This is reprinted from the August OIAA Newsletter. We thank them for sharing this report with the Industry! $afepro
Small Mine Assistance Changing as We Know It
August 16, 2011,
Special guests at a regularly scheduled
Oregon Independent Aggregate Association meeting were Steven Smith, Assistant
Manager for the Small Mine Office of MSHA and Evan Church, representative
of the Small Mine Office in
Joe Main, current head of MSHA, and whose background is in coal mining unions, tells legislators that he is not disbanding Small Mines Assistance but is making a change for the better. The Small Mine Office will only get involved AFTER tickets are written.
Steven Smith said his records show that mine operators who had sought Small Mine assistance had a 75% reduction in mining accidents over those not assisted.
Currently there are eleven assistants
in the Small Mine Office program and this number will be reduced to four.
After September 11, Evan Church will be reassigned as an inspector. The
closest Small Mines Assistance officer will be located in
Education Field Services, EFS, will provide training but not individual help for specific problems. Be aware that EFS and Compliance Assistance are two very different areas. Inspectors are OBLIGATED to cite problems; do not share your concerns with them. That is what Small Mine Assistance was for; that is the program that is ending as we know it.
Mr. Smith expressed optimism that,
depending on budget constraints and legislators concern, a proposal by
a Congressman from
OIAA will be contacting Wyatt Andrews,
Western District Administrator, to ask that