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From the Assistant Secretary's Desk |
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- Respirable Coal Mine Dust Rule in Phase II – The Rule is Achieving Goal of Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Dust
- A Day in Mining History, the Sago Disaster
- National Miners Day – Honoring Our Nation’s Mine Workers
- 47 years later, still working to fulfill the Farmington legacy to end black lung
- National Mine Rescue Day - a day to honor our nations’ mine rescuers
- Third Quarter 2015 Fatality Analysis
- MSHA’s Initiative to Combat the Deadliest Month in Mining
- A week in the life of Mine Emergency Response / Witnessing the progress made in mine rescue---
- MSHA proposes rule requiring proximity detection systems on coal hauling machines and scoops to prevent deaths and injuries
- One Year Later, The Respirable Coal Dust Rule Is Better Protecting Our Nation’s Miners
- Recent screening, review finds no mines subject to Pattern of Violations; It’s a law that now works
- Mid-year 2015 Fatality Analysis
- Emphasizing the Importance of Safety and Health Programs
- Preliminary fatality report for the 1st Quarter of 2015
- Workers Memorial Day – A Time to Mourn and Recommit
- Announcement today at U. S. House of Representatives oversight hearing - over 41,000 respirable dust samples show mines can meet new dust rule
- Preliminary Mine Safety Data for 2014 Released
- MSHA Leads a Game-Changing Advance in Mine Rescue
- Reviewing five years of mine safety progress
- New online tools to boost compliance on "Rules to Live By" and key coal examination standards
- Budget request for FY 2016 outlines priorities for future
- Remarks to the Coal Mining Industry in West Virginia on January 29
- MSHA files record number of cases defending miners’ rights to a safe work place
- Progress in black lung fight: 2014 respirable dust levels hit another historic low
- MSHA issues new Proximity Detection final rule that will save miners’ lives
- From the Desk: 4th Quarter/2014 Year-End Mining Death Results
- Stakeholder outreach continues in Southwestern Pennsylvania coal fields
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Honoring the nation's miners on their day
December 6 is National Miners Day, designated by Congress to honor the contributions and sacrifices of miners both past and present. At the Mine Safety and Health Administration, we take this day to heart, and not only for the obvious professional reasons.
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Essential outreach to our stakeholders
When I became Assistant Secretary over five years ago, I committed MSHA to meet with our stakeholders to share what we are doing and why, and discuss how we can improve mine safety and health. It's been a busy few months in that regard. With other top MSHA officials, I have crisscrossed the country to meet with national and regional labor and industry representatives of the coal and metal and nonmetal mining industries, and state and federal mining agencies. Please see the column for details and photos.
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MSHA meets December 31st deadline on Corrective Action Plan: Upper Big Branch Mine-South Internal Review -
Immediately following the April 5, 2010 disaster at Massey Energy’s West Virginia Upper Big Branch mine, which claimed the lives of 29 miners, I directed a thorough internal review to examine MSHA’s actions prior to the event. It was one of the most comprehensive internal reviews conducted in MSHA history, and it resulted in the most extensive changes at MSHA in decades, improving mine safety and health for the nation’s miners and changing how we do business at the agency.
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Celebrating Mine Rescue Day
Today, October 30, we recognize the dedication and sacrifice of the volunteers who form the backbone of our national mine emergency response system. Mine rescue is among the most risky and challenging rescue work undertaken in this country. Rescuers must often travel miles in the dark, navigating underground mine workings after devastating fires, explosions or cave-ins, trying to find missing miners or recover those who did not survive.
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Third Quarter 2014 Report on Mining Fatalities
During the third quarter of 2014, eight miners were killed in accidents at work, including five in metal and nonmetal mining and three in coal mining. These deaths are a harsh reminder of why mines must be vigilant in ensuring effective safety programs and fostering a culture of safety first.
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MSHA's Pattern of Violations reforms: A game changer in mine safety and mine safety culture
Four years after I directed sweeping reforms to the Pattern of Violations enforcement provision contained in the 1977 Mine Act, we are seeing dramatic improvements in mine safety, especially at mines that were once considered chronic violators.
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2014 MNM Mine Rescue Contest
This year's National Metal/Non Metal Mine Rescue Contest has to be considered one of the most successful contests on record for MNM.
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Dust Rule Implementation
On August 1, American coal miners will be better protected from the disabling respiratory diseases known as black lung, as historic regulations go into effect.
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2014 Mid-Year Fatality Report
During the first half of 2014, 22 miners were killed in accidents in the mining industry. Mining deaths are preventable, and these deaths are a reminder that much more needs to be done to protect the nation's miners.
- First Quarter 2014 Fatality Analysis - May 5, 2014
- Worker Memorial Day - April 28, 2014
- A promise kept on behalf of all coal miners who have suffered from black lung disease - April 23, 2014
- MSHA issues preliminary mine safety data for calendar year 2013 - April 9, 2014
- Mining's Changing Culture - 4 years After Upper Big Branch - April 4, 2014
- Updating the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association - March 5, 2014
- MSHA meets December 31st deadline on Corrective Action Plan: Upper Big Branch Mine-South Internal Review - January 13, 2014
- 4th quarter/2013 end-of-year fatality summaries
and wrap up - January 6, 2014 - Corrective Action Plan: Upper Big Branch Mine-South Internal Review - January 31, 2013
- 2012 Fatality Analysis - January 31, 2013
- Fatal alert: six miner deaths in less than a month - February 20, 2013
- Commemorating 35 Years of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 - March 8, 2013
- MSHA Releases 2012 Preliminary Fatality and Injury Data - April 8, 2013
- MSHA 2013 First Quarter Fatality Data Release - April 24, 2013
- Corrective Action Plan: Upper Big Branch Mine-South Internal Review - April 25, 2013
- Worker's Memorial Day - April 26, 2013
- Alpha Training Center - June 28, 2013
- Improving Mine Operator Examination Compliance at Underground Coal Mines - July 1, 2013
- Mine safety moving in the right direction: MSHA final 2012 data shows lowest injury, fatality rates in US history, and improved compliance - July 10, 2013
- Recent MSHA Outreach with Metal/Nonmetal Stakeholders - July 16, 2013
- Corrective Action Plan: Upper Big Branch Mine-South Internal Review - July 18, 2013
- Mining Deaths the first half of 2013 - July 31, 2013
- Labor Day - August 30, 2013
- Corrective Action Plan: Upper Big Branch Mine-South Internal Review - October 29, 2013
- Mine Rescue Day - October 30, 2013
- 4th quarter/2013 end-of-year fatality summaries and wrap up
- MSHA meets December 31st deadline on Corrective Action Plan: Upper Big Branch Mine-South Internal Review
- "Rules to Live By III" - January 31, 2012
- A/S Main, MSHA officials observe new safety technologies during mine visits - April 11, 2012
- First Quarter 2012 Fatality Analysis - April 25, 2012
- Recognizing Workers' Memorial Day - April 28, 2012
- Corrective Action Plan: Upper Big Branch Mine-South Internal Review - June 26, 2012
- Mid-year (2012) summary of fatal accidents - July 19, 2012
- Upper Big Branch Mine Miners Memorial Dedication - July 27, 2012
- 10th Anniversary of Quecreek Mine Rescue - July 28, 2012
- Assistant Secretary discusses recent metal/nonmetal outreach and safety and health improvements - October 1, 2012
- Mine fatality, injury rates fell to historic low in 2011; MSHA releases 2012 third-quarter fatality summary - October 15, 2012
- Corrective Action Plan: Upper Big Branch Mine-South Internal Review - November 15, 2012
- National Miners Day - December 6, 2012
- MSHA-IMCC MOU - May 10, 2011
- PROP 2011 - July 14, 2011
- Celebrating 40 Years of Mine Safety and Health
- Fatal Accidents - February 10, 2011
- 2011 First Half Fatality Update - July 27, 2011
- "Rules to Live By" - February 11, 2010
On February 1, 2016, the second phase of MSHA's landmark respirable coal mine dust rule went into effect. Phase II adds increased safeguards for coal miners to further protect them from overexposure to unhealthy respirable coal mine dust that causes coal miners’ pneumoconiosis, or black lung.
On January 2, 2006, ten years ago, at approximately 6:30 a.m. the Sago coal mine in Tallmansville, West Virginia exploded with 29 miners underground. Although 16 miners escaped uninjured, 12 miners lost their lives in this disaster and one was seriously injured.
December 6 is National Miners Day, a day designated by Congress to honor the contributions and sacrifices of miners both past and present. At MSHA we take this day to heart, and we rededicate ourselves to our core mission – working to protect from injury, illness and death the mining industry’s most precious resource, the nation's miners.
November 20th is the 47th anniversary of the Farmington mine disaster, which resulted in the deaths of 78 miners and led in 1969 to the passage of the Coal Act. The Act, which contained safety and health provisions, promised to wipe out the black lung disease afflicting the nation’s coal miners. Nearly 50 years later, we are still working to fulfill that promise.
On October 30, we commemorate the dedication and sacrifice of the volunteers who form the backbone of our national response in the event of a mining emergency. For decades, mine rescuers have taken up the call when disaster struck at underground and surface operations. They are a special breed and deserving of our gratitude.
During the third quarter of calendar year 2015, from July 1 to September 30, seven miners were killed in accidents at work, including five in metal and nonmetal mining and two in coal mining. Eight miners died in mining accidents during the same quarter in 2014. The fatalities bring the number of U.S. mining deaths to a total of 25 in the first three quarters of 2015, eight less than the first three quarters of 2014.
October historically has been the most deadly month in the metal and nonmetal mining industry. To combat this annual trend, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) launched a safety initiative today that includes enhanced enforcement, education and outreach, such as informational “walk and talks” at mine sites. This initiative is part of MSHA’s ongoing efforts to reduce fatalities in metal and nonmetal mines
It’s been a busy week for mine rescue and MSHA was proud to be a part of two important events: the 2015 National Coal Mine Rescue Contest in Lexington, KY, and the opening of our newest state-of-the-art mine rescue station that will serve the Mid-Western region.
MSHA is announcing that it is issuing a regulation proposing that coal hauling machines and scoops on working sections in underground coal mines be equipped with proximity detection systems. Coal hauling machines include shuttle cars, ram cars and continuous haulage systems. This proposed proximity detection system rule would better protect our nation’s miners from being crushed or pinned in confined underground mine spaces where large equipment is constantly in motion.
One year ago, 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. Respirable dust sampling results for the first year of the rule show that compliance is achievable and, more importantly, the nation’s coal miners are better protected from debilitating and deadly black lung than ever before.
Pattern of Violation (POV) reforms that MSHA put in place are better protecting our nation’s miners from injury, illness and death, are changing the culture of mining and are providing mine operators with guidance on how to recognize if they start down the wrong path and how to get back on the right path before a POV results.
From January 1, 2015 to June 30, 2015, 18 miners died in accidents in the mining industry. Ten died in metal and nonmetal mining accidents and eight died in coal mining accidents. The toll represents a decrease of five metal and nonmetal deaths from the same period in 2014.
As we all work together to reduce fatalities and lower injury and illness rates in the mining industry, MSHA strongly encourages mine operators to strengthen existing safety and health management programs or adopt new programs that include six core components. These actions can have a meaningful impact on improving the safety and health of our nation’s miners.
Today we are providing mining industry stakeholders with a summary of U.S. mining deaths that occurred during the first quarter of 2015. During that time, four miners were killed in coal mining accidents and six were killed in metal and nonmetal mining accidents.
Today is Workers Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember all those who lost their lives, were injured or became ill from their jobs. At MSHA, our mission is to protect the health and safety of America’s miners, and we work hard at that every day. While we have much more work to do, we are making progress in our efforts to make mines safer and healthier for those who choose the occupation of a miner.
Today before a House of Representatives subcommittee, I shared with Congress that 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 sampling requirements is highly achievable. This is very good news for coal miners and validates the ability of mine operators to maintain the low dust levels to meet the new standard.
Today, MSHA is releasing preliminary data for calendar year 2014, updating the "Mine Safety and Health at a Glance" page, which includes information on inspections, violations, number of mines and miners, and fatality and injury rates for coal, metal and nonmetal, and all mining. The data show that, while the 2014 overall operator-reported injury rate improved from the prior year to an historic low, the number of mining deaths and fatality rates increased, driven by a high number of mining deaths in the metal and nonmetal sector.
When a mine emergency strikes, every second counts. That is why I launched an initiative in 2010 to identify and fix gaps in mine emergency and rescue response and readiness. Over the last five years, we have worked with many stakeholders to create new communications and mapping systems that will help rescue teams advance more quickly to find trapped or injured miners. On April 8th, during a day-long emergency drill at a Pennsylvania coal mine, we saw the new tools in action. They are game changers.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to reflect on five years of progress in mine safety and health in the metal and nonmetal mining industry as I addressed the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) annual convention in Baltimore Maryland.
Over the past few years, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has developed online tools that allow mine operators to monitor their compliance history and, where needed, act proactively to avoid MSHA?s enhanced pattern of violations enforcement actions.
Yesterday, the President submitted his FY 2016 budget request for federal agencies to Congress. MSHA’s portion of that request will allow the agency to meet its statutory obligations and also focus on its priorities for miner safety and health.
Earlier today, I had the opportunity to speak at the 42nd Annual Mining Symposium in Charleston, West Virginia, sponsored by the West Virginia Coal Association, where I addressed a number of strategic actions the Mine Safety and Health Administration has implemented over the past five years to better protect miners.
One of the most effective tools for keeping mines safe is ensuring that working miners have the confidence to point out safety and health hazards without worrying about their jobs. That is why our agency works so hard to protect the rights of miners, and to help them on those rare occasions when they face retaliation for voicing concerns. Last year, MSHA took legal action to protect miners who stood up for safety more than at any other time in the agency’s history.
Evidence shows that, with the work of MSHA and the support of the mining industry, we have made progress. Each year since implementation of the End Black Lung initiative in 2009, respirable dust levels in coal mines have been on a downward trend.
Today we are announcing a new rule that takes a major step toward preventing miners from being crushed and killed by large continuous mining machines as they change locations in an underground coal mine. The final rule will require operators of underground coal mines to equip place-changing continuous mining machines with proximity detection systems.
For 2014
According to preliminary data, 40 miners died in work-related accidents at the nation's mines in 2014, two fewer than in the previous year. Coal mining deaths dropped from 20 in 2013 to 16 in 2014, the lowest annual number of coal mining deaths ever recorded in the United States. Twenty-four deaths occurred in metal and nonmetal mines last year, an increase from 22 deaths in 2013. Read further for an analysis of mining fatalities, along with best practices to prevent them.
Outreach is an important part of the work we do at MSHA and includes visits to mines by our top staff whenever possible. Earlier this month, we toured two coal mines in southwest Pennsylvania that are helping to lead the way in safety and health through collaboration with their workers
For 2013
For 2012
For 2011
For 2010