The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will begin enforcing new requirements under the Workplace Examinations Rule which technically went into effect on 2 June.
The National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (NSSGA) says some key differences between the old and new rule can be found the MSHA's website.
These differences include
- Conducting exams at least once each shift, before work beings or as miners begin work in a working place;
- Recording on the workplace examination form a description of each adverse condition found that is not corrected promptly;
- Promptly notifying miners in affected areas of such conditions; and
- Recording the date such conditions were corrected.
The NSSGA says: "The rule broadens the time in which a competent person could conduct workplace exams from just before the shift to 'as work begins.' It also reduces the percentage of hazards found during exams that warrant documentation to just those hazards that cannot be 'promptly' abated. MSHA defined 'promptly' as before miners are potentially exposed to adverse conditions.”
Additional information is available here.
The NSSGA states it is somewhat pleased with the relatively positive changes proposed last September but is concerned that the rule over-reaches by dictating any specific times for conducting workplace exams or documentation requirements. Also, the association is not convinced that the agency credibly demonstrated a need for changes to the workplace exam rule.
