March 27, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA announces results of February impact inspections [03/27/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 210 citations, eight orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at nine coal mines and three metal and nonmetal mines in February. A safeguard is written when an unsafe haulage or hoisting hazard is observed and is an immediate risk to a miner.

March 5, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA's Main reaches out to National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association [03/05/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — In a meeting on March 5 with the National Stone, Sand & Gravel Association in Las Vegas, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main updated NSSGA's board of directors on recent actions taken by the Mine Safety and Health Administration to improve miner safety and health. The NSSGA represents companies that produce more than 90 percent of the crushed stone and 70 percent of the sand and gravel consumed annually in the United States.

February 28, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA's Joseph Main updates Steelworkers on progress in mine safety, health [02/28/2014]

Enhanced worker voice protections among major initiatives

ARLINGTON, Va. — In meetings today with the United Steelworkers of America at its headquarters in Pittsburgh, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main updated union members on recent actions taken by the Mine Safety and Health Administration to improve mine safety and health. The USW is the largest industrial union in North America, and it represents workers from a number of industries, including metals and mining.

January 30, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA's Joseph Main addresses WV Coal Association Mining Symposium [01/30/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — In a speech before attendees of the West Virginia Coal Association's 41st Annual Mining Symposium in Charleston, W.Va., today, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main discussed actions taken by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the mining community over the past year to improve mine safety and health.

January 30, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA's Joseph Main addresses WV Coal Association Mining Symposium [01/30/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — In a speech before attendees of the West Virginia Coal Association's 41st Annual Mining Symposium in Charleston, W.Va., today, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main discussed actions taken by the Mine Safety and Health Administration and the mining community over the past year to improve mine safety and health.

January 29, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA announces results of December impact inspections [01/29/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 135 citations, 24 orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at 11 coal mines and two metal and nonmetal mines in December.

January 14, 2014

MSHA News Release: Administrative Law Judge ruling in Sago mine explosion overturned by federal mine review commission [01/14/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has overturned a decision by Administrative Law Judge Jerold Feldman involving Wolf Run Mining Co.'s Sago Mine in Upshure County, W. Va., where 12 miners died in a massive explosion Jan. 2, 2006. The commission found that the mine operator's failure to notify MSHA and mine rescue teams immediately after the explosion involved unwarrantable failure and high negligence.

January 14, 2014

MSHA News Release: Administrative Law Judge ruling in Sago mine explosion overturned by federal mine review commission [01/14/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission has overturned a decision by Administrative Law Judge Jerold Feldman involving Wolf Run Mining Co.'s Sago Mine in Upshure County, W. Va., where 12 miners died in a massive explosion Jan. 2, 2006. The commission found that the mine operator's failure to notify MSHA and mine rescue teams immediately after the explosion involved unwarrantable failure and high negligence.

January 13, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA implements Upper Big Branch corrective actions on schedule [01/13/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that, as of Dec. 31, 2013, the agency had addressed the 100 recommendations published in a March 2012 internal review report, meeting the specific timetables and deadlines it had set for implementation of each recommendation. That report examined the agency's actions in the months leading up to the April 2010 Upper Big Branch mine explosion, which killed 29 miners, injured two and led to sweeping changes in mine safety.

January 13, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA implements Upper Big Branch corrective actions on schedule [01/13/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that, as of Dec. 31, 2013, the agency had addressed the 100 recommendations published in a March 2012 internal review report, meeting the specific timetables and deadlines it had set for implementation of each recommendation. That report examined the agency's actions in the months leading up to the April 2010 Upper Big Branch mine explosion, which killed 29 miners, injured two and led to sweeping changes in mine safety.

January 9, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA settles two discrimination cases with Tennessee mine operator [01/09/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that the department has settled two discrimination cases with Nyrstar Tennessee Mines – Gordonsville LLC, which operates the Cumberland and Elmwood/Gordonsville Mines in Smith County, Tenn. According to the settlement, which was approved by Kenneth R.

January 6, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA releases preliminary fatality and injury data for 2013 [01/06/2014]

Mining deaths sharply higher in 4th quarter, following record low fatality rates

January 6, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA releases preliminary fatality and injury data for 2013 [01/06/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 198 citations and 11 orders during special impact inspections conducted at 11 coal mines and three metal and nonmetal mines in January.

January 6, 2014

MSHA News Release: MSHA releases preliminary fatality and injury data for 2013 [01/06/2014]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 198 citations and 11 orders during special impact inspections conducted at 11 coal mines and three metal and nonmetal mines in January.

December 19, 2013

MSHA News Release: MSHA announces results of October and November impact inspections [12/19/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 174 citations, 11 orders and two safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 12 coal mines in November. In October, MSHA conducted impact inspections at six coal mines and three metal and nonmetal mines, where inspectors issued 120 citations and 10 orders. Impact inspections were curtailed during part of October due to the government shutdown.

December 19, 2013

MSHA News Release: MSHA announces results of October and November impact inspections [12/19/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 174 citations, 11 orders and two safeguards during special impact inspections conducted at 12 coal mines in November. In October, MSHA conducted impact inspections at six coal mines and three metal and nonmetal mines, where inspectors issued 120 citations and 10 orders. Impact inspections were curtailed during part of October due to the government shutdown.

December 5, 2013

MSHA News Release: Statement of MSHA Assistant Secretary Joseph A. Main on National Miners Day [12/05/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, issued the following statement on National Miner's Day:

December 3, 2013

MSHA News Release: Maine stone-crushing plant to pay former miner to resolve US Labor Department retaliation charge [12/03/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — Ferraiolo Constructions Inc. and owner-president John Ferraiolo, operators of the Portable Pioneer Plant in Thomaston, Maine, will provide compensation to a former employee and take other corrective action to resolve a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.

December 3, 2013

MSHA News Release: Maine stone-crushing plant to pay former miner to resolve US Labor Department retaliation charge [12/03/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — Ferraiolo Constructions Inc. and owner-president John Ferraiolo, operators of the Portable Pioneer Plant in Thomaston, Maine, will provide compensation to a former employee and take other corrective action to resolve a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.

November 26, 2013

MSHA News Release: MSHA issues fourth POV notice under revised rule [11/26/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that Coal River Mining LLC's Fork Creek No. 1 Mine in Lincoln County, W.Va., has been put on notice of a pattern of violations of mandatory health or safety standards under Section 104(e) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. An MSHA audit revealed that the mine operator failed to report miner injuries equivalent to 239 days of lost time during the review period.