Poor ventilation was only one of the hazardous conditions found by Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) inspectors during a special impact inspection last month at Mill Branch Coal Corp's Osaka Mine in Wise County, Virginia. The mine operators exposed workers to potential ignitions, fire and explosions, and the risk of developing black lung and other respiratory diseases – compliance issues which earned the mine 31 citations, one unwarrantable failure citation and wo withdrawal orders.
Osaka Mine is on a 15-day spot inspection interval for excessive methane liberation — the mine liberates 228,115 cubic feet of total methane during a 24-hour period. Inspectors issued an unwarrantable failure order for inadequate pre-shift examinations on the active working section for hazards that were extensive, obvious and existed for a period of time. Multiple foremen were present in the area on a daily basis. The operator did not comply with the approved ventilation plan; provide enough air to the continuous mining machine and idle headings; and adequately rock dust areas of the mine to maintain the incombustible content of coal dust, rock dust and other dust to at least 80 percent.