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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: 202-219-8211
The Mine Safety and Health Administration has moved one step closer to
putting training regulations in place for 120,000 miners at 10,000 surface
nonmetal mines across the country.
A proposed rule establishing training requirements for miners at sand
and gravel operations, rock quarries and certain other surface nonmetal mines
will be published in the Federal Register on Wednesday (April 14).
"Congress directed us to finalize these regulations by Sept. 30, and we
are well on our way to meeting that deadline," said J. Davitt McAteer,
assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health.
Last December and January, MSHA held seven public meetings throughout
the country to hear comments from the mining community about the prospective
training requirements. More than 220 individuals attended these meetings,
including representatives from labor, small and large mine operators, state
agencies, mining associations, contractors and trainers.
"The mining community including the Coalition for Effective Miner
Training, representatives from labor unions, small and large mine operators,
state agencies, mining associations, contractors and trainers gave us extensive
input in the development of this proposed rule," said McAteer. "Now we are
asking for comments on the proposal."
The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 requires that each mine
operator have a health and safety training program for its miners. However,
MSHA appropriations legislation contains language prohibiting use of
appropriated funds to enforce miner training requirements in sand, gravel and
surface stone operations. The prohibition, which also covers a few other
surface nonmetal operations such as clay mines, has been in place since 1980
but is expected to be lifted once MSHA finalizes the training rules.
The proposed rule is designed to ensure that miners receive effective
training, while at the same time addressing the particular needs of the
affected segments of the mining industry. Some key provisions of the proposed
rule include:
- Mine operators must adopt miner health and safety training programs
at their operations. Plans that include the minimum information specified would
not have to be submitted to MSHA for formal review.
- New miners must receive at least 24 hours of training, with
instruction in four specific areas: introduction to the work environment;
instruction in recognizing and avoiding hazards; review of escape and emergency
plans, and the health and safety aspects of the task assigned.
- Every 12 months miners must receive at least eight hours of
refresher training which, at a minimum, would address major changes at the
mine. New task training would also be required for every miner before the miner
is assigned to a new task.
- Training must be provided by someone with the ability, training,
knowledge or experience to provide training to miners on a particular subject.
Training instructors would not need approval by MSHA.
- Mine operators would be allowed to substitute equivalent training
required by OSHA or other federal or state agencies to satisfy MSHA training
requirements.
MSHA will hold four public hearings to listen to comments from
interested parties on the proposed rule. Each hearing will run from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. The dates and locations are as follows:
May 18, Holiday Inn & Suites, 5905 Kirkman Road, Orlando, Fla.;
May 20, Sacramento Convention Center, 1400 J St., Sacramento, Calif.;
May 25, Marriott Pittsburgh Airport, 100 Aten Road, Pittsburgh, Pa.;
May 27, U.S. Department of Labor, auditorium, 200 Constitution Ave.
N.W., Washington, D. C.
Written comments on the proposed rule need to be sent to MSHA by June
16, and may be transmitted by electronic mail, fax or mail. The electronic mail
address is comments@msha.gov. The fax number is (703) 235-5551. The mailing
address is MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, 4015 Wilson
Boulevard, Room 631, Arlington, VA 22203-1984.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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