May 31, 2023

US Department of Labor impact inspections at 20 mines in 15 states find 335 violations in April 2023, miners exposed to 92 serious hazards

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration completed impact inspections at 20 mines in 15 states in April 2023 and found 335 violations.

May 23, 2023

US Department of Labor announces availability of Brookwood-Sago grants to promote mine safety, health education, training

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the availability of up to $1 million in grant funding through its Brookwood-Sago grant program, which supports the delivery of education and training to the nation’s mining community to help them identify, avoid and prevent unsafe and unhealthy working conditions.

May 10, 2023

US Department of Labor will hold inaugural ‘Stand Down to Save Lives’ to promote, emphasize miner safety, health; stop rise in miner fatalities

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration will hold its first “Stand Down to Save Lives” on May 17 as part of a national campaign to encourage the nation’s mining community to take steps to prevent injuries and illnesses and stop an alarming rise in the number of miners killed on the job in 2023.

April 28, 2023

US Department of Labor finds 205 violations at 16 mines in March 2023 safety, health impact inspections in 12 states

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that monthly impact inspections by its Mine Safety and Health Administration at 16 mines in 12 states in March 2023 have identified 205 violations, including 52 significant and substantial findings.

April 20, 2023

US Department of Labor to honor workers whose jobs claimed their lives, recommit to protecting workers as nation marks Workers Memorial Day

WASHINGTONOn April 28, 1970, the nation first observed Workers Memorial Day at a time when an estimated 38 people died on the job in the U.S. each day. More than a half century later, this annual tribute endures as do the determined efforts of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Mine Safety and Health Administration to help protect the lives of our nation’s workers.

April 14, 2023

US Department of Labor announces $10.5M funding availability to support mine safety, health training, education

WASHINGTONThe U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration is making $10.5 million grant funding available to help provide mine safety training for the nation’s miners.

March 28, 2023

CORRECTED: US Department of Labor announces findings of impact inspections at US mines with histories of repeated health or safety violations

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today released the findings of monthly impact inspections at 25 U.S. mines in January and February 2023. MSHA conducts impact inspections at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to factors that include poor compliance history; previous accidents, injuries, and illnesses; and other compliance concerns.

February 15, 2023

Federal judge orders Blackhawk Mining, subsidiaries to pay $349K in penalties to resolve more than 530 violations

WASHINGTON – A federal administrative law judge has ordered the operator of mining complexes in southern West Virginia and eastern Kentucky to pay civil penalties totaling $349,444 to resolve 533 citations for mine safety and health violations U.S. Department of Labor inspectors identified at 14 mines.

January 19, 2023

El Departamento de Trabajo de EE.UU. lanza la aplicación de “Miner Safety and Health” en español para expandir el acceso a información útil

WASHINGTON – El Departamento de Trabajo de los Estados Unidos anunció hoy que su aplicación Miner Safety and Health para iOS y Android que proporciona información oportuna directamente a los mineros ahora está disponible en español.

January 18, 2023

Department of Labor announces proposed rulemaking to revise standards for coal mine operators’ self-insurance under Black Lung Benefits Act

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a notice of proposed rulemaking by its Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs to revise regulations governing the standards related to self-insurance by coal mine operators.

December 6, 2022

Statement by Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Williamson recognizing America’s mine workers on National Miners Day

WASHINGTON – Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Christopher J. Williamson issued the following statement in recognition of Dec. 6, 2022, as National Miners Day:

December 2, 2022

US Department of Labor issues Pattern of Violations notice to Morton Salt Inc., Weeks Island Mine and Mill in Louisiana, citing safety concerns

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration has notified the operator of the Morton Salt Inc.’s Weeks Island Mine and Mill in New Iberia, Louisiana, of the existence of a pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards under section 104(e) of the federal Mine Safety and Health Act.

October 11, 2022

US Department of Labor hosts annual conference for nation’s mine safety, health trainers at National Mine Health and Safety Academy, Oct. 11-13

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration is hosting the annual Training Resources Applied to Mining conference at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beaver, West Virginia, from Oct. 11 to 13.

October 5, 2022

US Department of Labor awards $10.5M in grants to provide training, promote mine safety, health in 45 states, territories

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $10.5 million in grants to organizations in 43 states, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands to provide safety and health training designed to reduce and prevent mining workers’ injuries and illnesses. 

September 29, 2022

US Department of Labor launches awareness effort for miners with black lung, promote testing to reduce exposures to hazardous levels of coal dust

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced an effort to raise awareness of regulations that give coal miners with development of pneumoconiosis, or black lung, the right to work at a section of a mine with lower levels of dust without having their pay reduced or fearing discrimination or termination.

September 21, 2022

Department of Labor’s emergency unit wins world championship at international competition testing mine rescue skills

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration’s “Mine Emergency Unit” bested competitors from around the world and finished first at the International Mines Rescue Competition, held Sept. 11-16, 2022, in Beaver, West Virginia.

September 1, 2022

Federal mine safety commission finds Indiana coal company violated safety standards after mine operator causes risk of catastrophic explosion

WASHINGTON – The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has ruled unanimously that the operator of a Francisco, Indiana coal mine violated mandatory safety standards when it continued to operate an energized drill during a methane inundation, creating the risk of a catastrophic explosion.