Federal regulators said that they issued citations for safety violations at 12 coal mines in June.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration said Thursday it issued 222 citations, orders and other actions during inspections conducted at the coal mines, a cement facility in California and a metal operation. Coal mines were issued the majority of those citations and orders.

The agency started the special inspections after 29 miners died in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch coal mine in southern West Virginia in April 2010.

Since then, MSHA said it has conducted 282 inspections that have resulted in 5,207 citations.

MSHA chief Mr Joseph A Main said while regulators are still finding mines with chronic problems, the majority of operators are getting the message.

(Sourced from www.businessweek.com)