New technology to aid MSHA inspections

The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration Feb. 22 announced that nearly 1,500 MSHA inspectors will be equipped with new tablets aimed at streamlining the mine inspection process.

Known as the Mobile Inspection Application System, the Windows-based tablets replace an 18-year-old system that required mine inspectors to carry bulky laptops, cameras, reference material, and documentation from previous inspections.

These new semi-ruggedized Wi-Fi-capable tablets with cameras, video and voice recording, touch screens, digital pens and Bluetooth aim to facilitate data capture and streamline the inspection process. Information collected by inspectors can be transferred among devices and to the MSHA Standardized Information System.

MSHA said the Mobile IAS system aims to further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of mine inspectors and to better carry out the agency's mission of promoting the health and safety of America's miners.

"Enabling mine inspectors to work more efficiently means more time to focus on the health and safety of America's miners," said MSHA Assistant Secretary David Zatezalo. "MSHA's Mobile IAS is expected to improve the quality of information by eliminating redundancy and provide more timely information for inspectors."

–SHANE LASLEY