TRIVIAL PURSUIT, MSHA STYLE

An operator was cited under Part 46.11 for not mentioning in its written site-specific hazard awareness instructions that horns are to be sounded on golf carts when the vehicles move.  The carts are used by the maintenance staff.     

The operator was also warned that other citations would follow if visitors to the plant’s parking lot don’t sound their horns when they leave.  “Honest to God,” an operator’s representative said, “everybody who comes on site, we have to remind them to please honk before they leave. On that one, they have our miners so upset they want to kill MSHA.”The official added, “Now you come on our mine sites and all you hear is horns honking, which is more hazardous than what we had before because now people don’t even listen to it.”

$afepro must remind the Industry that the MSHA must prove that both a violation of the Law and Miners' exposure to the alleged hazard occurred!