Tampering-related citations in mines since 2000: a state-by-state snapshot

Since 2000, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has cited more than 103 coal mines for violations of the Mine Act related to tampering with dust samples. That includes four mines in Pennsylvania, while nearly half of mines flagged with violations were in Kentucky.

Code of Federal Regulations standards cited in violations:
70.210(b)
The operator shall not open or tamper with the seal of any filter cassette or alter the weight of any filter cassette before or after it is used to fulfill the requirements of this part.

70.210(f)
If using a Continuous Personal Dust Monitor (CPDM), the person certified in sampling shall (1) validate, certify, and transmit electronically to MSHA within 24 hours after the end of each sampling shift all sample data file information collected and stored in the CPDM, including the sampling status conditions encountered when sampling; and (2) not tamper with the CPDM or its components in any way before, during, or after it is used to fulfill the requirements of this part, or alter any sample data files. All CPDM data files transmitted electronically to MSHA shall be maintained by the operator for at least 12 months.
Chart: Michael Korsh/Post-Gazette (research), Ed Yozwick/Post-Gazette (graphic)Source: Mine Safety and Health Administration Data Retrieval System Data Retrieval SystemCreated with Datawrapper