A final rule intended to protect miners from surface mobile equipment was published by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
The rule, which was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 20, 2023, will require mine operators to have written safety programs for surface mobile equipment at surface mines and the surface areas of underground mines.
These programs “must include input from miners and their representatives and identify hazards and risks,” according to MSHA.
Belt conveyors are excluded from the new rule.
36 fatalities in 2023 due to powered haulage equipment
Powered haulage equipment and machinery have been the leading causes of serious and fatal mine incidents in recent years, MSHA said. This final rule is part of the agency’s effort to improve safety in equipment use, which was the cause of 36 out of the 40 mining fatalities that occurred in 2023.
MSHA has launched multiple initiatives in an effort to reduce these kinds of incidents, including:
- an open letter to the mining community noting that MSHA will use all of its tools to combat “the unacceptable upward trend in fatalities”
- health alerts
- the Take Time, Save Lives campaign
- Powered Haulage Equipment Guidance, and
- an enhanced enforcement program.
MSHA’s district managers are planning to discuss compliance assistance for the mining industry at stakeholder meetings beginning in January 2024.
