Northshore Mining Faces $120,000 in Fines After Walkway Injury

Northshore Mining Co.'s failure to repair a walkway at an iron ore mine in Minnesota showed “reckless disregard” for worker safety, but didn’t amount to a “flagrant” violation of mine safety laws, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission held in a split decision.

The commission Thursday upheld penalties assessed by an administrative law judge totaling $120,000 against Northshore, while dismissing a total of $8,000 in penalties that the ALJ assessed against two individual Northshore employees. It found, however, that the judge was correct in rejecting the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s proposed $130,000 fine against the company for ...