A lack of workplace examinations, new worker training and seat belt requirements led to the death of a 16-year-old equipment operator at a Georgia mine, according to federal investigators. The equipment operator, who was employed by a subcontractor performing work at the mine, was killed when the vehicle he was operating rolled off of an […]
With snow and ice falling all across the U.S. in early 2023, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is reminding the mining industry of the unique challenges its workers face in the winter. Winter presents different challenges to miners, who must take extra precautions in the winter months, according to MSHA. To help keep […]
The U.S Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) launched an awareness effort Sept. 29 regarding regulations that give coal miners with black lung the right to work in mine areas with lower levels of dust. These regulations give miners with black lung, or pneumoconiosis, the right to work in sections of a mine that have […]
The U.S. Mine Safety Commission ruled Aug. 24 that an Indiana coal mine violated federal safety standards when it continued to operate an energized drill with explosive amounts of methane present. This resulted in the commission upholding a $96,000 Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) fine against the mine operator, Peabody Midwest. Manager held personally […]
The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) introduced a new safety app for iPhone and Android devices on Aug. 31, 2022. Miners can use the app to get timely information on safety and health practices and find resources to help them understand their rights and responsibilities under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, […]
A Kentucky mine operator illegally warned miners working underground about an impending federal inspection, according to a May 11 decision issued by the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. On April 20, 2012, KenAmerican Resources, operator of the Paradise No. 9 mine, gave underground miners advance notice that Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) inspectors […]
OSHA hasn’t been able to ban substances that harm workers the most – but the EPA is making some headway. Chrysotile asbestos will soon be banned in a wide range of industrial uses under a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) rule. EPA is calling for a manufacturing, distribution and import ban on chrysotile asbestos in: […]
The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) launched a new safety campaign Feb. 28 in response to recent trends in mining incidents resulting in injuries and deaths. Many of these incidents could have been prevented with proper training and attention to tasks, leading MSHA to initiate its Take Time Save Lives campaign. This campaign […]
The convergence of mines with oil and gas wells has recently become more of an area of concern for the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Nationwide, thousands of oil and gas wells penetrate coal seams that are being actively mined, and an accidental intersection could cause problems for miners. MSHA and state agencies evaluate […]
