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.

November 17, 2013

MSHA News Release: Statement of US Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez on the death of two miners [11/17/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez issued the following statement on the death of two miners at Star Mine Operations LLC's Revenue Mine in Ouray, Colo.:

November 7, 2013

MSHA News Release: MSHA issues third-quarter 2013 fatality data [11/07/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today released a summary of U.S. mining deaths that occurred during the third quarter of 2013. From July 1 to Sept. 30, there were nine mining fatalities in the United States. Five miners died in coal mining accidents and four in metal/nonmetal mining accidents. The number was two fewer than during the third quarter in 2012.

October 31, 2013

MSHA News Release: MSHA announces results of September impact inspections [10/31/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 130 citations and 13 orders during special impact inspections conducted at nine coal mines and one metal/nonmetal mine last month.

October 31, 2013

MSHA News Release: MSHA issues warning to coal mine operators about winter hazards [10/31/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration this week launched its annual "Winter Alert" campaign, which warns coal mine operators and miners of the numerous hazards colder winter weather may cause for working miners. Statistics show that deadly mine explosions historically occur more often during October through March than during warmer periods.

October 30, 2013

MSHA News Release: US Labor Department's MSHA designates Oct. 30 as Mine Rescue Day [10/30/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration announced today that it is recognizing Oct. 30 as Mine Rescue Day. The date was selected because of its historic significance. On Oct. 30, 1911, the first national mine rescue demonstration was held in the U.S. It was organized by Dr. Joseph A. Holmes, who in 1910 was appointed as the first director of the U.S. Bureau of Mines by President William Howard Taft. Holmes and Taft attended the inaugural event at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pa.

October 24, 2013

MSHA News Release: MSHA issues first POV notices under new rule [10/24/2013]

1 mine in Kentucky and 2 mines in West Virginia receive notices

October 7, 2013

MSHA News Release: MSHA urges mine operators to follow regulations and ensure safe practices, reminds miners of 1-800-746-1553 hotline to report hazards [10/07/2013]

Alert follows three fatalities over Oct. 4th weekend

ARLINGTON, Va. — Following three coal mine fatalities during Oct. 4-6, the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration is urging the mining industry to step up its compliance with safety and health regulations under the Mine Safety and Health Act and other applicable laws. Two fatalities occurred in underground mines in West Virginia and Illinois, and one fatality occurred at a surface mine in Wyoming.

September 30, 2013

MSHA News Release: US Labor Department's MSHA awards $582,804 in Brookwood-Sago mine safety grants [09/30/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today awarded $582,804 in grants through its Brookwood-Sago program to five organizations that provide education and training within the mining industry. The funding will be used to develop and implement training and related materials for mine emergency preparedness, as well as for the prevention of accidents in underground mines.

The recipients and the amount of funding they are receiving:

September 26, 2013

MSHA News Release: MSHA announces results of August impact inspections [09/26/2013]

ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced that federal inspectors issued 213 citations, 23 orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at nine coal mines and five metal/nonmetal mines last month.