked the organizations to reach out to their non-members as well, especially mines employing fewer than 10 workers, since these mines have fewer safety resources than their larger counter- parts. The outreach is considered especially essential because small mines have contributed 50 percent of the M/NM fatalities during the fi rst half of this year, according to MSHA. Main says that MSHA also wants to know what engaged stakeholders can do to help the agency deliver its training and guidance services and enforcement resources more effectively to small operators. Industry leaders are rising to the challenge. Pat Jacom- et, executive director of the Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Association (OAIMA), says his organization will send an association-developed safety tailgate training manual to mines on a list provided by MSHA. The Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance (VTCA) started communicating with the state's small producers even before MSHA's request. It offered safety resources via letter to approximately 118 small mines in the state some six months ago, and, with the fatality preven- tion initiative at hand, is likely to do so again. "We feel, quite honestly, that there's a real gap there in terms of understanding and knowledge," says Sam Hollins, VT- CA's aggregates program manager. "We see it [engaging small operators] as a serious obligation on our part." Interestingly, MSHA has not asked the Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers (IAAP) for similar small mines outreach assistance, likely a refl ection of inconsistency in approaches between MSHA's Northeastern District, which encompass- es Ohio and Virginia, and North Central, in which Illinois is "I think everyone is going to see an increased enforcement effort from MSHA," — Joe Main, MSHA "We feel, quite honestly, that there's a real gap there in terms of understanding and knowledge. We see it [engaging small operators] as a serious obligation on our part," — Sam Hollins, Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance "We've got a great opportunity here to decrease our injuries and fatalities. MSHA has shown they're willing to go the extra mile, and I think our folks have become more engaged because of MSHA's em- phasis and outreach," — Pat Jacomet, Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Association An EFSMS representative has said he has been instructed to more fully engage with association activities, notes Shawn McKinney, Illinois Association of Aggregate Producers. MSHA will evaluate mines where fatalities have occurred to see if "maybe best practices were not followed at these locations," notes MSHA's Neal Merrifi eld. If so, the mines will be considered for im- pact inspections.