A PEIR Newsletter Publication
a division of the Mine Safety & Health Administration
PEIR Connection
Volume 2, Issue 2 Keeping You Connected
MERD at the West Elk Mine
On April 20, more than 200 total participants, including Mine Rescue Teams as well as federal and state officials took part in an 8-hour drill, organized to sharpen skills they hope they never have to use. MSHA participated in a Mine Emergency Response Drill (MERD) with the West Elk Mine and Arch Coal, Inc., in Somerset, CO.
The day-long exercise involved federal and state officials, miners, local law enforcement, emergency responders and others. Of the 12 mine rescue teams participating, 2 were from MSHA, 2 were from the neighboring Oxbow and Bowie mines, and the remaining 8 were from Arch's mining operations.
MERD participants were involved in a scenario that contained various challenges, twists, and turns throughout the day. Just like a real emergency. And just like a real emergency, the participants didn't know how it was going to turn out.
During the exercise, MSHA's new emergency Command Vehicle, equipped with robot technology, real-time mapping, and underground tracking, as well as the PEIR communications truck were put through their paces.
Who's running the robot? Robot Vision!
Russell Bloomer from Price, UT
NEW Command Vehicle (exterior)
Attendees at the MERD included: Carrie Arendale, Steph Petree, Shawn Stage, Russ Estlund (all PEIR). Aaron Ziccardi, John Urosek, Stephen Sawyer, Kenny Helfrich, John Gibson, and Virgil Brown from Technical Support in Pittsburgh. Aaron routinely works very closely with the PEIR Network Team, and John heads up the MEO Response Team.
Carrie, Steph, Bill Knepp & Kevin Stricklin Russ with a LOT of robot cable
in the Command Vehicle in the robot trailer
The DOL weekly newsletter picked up the MERD story for their April 21 issue, titled "MSHA Tests Rescuers' Skills."
For more details, please see the Grand Junction NBC channel that covered it and the press release on PR Newswire. And the April 27 newspaper story from the Delta County Independent.
For more information on the various mine rescue contests that are scheduled in 2011 please visit the Mine Rescue page of MSHA.gov.
Shawn by the PEIR truck
Photos courtesy of Jeff Kravitz and Russ Estlund. To see more pictures of the MERD, the area of the mountains where it took place, and the old-timey preserved, Western mining town museum see: W:\1PUBLIC\West Elk Pics.
"Mine rescue teams are the backbone of emergency response in the mining industry."
— Joe Main,
MSHA Assistant Secretary
"Since there is no such thing as being overly prepared for a mine emergency, we believe very strongly in the value of these types of exercises."
— Joe Main,
MSHA Assistant Secretary
More than 200 people participated in the MERD, some even being fake "casualties" so the emergency teams could practice.
Fake "casualties" at the MERD
PEIR sent several folks fromBeckley and Lakewood.
For more pictures of the MERD, the area of the mountains where it took place, and the old-timey preserved, Western mining town museum see:
W:\1PUBLIC\West Elk Pics.
Mining Supplies
IPAL Release April 14
The IPAL release on April 14 contained some changes to the IPAL system, the most noticeable of which is that a warning message will now display when issuing a 104(d) Citation or Order that is evaluated as a flagrant violation.
When an inspector electronically enters a violation that meets the criteria for review as a potential flagrant violation, IPAL now displays a pop-up message reminding them to complete a Special Assessment Review (SAR) form for that violation. The SAR form then automatically opens after the warning message has displayed.
The April 21 issue of the DOL weekly newsletter ran the IPAL story as their lead based on MSHA's press release about the new functionality. For more details on the release, please see the release notes.
"The pop-up message is yet another tool to assist our inspectors in citing violations efficiently and accurately."
— Joe Main,
MSHA Assistant Secretary
MSIS Release April 4
The second maintenance release of FY2011 was made available for MSIS on April 4. It includes several enhancements and defect fixes, including a new horizontal menu and the ability to use your MSHA Network user name and password for sign on, so now you don't have to remember a different one when logging on. Just remember that if you fat-finger the log on in MSIS, it will lock your Network account as well!
For more details on which sections are affected, please see the release notes.
PPOV Calculator Tool Now Available
The MSHA PEIR and Assessment teams developed and released the Potential Pattern of Violation (PPOV) monitoring tool that is now available on the MSHA Web site.
The tool and new screening criteria incorporates recommendations from the Office of the Inspector General that were included in its audit report on PPOV (issued in September 2010). MSHA developed the web service (very quickly and with limited resources) to ensure transparency of the PPOV selection criteria and to ensure that POV decisions are based solely on safety and health conditions in mines.
Mine operators and other interested parties can use the screening tool to monitor a mine for a potential pattern of violations. This “PPOV Calculator” permits users to determine, as of a specific screening date, whether a specific mine meets the criteria.
The PPOV initial screening criteria use a mine’s most recently available 12 months of health and safety data. Mines meeting all four criteria required under 30 CFR §104.2 are further screened to identify those meeting additional, appropriate criteria as specified in 30 CFR §104.3, for a potential pattern of violations.
New POV tool on MSHA.gov for calculating potential pattern of violation fines
The new Pattern of Violations single-source page contains the PPOV calculator and the criteria used.
Browser Tip!
To quickly change the size of the text in a web browser window (without getting your reading glasses) you can use these three commands:
- Cntrl +
will increase the font size
- Cntrl -
will decrease the font size
- Cntrl 0
returns the font size to normal
Just hold the Control key down while pressing the plus (+) sign, minus (-) sign or zero (0) to make the font as large or as small as you need!
DOL Out-of-Office Replies
Starting April 15, DOL began letting our out-of-office replies go out to those trying to contact us with e-mail addresses from outside the Agency. As such, DOL sent us a few guidelines for composing those out-of-office messages. For example, don't include your personal phone numbers, don't tell people you're "out of town" (that could get you robbed if they know where you live!), and so forth.
DO include adequate information to allow the e-mail sender to contact others in your absence while at the same time ensuring DOL and sensitive information, such as Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or specific information on your physical location, is not released to the public.
Below are two examples of appropriate out-of-office messages:
Option 1:
Thank you for contacting me. Unfortunately, I'm away from e-mail right now, but will reply to you when I return. In the meantime, if you need immediate assistance, please contact [Firstname Lastname].Option 2:
I am currently out of the office and will be returning on [date]. For any urgent questions related to [Insert Subject] please contact [Firstname Lastname or name of group] or for [Insert Subject] contact [Firstname Lastname or name of group].
Remember, to access your Out of Office Assistant and set your out-of-office message, while in Outlook, click Tools then Out of Office Assistant as shown below.
Location of the Out of Office Assistant
Caution!
Do NOT share this type of information in your out-of-office message:
Your physical location
“I am…at a conference... out of town...out of the country... in Hawaii...in China..." etc.
PII “You can reach me on my personal cell phone – (571) 555-1234 or at my home phone (571) 555-2345.”
DOL sensitive info about your colleagues
“You can reach Scott Smith at 202-693-9999 or smith.scott@dol.gov”
Your job or title typically found in signature blocks
“James Jones, Exchange Server Team Lead, IT Manager”
Inspector Resources File
For those new to mining, it can be very difficult to understand what MSHA does and how it does it. Any talk about ARs, E01s, OIEI, and CLRs may be just a bunch of gibberish to some.
There is hope! You really can understand MSHA with a little help. MSHA has many manuals and documents that describe its processes and procedures.
Where oh where could these documents and manuals be? You only need to look on your desktop! The Inspector Resources shortcut on your desktop 
will take you to them, or you can navigate directly to the Resources folder on your D:\ drive in the D:\MyFiles\Resources location.
The Inspector Resources folder contains valuable information, including the Mine Act, Miner Act, 30 CFR, program area handbooks, forms, and more.
Reading all this information won’t make you an AR — but, you will know what one is!
Tip!
If you've deleted the shortcut or it no longer works, follow the steps below to restore your default icons:
- Click the Start button then Run.
- The Run window opens. Enter "recicons" in the text field then click OK.
This will recover all of the default icons installed on the core load for you, and if the Inspector Resources icon was there but broken, it will also fix the link.
You have several resources on your local hard drive, including copies of the Mine Act, Miner Act, and 30 CFR.
The Inspector Resources shortcut folder is included in the MSHA core load and installed on all MSHA laptops and desktop computers.
Just click the folder to see the resources.
If you've deleted the link, just run “recicons” (the steps are shown to the left) and the link and icon will be regenerated.
You can also open the file directly by navigating to your D:\ drive and locating the folder: D:\MyFiles\Resources
New MSHA Support Portal
Speaking of shortcuts, to better serve our users, PEIR will be placing a new shortcut on all of our desktops. The new shortcut goes to the MSHA Support Portal (https://arltech.msha.gov).
The Support Portal contains the software all MSHA support personnel, including your District IT Specialist and the MSHA Help Desk, use to remotely access your computer to fix a problem.
The desktop shortcut looks like this 
and to use it you'll just click it the same way you would any other desktop shortcut. Your support person will ask you to do this when they need to remotely access your computer.
- Clicking the icon opens the window below.
- Click the Continue to this website (not recommended) option to proceed.
- You may see the Security Warning screen below. Click Yes to continue.
- A window similar to the one below opens. Click the Name of the Support Representative you are working with in the list.
- The window below opens. Click Run.
- The window below opens. Click Run again.
- You’ll briefly see this window.
- Then you’ll see this window.
- Once your Support Representative activates the session you'll see this screen.
For the support person to fully work remotely with your computer, you'll need to click the first option Allow viewing and share control of your mouse and keyboard.
After clicking that option, then your support person will be able to use their mouse and keyboard to manipulate your computer's mouse and keyboard.
Once the issue is resolved, the Support Representative will end the session and uninstall the software.
You will again have full control of your computer and the Support Representative will not be able to see your screen without going through the steps outlined above.
If you have any questions about the new Support Portal, please contact your District IT Specialist or the MSHA Help Desk at 1-877-778-6055.
Ever run into a thorny problem with your laptop or desktop and have a hard time explaining over the phone to the Help Desk or your IT Specialist exactly what's going on?
Or have you ever had a hard time understanding exactly what it is they want you to do to fix the problem?
Not Any Longer!
Soon you'll be seeing the MSHA Support Portal shortcut on your desktop.
The MSHA Support Portal enables the Help Desk and your IT Specialist to remotely control your computer so that they can help you work out whatever problem it is that you've called them about.
While they're helping you, they'll be able to use their mouse and their keyboard to manipulate your computer's mouse and keyboard.
Once the issue is resolved, the support person will end the session and uninstall the software that allowed them to remotely control your computer.
You'll then have full control of your computer again and the support person will NOT be able to see your screen or anything on your computer without once again going through the steps outlined to the left.
What could be easier? Now our Support Specialists can actually do what needs done to your computer, just as if they were standing right there next to you!
We expect this capability will prove itself to be quite useful and help decrease any frustration our users may feel when they call for help with a complicated, thorny problem.
Need Help?
We’re Here to Help!
MSHA Help Desk
1-877-778-6055
Monday — Friday
7 AM to 8 PM
Eastern Time
NetScreen Access using RSA Key Fobs
As we told you on March 31, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notified all Federal agencies of a recent security compromise of RSA Security Solution’s (RSA) corporate system. The RSA SecurID key fobs that we use for remote access may have been compromised as a result of this security breach.
To ensure the protection of MSHA and DOL systems, we implemented the specific DHS-required modifications for remote access that took effect Friday, April 8. Those changes included a new PIN every 90 days and using a PIN that is 8 digits (numerals only) long.
Also, please be aware that if you use the wrong PIN three (3) times in a row, the key fob will LOCK YOU OUT (just like the network does) and you'll need to call the Help Desk to have it reset.
These changes helped tighten our security and lessen the possibly of an attacker (or hacker) being able to guess the PIN.
New Rules
for
key fobs:
-
8-digit PIN
-
New PIN every 90 days
-
Wrong PIN 3 times in a row locks you out
Network Outages
In March and April we had a few network outages and one server room outage. Fortunately, all of these issues were fixed quickly.
In March, the Pittsburgh server room was down briefly (about 45 minutes) due to a faulty uninterruptable power supply (UPS). The UPS is kind of like a giant battery that keeps our servers running in case of a power failure. They're meant for use of only a few hours. If the power is out longer than that, we have gasoline-powered generators at the main sites to keep the power and cooling systems on for the servers.
Also during March we had some issues with slowness on the network particularly in Triadelphia, and have been doing what we can to optimize performance. The primary cause of the slowness in Triadelphia was because one of their two T1 lines was down. Once the second T1 line was back online, the response time on their network returned to normal.
On April 11, Morgantown, WV was down from about 2 PM (MT) until about 6 AM (MT) April 12 due to a problem with the Verizon portion of the network. Verizon repaired the issue.
On April 18, the Morgantown, WV server went down around 1:30 PM (MT) because of a hardware failure. Parts were ordered and Fedexed and they were back up again by 2:30 PM (MT) April 20.
On April 19, Pikeville, KY was down from about 7:00 AM (MT) until about 6:06 AM (MT) April 20 due to a problem with the Verizon portion of the network. Verizon repaired the issue.
Also on April 19, Hunker, PA suffered a brief power outage, but was back online and ready for business on April 20.
A UPS looks something like the one shown above. Older models may not have a display, just a plain case.
New Core Load with Windows 7 Testing
The network team has started the earliest stages of testing the Windows 7 operating system (which comes bundled with Internet Explorer 8) with our various hardware and software to see what things we'll need to tweak before we can adopt it as an upgrade from our Windows XP operating system. They've also started the earliest stages of testing Office 2010 for the core load.
We'll keep you posted as soon as we learn more details.
Welcome New Staff
PEIR new staff added in March and April:
- Ravi Repaka (WAN engineer; Arlington)
- Cedric Williams (ISO; Lakewood)
(L-R) Cedric Williams and Ravi Repaka
Maintenance Schedule
Use the maintenance schedule information to plan your own schedule around network and MSIS downtime. All MSHA personnel may view the network maintenance calendar here: Public Folders > All Public Folders > MSHA > PEIR > Network Maintenance Calendar
Network Maintenance
The Network Team has two windows a month they use for regular maintenance, such as Microsoft patches, software application patches, and so forth. That is the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month. Exceptions may occur to comply with required uptime for Enforcement, or avoid conflicting with MSIS releases and holidays. We will give you a four-month window in each publication.
May, June, July, and August 2011 maintenance dates include: May 20; June 10 & 24; July 22; and August 12 & 26.
On those Fridays when maintenance scheduled, you’ll be asked to leave your computer ON but locked. Downtime usually starts at 5 PM local time.
MSIS Maintenance
The MSIS team also has regular maintenance windows for the MSIS application, outside of major releases. Those maintenance windows are once a quarter and for the remainder of this year include these Fridays: May 6, July 29, and October 28 in 2011. Those windows are used to maintain the Oracle database, Weblogic and Unix servers.
In addition to the regular, quarterly maintenance, we are also upgrading our databases to Oracle 11g so various databases will be down while they are being upgraded. We've complied all of these dates into a quick reference table for you below.
The next MSIS release (for Technical Support Systems Integration — TSSI) is currently scheduled for June and there will be downtime the Friday before (June 10).
These scheduled downtime windows usually begin at 4 PM Mountain Time.
| Date | Affects | Type |
| 05/06 | MSIS & Data Warehouse | Security Updates |
| 07/29 | MSIS & Data Warehouse | Security Updates |
| 10/28 | MSIS & Data Warehouse | Security Updates |
Critical Patches
Additionally, if any Critical patches are released for any of our systems, the Security office mandates that we push the releases to all computers within 72 hours of their release.
Did you know?
PEIR Network average uptime is 96.1%
(including "dead" monitoring devices)
MSIS average uptime is 99.7%
Earth Day Team Building
The
PEIR team in Lakewood continued its team building efforts during Earth Day week of April 22.
Earth Day activities culminated on Friday afternoon in our annual clean-the-office activities, complete with a large dumpster from GSA. This year Coal (in Lakewood) decided to join us since it looked like such fun last year!
April PEIR Staff Meeting
During the April PEIR staff meeting, there were no "official" awards handed out; however, several teams were recognized for their contributions to some high-profile projects. Congratulations to everyone on jobs well done!
PPOV Calculator Team
This team put together the PPOV calculator you see on MSHA.gov. See the article above for more details on it.
IPAL Team
The April IPAL release contains the flagrant violation warning message, among many other features.
MSIS FY11M2 Release Team
The 6.9.0 (FY11M2) MSIS release was available starting April 4. See the article above about the new features.
Atta Boy / Girl Recognition
Resources & Deadlines
DAA / OAA list for MSIS Help:
\\lakweb1\msis$\MSIS_Help_files\MSIS_OAA_Email_groups.htm
Remote Access for Teleworking: http://mshanet.msha.gov/ProgArea/PEIR/VPNRemote/VPNRemote.asp
Website:
http://www.msha.gov/
Intranet Site:
http://mshanet.msha.gov/
Training Due Dates:
Security Awareness: August 31, 2011
(Those who need to do role-based security training should be reporting hours quarterly.)
PEIR Connection publishing schedule:
2011: Jan/Feb; Mar/Apr; May/June; Jul/Aug; Sept/Oct; Nov/Dec
Please remember to send us your news!
Need Help?
We’re Here to Help!
MSHA Help Desk
1-877-778-6055
Monday — Friday
7 AM to 8 PM
Eastern Time
MSHA Mission
PEIR ITC Mission
To provide superior, collaborative information technology products and services to promote the health and safety of the miners.
PEIR
Program Evaluation & Information Resources
A division of the Mine Safety & Health Administration
MSHA Data Centers:
- Arlington, VA
- Beckley, WV
- Lakewood, CO
Although the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 moved mine monitoring to the Department of Labor and gave the agency, MSHA, its name, the history of regulation in the mining industry stretches back to 1865 and the creation of a Federal mine bureau.
In 1910, congress established the Bureau of Mines in the Department of Interior. The Bureau of Mines was denied the ability to inspect or supervise mines.
In 1952, Congress passed the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act, providing for annual inspections of underground coal mines and setting mandatory safety standards for gassy mines.
In 1963, a Federal Task Force formed to investigate mine safety and recommend improvements.
In 1966, the Federal Metal and Nonmetallic Mine Safety Act became law, partially in response to the Task Force findings.
Congress responded to the Task Force findings with the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969. For the first time, binding safety and health standards for the US coal industry were established and operators and miners were required to comply.
Inspections would now take place quarterly along with providing assistance to states in enforcing coal mine health and safety programs. It also provided protection for whistleblowers and established a compensation plan for “black lung” along with sampling of coal mine dust and vigorous new dust standards.
Implementation was not easy and there were still too many deaths and injuries.
Congress reacted in 1976 with a review of the enforcement of the 1966 Metal Act and the 1969 Coal Act.
In 1977, Congress gave us the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act. This Act provided for the creation of a Mine Safety and Health Administration.
MSHA was created under the Department of Labor on March 9, 1978 to administer a broad regulatory program to reduce injuries, illness, and fatalities in mining.