September 1, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA proposes rule to prevent crushing, pinning deaths and injuries [09/01/2015]

Rule would require proximity detection devices on coal-haulage equipment underground

ARLINGTON, Va. — Haulage machinery in underground coal mines — such as shuttle cars, ram cars and scoops — would have to be equipped with technology that prevents miners from becoming struck, pinned or crushed, as per a proposed rule from the Mine Safety and Health Administration.

August 25, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA announces results of July impact inspections [08/25/2015]

Hazards cited at Nebraska operation mirror those found following March fatality

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 225 citations and six orders during special impact inspections at 15 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines in July.

August 25, 2015

MSHA announces results of July impact inspections

ARLINGTON, Va. The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 225 citations and six orders during special impact inspections at 15 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines in July.

August 18, 2015

One-year anniversary of respirable coal dust rule shows reforms are working

MSHA's Main: Miners better protected with industry compliance at 99 percent

August 18, 2015

MSHA News Release: One-year anniversary of respirable coal dust rule shows reforms are working [08/18/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — One year ago this month, the landmark respirable dust rule went into effect, adding a number of increased protections for coal miners and closing several loopholes that masked their exposure to unhealthy coal mine dust.

August 11, 2015

MSHA News Release: Recent Pattern of Violations reforms by MSHA led to significant improvements in mine safety, culture change [08/11/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Pattern of Violations reforms put in place by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration have been "real game changers" in protecting miners and promoting a culture focused on safety and health in mines across the nation, Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, said today.

August 11, 2015

Recent Pattern of Violations reforms by MSHA led to significant improvements in mine safety, culture change

High violation rates drop, fewest mines identified in screening for chronic violators

August 5, 2015

MSHA calls for stepped-up enforcement after accidents claim 3 miners' lives

Deadly 24-hour period prompts closer scrutiny of mining deaths

ARLINGTON, Va. – In the wake of a deadly day in mining in which three miners lost their lives in separate incidents in Nevada, North Dakota and Virginia on Aug. 3, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is stepping up enforcement efforts and intensifying outreach and education nationwide.

August 5, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA calls for stepped-up enforcement after accidents claim 3 miners' lives [08/05/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — In the wake of a deadly day in mining in which three miners lost their lives in separate incidents in Nevada, North Dakota and Virginia on Aug. 3, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is stepping up enforcement efforts and intensifying outreach and education nationwide.

July 28, 2015

MSHA News Brief: MSHA announces results of June impact inspections [07/28/2015]

Who: Mine Safety and Health Administration

What: The Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that federal inspectors issued 139 citations, three orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections in June at 10 coal mines and five metal and nonmetal mines.

Where: MSHA conducted impact inspections at mines in Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

July 24, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA's Main pays tribute to an icon in the fight against black lung disease [07/24/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main today issued the following statement on the passing of black lung research physician Dr. Donald Rasmussen:

"The coal mining community has lost one of its most passionate advocates with the passing of Dr. Donald Rasmussen yesterday. Treating coal miners afflicted with black lung disease became his life's mission. In fact, in a career spanning more than five decades, he tested tens of thousands of mine workers.

July 23, 2015

MSHA News Release: New MSHA online training tool will help mine operators and contractors report injuries, illnesses and accidents [07/23/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — Along with enforcement and technical assistance, education and training is an essential component of the Mine Safety and Health Administration's mission. To assist mine operators and contractors in complying with federal regulations to report accidents, illnesses and injuries, MSHA has created a new interactive, online training tool.

July 22, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA mid-year report shows 18 mining deaths in first half of 2015 [07/22/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — In the first six months of 2015, the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration recorded the deaths of 18 miners in mining industry accidents in its national mid-year summary released today. The toll represents a decrease of five metal and nonmetal deaths from the same period in 2014.

June 29, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA to award $1 million in grants for mine safety training [06/29/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today the availability of $1 million for training or training materials to support mine rescue or mine emergency preparedness in underground mines. MSHA will evaluate applications and then award Brookwood-Sago mine safety grants in individual grants of at least $50,000 and up to $250,000.

June 24, 2015

MSHA News Brief: MSHA announces results of May impact inspections [06/24/2015]

Who: Mine Safety and Health Administration

What: The Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that federal inspectors issued 176 citations during special impact inspections in May at 10 coal mines and seven metal and nonmetal mines.

Where: MSHA conducted impact inspections at mines in Alabama, California, Kentucky, Illinois, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia.

May 28, 2015

MSHA News Brief: MSHA announces results of April impact inspections [05/28/2015]

Participant: Mine Safety and Health Administration

Description: The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 107 citations and one order during special impact inspections conducted at 17 coal mines and one metal and nonmetal mine in April.

April 29, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA releases preliminary fatality data for first quarter of 2015 [04/29/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — In the mining industry, death doesn't discriminate between young and old. In February 2014, 24-year-old Arthur Gelentser III died after he was crushed by a continuous mining machine in an underground Virginia coal mine. In November of that year, 67-year-old James Crane was killed when his dump truck tumbled backward 30 feet off an embankment at a sandstone mine in Pennsylvania.

April 27, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA announces results of March impact inspections [04/27/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 188 citations and two orders as a result of special impact inspections conducted at 13 coal mines and seven metal and nonmetal mines in March.

Begun in force in April 2010, the monthly inspections involve mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns. The following are the details of one mine's inspection:

April 23, 2015

MSHA News Release: Coal mine dust samples indicate compliance with rule is highly achievable [04/23/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — Eight months after implementation of the final rule to prevent black lung disease by lowering miners' exposure to harmful coal dust, sampling by mine operators and Mine Safety and Health Administration inspectors indicates that compliance with the rule's tougher requirements is highly achievable.

April 14, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA issues 2014 preliminary mine safety data [04/14/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today released preliminary data for calendar year 2014 and updated its Mine Safety and Health at a Glance Web page. The charts include information on inspections; violations; number of mines and miners; and fatality and injury rates for coal, metal and nonmetal, and all mining.