Frequently Asked Questions What is the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)? What is the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (also known as the Mine Act)? more ... Overview Compliance Assistance Materials Basic Information Fact Sheets E-Tools Recordkeeping Applicable Laws and Regulations Related Topics and Links DOL Contacts Return to Safety and Health Menu

OVERVIEW

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (Mine Act) requires that the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) inspect all mines each year to ensure safe and healthy work environments for miners. In addition to setting safety and health standards for preventing hazardous and unhealthy conditions, MSHA's regulations establish requirements for:

• immediate notification by the mine operator of accidents, injuries and illnesses at the mine;
• training programs that meet the requirements of the Mine Act; and
• obtaining approval for certain equipment used in gassy underground mines.

The Mine Act covers all mine operators and miners throughout the United States, including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.

COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE MATERIALS

BASIC INFORMATION

• Employment Law Guide - Mine Safety and Health - Provides a summary of the Mine Act.

• Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Compliance Information - Provides a portal to MSHA's Compliance Assistance tools and resources.

• Safety and Health Topics - Provides links to specific compliance information on various safety and health issues found in the mining industry, including those related to equipment, chemicals and working conditions (for example, mine safety control systems, mercury and heavy metals, and noise).

• Equipment, Health and Safety Hazard Alerts - Provides recent advisories on equipment-related and other hazards impacting the health and safety of mine workers.

• MSHA's Alliance Program - Enables organizations committed to mine safety and health to collaborate with MSHA to prevent injuries and illnesses in the workplace. MSHA and its allies work together to reach out to, educate, and lead the nation's mine operators and miners in improving and advancing mine safety and health.

• Mine Safety and Health Statistics

FACT SHEETS

• MSHA - Fact Sheets - Provides an index of links to mine safety and health fact sheets.

E-TOOLS

• Streaming Media Files - Provides access to accident prevention and safety and health videos.

• Interactive Training Products - Provides training exercises that promote health and safety in mining.

• elaws MSHA Online Forms Advisor - Allows users to learn about and access the MSHA forms that can be filed online or accessed and completed online.

• elaws MSHA Fire Suppression and Fire Protection Advisor - Provides a quick reference on fire suppression and fire protection.

• elaws MSHA Training Plan Advisor - Describes the requirements for mine training plans.

RECORDKEEPING

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act contains recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including a requirement that each mine operator have a safety and health training program and provide training to all miners.

• Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) Forms and Online Filings - Provides a full list of MSHA forms and online filings.
• elaws MSHA Online Forms Advisor - Allows users to learn about and access the MSHA forms that can be filed online or accessed and completed online.
• elaws MSHA Training Plan Advisor - Describes the requirements for mine training plans.
• MSHA Web page on Training Plans Under 30 CFR Part 46.

APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS

• Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, Public Law 9-173, as amended by Public Law 95-164
• 30 CFR Parts 1-199 - Regulations issued by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) covering a broad array of subjects, including internal administrative requirements; testing, evaluation and approval of mining products; injury, illness, and fatality reporting requirements; education and training requirements; safety standards; health standards; and criteria for assessment of penalties.

RELATED TOPICS AND LINKS

• Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA) - Provides for monthly payments to, and medical treatments for, coal miners totally disabled from pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) arising from employment in or around the nation's coal mines.

DOL CONTACTS*

• Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
  1100 Wilson Boulevard
  21st Floor
  Arlington, VA 22209-3939
  Contact MSHA
  Tel: 1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365) or 202-693-9400
  TTY: 1-877-889-5627
  Local Offices

• Employment Standards Administration (ESA) 
  Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)
  Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation
  200 Constitution Avenue, NW
  Room C-3521
  Washington, DC 20210
  E-mail: DCMWC-Public@dol.gov
  Tel: 1-800-638-7072
  TTY: 1-877-889-5627
  Local Offices

• For questions on other DOL laws,
  please call DOL's Toll-Free Help Line at 1-866-4-USA-DOL. Live assistance is available in English and Spanish, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Additional service is available in more than 140 languages through a translation service.
  Tel: 1-866-4-USA-DOL
  TTY: 1-877-889-5627

*Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Labor's Confidentiality Protocol for Compliance Assistance Inquiries, information provided by a telephone caller will be kept confidential within the bounds of the law. Compliance assistance inquiries will not trigger an inspection, audit, investigation, etc.