MSHA unveils New Unified Inspection Handbook

摘要

Back in November, MSHA head David Zatezalo indicated that MSHA's initiative to "blur the lines" between coal and M/NM enforcement had ended. As an apparent follow-up, in late December MSHA released a new, unified M/NM and coal inspection handbook, and has now started training investigators on the new handbook. This handbook replaces two previous handbooks - the 2016 version of PH19-IV for Coal and the 2009 version of PH09-IV-1 for M/NM - creating a single handbook for both coal and M/NM. Below are some of the key takeaways for mine operators as they encounter MSHA inspections under this new handbook, with a focus on the differences M/NM operators can expect.