January 28, 2016

US Mine Safety and Health Administration announces results of special impact inspections at 17 mines in December

Who: U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration

What: The Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that federal inspectors issued 163 citations and five orders during special impact inspections conducted at 10 coal mines and seven metal and nonmetal mines in December 2015.

Where: MSHA conducted special impact inspections at mines in Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

January 25, 2016

MSHA responds to favorable Court of Appeals ruling on coal dust rule

ARLINGTON, Va. – Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit denied a challenge brought by two separate groups representing the coal industry to the final rule Lowering Miners’ Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors. The court denied the petitioners’ challenge of MSHA’s authority to issue the rule under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977.

January 20, 2016

Three coal mining deaths in 19 days are ‘troubling,’ says MSHA chief

ARLINGTON, Va. – Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main today issued the following statement regarding the first three coal mining deaths of 2016:

“In just the first three weeks of 2016, and after the safest year in mining history, the coal industry has experienced three fatalities in three separate mining accidents, the highest number of coal accidents to occur in the same time period since January 2006.

January 5, 2016

US mining deaths dropped to new lows in 2015

Work-related accidents claimed 28 miners' lives, preliminary data shows

ARLINGTON, Va. – Preliminary data released by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration indicate that 28 miners died in 2015 in work-related accidents at the nation's mines, down from 45 in 2014. The figure represents the lowest number of mining deaths ever recorded and the first year that mining deaths dropped below 30.

January 5, 2016

US mining deaths dropped to new lows in 2015

ARLINGTON, Va. — Preliminary data released by the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration indicate that 28 miners died in 2015 in work-related accidents at the nation's mines, down from 45 in 2014. The figure represents the lowest number of mining deaths ever recorded and the first year that mining deaths dropped below 30.

December 31, 2015

MSHA commemorates 10-year anniversary of Sago Mine disaster

ARLINGTON, Va. — Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main today issued the following statement on the 10-year anniversary of the Sago Mine disaster:

"On Jan. 2, 2006, at approximately 6:30 a.m., the Sago coal mine in Tallmansville, West Virginia, exploded with 29 miners underground. Although 16 successfully escaped, 12 miners lost their lives and one was seriously injured.

December 31, 2015

MSHA commemorates 10-year anniversary of Sago Mine disaster

ARLINGTON, Va. – Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main today issued the following statement on the 10-year anniversary of the Sago Mine disaster:

"On Jan. 2, 2006, at approximately 6:30 a.m., the Sago coal mine in Tallmansville, West Virginia, exploded with 29 miners underground. Although 16 successfully escaped, 12 miners lost their lives and one was seriously injured.

December 29, 2015

MSHA announces results of November impact inspections

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 189 citations and six orders during special impact inspections at 17 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines in November. Most of the coal mine inspections focused on compliance with respirable dust standards.

December 29, 2015

MSHA announces results of November impact inspections

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 189 citations and six orders during special impact inspections at 17 coal mines and six metal and nonmetal mines in November. Most of the coal mine inspections focused on compliance with respirable dust standards.

November 24, 2015

MSHA announces results of October impact inspections

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 231 citations and seven orders during special impact inspections at 11 coal mines and five metal and nonmetal mines in October.

November 24, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA announces results of October impact inspections [11/24/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 231 citations and seven orders during special impact inspections at 11 coal mines and five metal and nonmetal mines in October.

October 28, 2015

MSHA News Release: Mine Rescue Day honors first responders in mine emergencies [10/28/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — Mine rescuers often travel miles in the dark, navigating underground mine workings filled with debris, amid poisonous and explosive gases trying to find missing miners or recover those who have died. The dangerous work they do after mine fires, explosions or cave-ins is challenging, grueling, and remarkably — it is voluntary.

October 28, 2015

Mine Rescue Day honors first responders in mine emergencies

300 rescue teams stand ready for 13k mines nationwide

ARLINGTON, Va. – Mine rescuers often travel miles in the dark, navigating underground mine workings filled with debris, amid poisonous and explosive gases trying to find missing miners or recover those who have died. The dangerous work they do after mine fires, explosions or cave-ins is challenging, grueling, and remarkably – it is voluntary.

October 27, 2015

MSHA News Brief: US Mine Safety and Health Administration announces results of special impact inspections at 17 mines in September [10/27/2015]

Who: U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration

What: The Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that federal inspectors issued 133 citations and 12 orders during special impact inspections conducted at 10 coal mines and seven metal and nonmetal mines in September.

Where: MSHA conducted special impact inspections at mines in Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

October 27, 2015

MSHA News Brief: US Mine Safety and Health Administration announces results of special impact inspections at 17 mines in September

Who: U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration

What: The Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that federal inspectors issued 133 citations and 12 orders during special impact inspections conducted at 10 coal mines and seven metal and nonmetal mines in September.

Where: MSHA conducted special impact inspections at mines in Alabama, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

October 26, 2015

MSHA releases preliminary fatality data for third quarter of 2015

Seven miners die in third quarter of 2015; fewest coal deaths in a fiscal year

ARLINGTON, Va. – The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced its summary of U.S. mining deaths from July 1 through Sept. 30, 2015 shows seven fatalities occurred in industry accidents. In the first nine months of 2015, 25 fatalities occurred, eight fewer than in the same period in 2014.

October 26, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA releases preliminary fatality data for third quarter of 2015 [10/26/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced its summary of U.S. mining deaths from July 1 through Sept. 30, 2015 shows seven fatalities occurred in industry accidents. In the first nine months of 2015, 25 fatalities occurred, eight fewer than in the same period in 2014.

October 6, 2015

MSHA News Release: Commission decision reinstates MSHA's POV authority over Brody Mining [10/06/2015]

ARLINGTON, Va. — In a Sept. 29 ruling, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission overturned an administrative law judge's decision that invalidated an enforcement action taken two years ago against a West Virginia coal mine operator. Using one of its toughest enforcement tools, the Mine Safety and Health Administration issued a pattern of violations notice to Brody Mining LLC of Wharton in October 2013.

October 6, 2015

Commission decision reinstates MSHA's POV authority over Brody Mining

ARLINGTON, Va. – In a Sept. 29 ruling, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission overturned an administrative law judge's decision that invalidated an enforcement action taken two years ago against a West Virginia coal mine operator. Using one of its toughest enforcement tools, the Mine Safety and Health Administration issued a pattern of violations notice to Brody Mining LLC of Wharton in October 2013.

October 5, 2015

MSHA News Release: MSHA initiative to combat 'deadliest month' for miners [10/05/2015]

see text description below.

A front-end loader operator died when caught between the bucket of an excavator and the conveyor frame as he attempted to move at a sand and gravel operation.