MSHA Top 10: The Mine Leader's Fix List

The list, with where to start on each

Citation counts are final; 2025 fatality counts are preliminary. Sources: MSHA, Top 10 Most Frequently Cited MSHA Standards 2025 and its handout (calendar year Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2025; Mine Data Retrieval System violations data as of April 6, 2026); the 2024 list for comparison; MSHA Mine Injury and Worktime, Quarterly, January–December 2025 (preliminary), Chart 1, which includes contractor deaths; MSHA's Powered Haulage Safety page; and, for the 2024 year-end count of 26, MSHA as reported by Pit & Quarry (Jan. 5, 2026). Citation counts are counts of violations, not of mines. * Rows marked with an asterisk are EHS Concepts calculations or counts from the published figures.

1. Moving machine parts

   • 2,862 violations in 2025, the most cited MSHA standard
   • 3.38% of all MSHA violations cited
   • 7 ft guards required unless parts are at least 7 feet from walking or working surfaces

   Start here: Walk every conveyor this week with a can of paint. Mark every missing or damaged guard and assign each one to a welder with a date.

   Rules and guidance: 30 CFR 56.14107(a), 56.14112, 56.14105, 56.12016 [M/NM]

2. Accumulation of combustible materials

   • 2,843 violations in 2025 (No. 2)
   • 3,412 violations in 2024, when it was No. 1
   • 80% minimum incombustible content of combined dust where rock dust is required

   Start here: List your three worst spillage points and fix one mechanically this month. Assign cleanup crew hours that dispatch cannot pull.

   Rules and guidance: 30 CFR 75.400, 75.400-2, 75.402, 75.403 [COAL]

3. Housekeeping

   • 2,368 violations in 2025 (No. 3)
   • 2,640 violations in 2024, also No. 3
   • 2.80% of all MSHA violations cited

   Start here: Put a tool board and hose rack at the two busiest work areas. Assign each walkway to a crew by name.

   Rules and guidance: 30 CFR 56.20003(a), 56.11001 [M/NM]

4. Quarterly employment and production reports (Form 7000-2)

   • 2,354 violations in 2025 (No. 4)
   • 15 days after each calendar quarter to file Form 7000-2
   • 5 years to keep the operator's copy

   Start here: Put the four due dates on two people's calendars today, and confirm both can log in to file.

   Rules and guidance: 30 CFR 50.30(a), 50.10, 50.20 [ALL]

5. Electrical conductors

   • 2,280 violations in 2025 (No. 5)
   • 2,507 violations in 2024, also No. 5
   • Annual grounding system continuity and resistance testing

   Start here: Walk every portable cable this week. Replace or remove any with a split jacket, and put a cable crossing where loaders run over it.

   Rules and guidance: 30 CFR 56.12004, 56.12016, 56.12017, 56.12028 [M/NM]

6. Safety defects: examination, correction, and records

   • 2,244 violations in 2025 (No. 6)
   • 2,339 violations in 2024, also No. 6
   • Every shift pre-operation inspection of self-propelled mobile equipment

   Start here: Read every pre-op card from last week tomorrow morning with the shop lead. Assign each open defect a name and date.

   Rules and guidance: 30 CFR 56.14100(a)–(d) [M/NM]

7. Mine ventilation plan

   • 1,693 violations in 2025 (No. 7)
   • 1,956 violations in 2024, also No. 7
   • 5 days notice to the miners' representative before submitting a plan or revision

   Start here: Make a laminated card for each section foreman with the plan's curtain distances, air quantities, and spray requirements.

   Rules and guidance: 30 CFR 75.370(a)(1), 75.360, 75.362 [COAL]

8. Inspection and cover plates

   • 1,497 violations in 2025 (No. 8)
   • 1,538 violations in 2024, also No. 8
   • 1.77% of all MSHA violations cited

   Start here: Walk the plant with a bag of screws and a few spare covers. Close every open box in one sweep.

   Rules and guidance: 30 CFR 56.12032 [M/NM]

9. Protection from falls of roof, face, and ribs

   • 1,429 violations in 2025 (No. 9), new to the top 10
   • 1,493 roof control plan violations (75.220(a)(1)) in 2024, then No. 10
   • 4 2025 deaths from fall of roof or back and fall of face, rib, side, or highwall (2 each)

   Start here: Mark every travelway rib with visible sloughing this week and assign supplemental support with a date.

   Rules and guidance: 30 CFR 75.202(a)–(b), 75.220 [COAL]

10. Horns and backup alarms

    • 1,319 violations in 2025 (No. 10)
    • 1,527 violations in 2024 (No. 9)
    • 13 of 33 2025 mining deaths from powered haulage (39%)

    Start here: Test every horn and backup alarm in the fleet tomorrow morning. Park anything that fails until it is fixed.

    Rules and guidance: 30 CFR 56.14132(a)–(b), 56.9100, 56.23000–56.23004 [M/NM]

The full PDF adds, for each item, why it really happens, the rules in plain words, controls in hierarchy order, a 30-minute self-audit, who owns it and a toolbox talk starter.

Download the free PDF (49-page PDF)

Sources, as cited in the guide

1. MSHA, Top 10 Most Frequently Cited MSHA Standards 2025 (calendar year 2025; data as of Apr. 6, 2026). https://www.msha.gov/data-and-reports/statistics/top-10-most-frequently-cited-msha-standards-2025
2. MSHA, Top 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards handout, CY2025 (PDF, with shares of all violations). https://www.msha.gov/sites/default/files/Top_10/Top10_Cited_Standards_Handout_2025.pdf
3. MSHA, Top 10 Most Frequently Cited MSHA Standards 2024. https://www.msha.gov/data-and-reports/statistics/top-10-most-frequently-cited-msha-standards-2024
4. MSHA, Mine Injury and Worktime, Quarterly, January–December 2025, preliminary (PDF). https://arlweb.msha.gov/Stats/Part50/WQ/2025/MIWQ%20-%20CY2025Q4.pdf
5. MSHA, Powered Haulage Safety. https://www.msha.gov/safety-and-health/safety-and-health-initiatives/powered-haulage-safety
6. MSHA, Fatality Reports. https://www.msha.gov/data-and-reports/fatality-reports/search
7. Pit & Quarry, “MSHA: Industry finishes 2025 with 33 miner fatalities” (Jan. 5, 2026). https://www.pitandquarry.com/msha-industry-finishes-2025-with-33-miner-fatalities/
8. MSHA, Laws (Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977). https://www.msha.gov/regulations/laws
9. MSHA, Compliance Assistance (Educational Field and Small Mine Services). https://www.msha.gov/compliance-enforcement/compliance-assistance
10. MSHA, State Grant Participants. https://www.msha.gov/training/state-grant-participants
11. 30 CFR 56.14107, 56.14112, 56.14105, guarding and repairs, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/section-56.14107
12. 30 CFR 56.14100, safety defects, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/section-56.14100
13. 30 CFR 56.14132, horns and backup alarms, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/section-56.14132
14. 30 CFR 56.9100, traffic control, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/section-56.9100
15. 30 CFR 56.23000–56.23004, written safety program for surface mobile equipment, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/part-56/subpart-T
16. 30 CFR 56.12004, 56.12016, 56.12017, 56.12028, 56.12032, electricity, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/part-56/subpart-K
17. 30 CFR 56.20003 and 56.11001, housekeeping and safe access, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/section-56.20003
18. 30 CFR 56.18002, examination of working places, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/section-56.18002
19. 30 CFR 50.10, 50.20, 50.30, notification and reporting, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/part-50
20. 30 CFR 75.400, 75.400-2, 75.402, 75.403, combustible materials and rock dusting, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/part-75/subpart-E
21. 30 CFR 75.360, 75.362, 75.370, examinations and ventilation plan, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/part-75/subpart-D
22. 30 CFR 75.202 and 75.220, roof support and roof control plan, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/part-75/subpart-C
23. 30 CFR Parts 46 and 48, training, eCFR. https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-30/part-46