A limestone mine in Gary was cited 29 times by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in an inspection last month.
The Buffington Plant received six S-and-S — or significant and substantial — citations. That means MSHA inspectors found six things considered to be more serious hazards that could result in injury.
Four of the citations were for “slip, trip, fall” hazards. That includes things such as an accumulation of debris or materials or equipment. The other two were electrical violations. Twenty-three of the citations were nonsignificant or substantial.
The inspection was an “impact inspection”, which MSHA performs at mines with a history of health and safety violations or generally unsafe conditions.
“We look at all the standards when we go to our inspections, because they're all important, and they all have potential to injure or make someone ill or fatally injured,” said Brian Goepfert, the administrator for mine safety and health enforcement at MSHA.
“We want miners to go home the same way they came to work. That's the ultimate goal, getting miners safely home at the end of their shift.”
Goepfert said the Buffington Plant must now take action to address the violations. Otherwise, it could receive a closure order from MHSA until it does so. Then, MSHA will perform a follow up inspection and terminate the violation if those conditions are met. The mine then either pays a proposed penalty by the MSHA or has the opportunity to contest it through legal proceedings.
The Buffington Plant is owned by Carmeuse Lime and Stone Inc.
