Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 56-12-3 - Assessment Procedure For Operators3.1. Civil monetary penalty assessments are mandatory.3.2. The amount of a civil monetary penalty assessments will be determined based upon consideration of the following 5 criteria:3.2.1. Gravity of the violation;3.2.2. History of previous violations;3.2.3. Size of the business charged with a violation;3.2.4. Demonstrated good faith in achieving compliance after notification of the violation; and3.2.5. Whether the operator was negligent.3.3. Gravity of the violation will be evaluated by the inspector or representative of the director, and points allocated accordingly. 3.3.1. Points will be allocated in the following 4 categories:3.3.1.a. Likelihood of an occurrence of an event which the health and safety laws are intended to prevent;3.3.1.b. The severity of the injury which might be expected to result from such an occurrence; and3.3.1.c. The number of persons potentially affected by such an occurrence; and3.3.1.d. Whether the operator was negligent.3.3.2. Points will be allocated in the following manner: 3.3.2.a. Likelihood of occurrence Unlikely ..................................... | 0 points |
Reasonably likely...................... | 10 points |
Occurred................................. | 20 points |
3.3.2.b. Severity of injury expected None........................................ | 0 points |
No lost work days...................... | 6 points |
Lost/restricted work days.......... | 11 points |
Permanently disabling............... | 15 points |
Fatal....................................... | 20 points |
3.3.2.c. Number of persons potentially affected 0................................................. | 0 points |
1................................................. | 1 points |
2................................................. | 2 points |
3................................................. | 4 points |
4 to 5.......................................... | 6 points |
6 to 9.......................................... | 8 points |
More than 9.............................] | 10 points |
3.3.2.d. Negligence No negligence.......................... | 0 points |
Low negligence........................ | 10 points |
Moderate negligence............... | 15 points |
High negligence........................ | 20 points |
3.4. The operator's history of violations over the previous 24 months will be evaluated by the inspector or representative of the director and points allocated accordingly. 3.4.1. For mine operators, points will be calculated based upon the average number of violations per inspection day over the previous 24 months.3.4.2. For independent contractors, points will be calculated based upon the total number of violations during the previous 24 months.3.4.3. Points will be allocated in the following manner: 3.4.3.a. Mine operators: Average number violations/ inspection day
0............................................... | 0 points |
Over 0 to 0.3............................ | 2 points |
Over 0.3 to 0.5......................... | 5 points |
Over 0.5 to 0.7......................... | 8 points |
Over 0.7 to 0.9......................... | 11 points |
Over 0.9 to 1.1......................... | 14 points |
Over 1.1 to 1.3......................... | 17 points |
Over 1.3 to 1.5......................... | 20 points |
Over 1.5 to 1.7......................... | 22 points |
Over 1.7 to 1.9......................... | 23 points |
Over 1.9 to 2.1......................... | 24 points |
Over 2.1.................................... | 25 points |
3.4.3.b. Independent contractors: Total number of violations
1 to 5........................................ | 2 points |
6 to 10...................................... | 5 points |
11 to 15.................................. | 8 points |
16 to 20.................................... | 11 points |
21 to 25.................................... | 14 points |
26 to 30.................................... | 17 points |
31 to 35.................................... | 20 points |
36 to 40.................................... | 22 points |
41 to 45.................................... | 23 points |
46 to 50.................................... | 24 points |
More than 50........................... | 25 points |
3.5. Size of the business charged with a violation will be evaluated by the inspector or representative of the director, and points allocated accordingly. Size of the mine will be calculated by considering the annual tonnage of the mine. Mines which have not submitted tonnage reports by the dates required by W. Va. Code §22A-2-77 will be assessed the maximum amount of 5 points. Size of Business (annual tonnage)
0 -100,000 tons......................... | 1 point |
100,001-500,000 tons........ | 2 points |
500,001 - 1,000,000 tons.......... | 3 points |
1,000,001 - 2,000,000 tons........ | 4 points |
Over 2,000,000 tons................... | 5 points |
3.6. The points allocated in the manner set forth in Sections 3.3., 3.4. and 3.5., above, will be totaled, and the total number converted to a dollar amount, as per Table 1, infra.3.7. Demonstrated good faith by the operator in achieving compliance after notification of the violation will be evaluated by the inspector or representative of the director, and the total dollar amount of the penalty may be modified accordingly. 3.7.1. If the operator fails to abate the violation within the time prescribed, and there are, in the opinion of the inspector or representative of the director, extenuating circumstances beyond the operator's control which prevent the abatement of the violation within such time, the amount of the assessment will not be affected.3.7.2. If the operator fails to abate the violation within the prescribed time, and an order is issued pursuant to W. Va. Code §22A-1-15(b), the total dollar amount of the assessment will be increased by 15%.3.7.3. If the operator was already working to correct the violation when discovered, or, in the judgment of the inspector, the operator has demonstrated extraordinary effort above and beyond that which would normally be expected to abate the violation, the total dollar amount of the assessment will be decreased by 15% if the original assessment is greater than $60.