U.S. Department of Labor Seeks Data on Technologies To Improve Safety Conditions for America’s Miners

ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced today it is seeking data on technologies that can improve safety conditions for America's miners. MSHA's Request for Information (RFI) focuses on reducing accidents involving mobile equipment at surface mines, and belt conveyors at surface and underground mines. The RFI is available today at the Federal Register, which will publish it on June 26, 2018.

"The Trump Administration is committed to the health and safety of America's miners. Through the deployment of modern technologies, such as proximity detection, we can help ensure that miners return home safely at the end of their shifts," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health David G. Zatezalo. "MSHA is also interested in learning more about how seat belts can be more widely used in mining operations to prevent injuries."

Mobile equipment at surface operations includes bulldozers, front-end loaders and trucks, while belt conveyors are used to transport materials in surface and underground mines. The RFI is part of a larger initiative that MSHA is undertaking to reduce accidents involving powered haulage – which includes haul trucks, front-end loaders and other large vehicles – as well as belt conveyors.

As part of this effort, MSHA plans to hold stakeholder meetings and will provide technical assistance, and develop best practices and training materials to raise awareness of hazards related to mobile equipment and belt conveyors. The Agency also may consider engineering controls that increase the use of seatbelts, enhance equipment operators' ability to see all areas near the machine, warn equipment operators of potential collision hazards, prevent an equipment operator from driving over the edge of a highwall or dump point, and help prevent hazards related to working near moving belt conveyors.

The Federal Register will publish a separate notice at a later date in which MSHA will announce the dates and locations of stakeholder meetings.