The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported that on Feb. 28, a contract miner died when he was crushed between the rib and a single boom face drill. The victim was alongside the drill using the onboard tram lever controls when the accident occurred because the remote control was inoperable. This is the eighth fatality reported in 2022, and…
Read MoreMSHA recently released its final report for a fatal machinery incident that occurred July 21 of last year at the Thunder Basin Coal Black Thunder surface coal mine in Wyoming.
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On February 23, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported that on Jan. 14, a 44-year-old contract laborer with 13 years of total experience received fatal injuries when he fell 27 feet to a concrete surface. At the time of the accident, the contractor was on a belt conveyor in a coal preparation plant and was working to replace…
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The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has announced the “Take Time Save Lives” campaign to reach miners, promote best practice resources, and ensure mine operators have the tools they need to fully train miners to use equipment. “The purpose of this new campaign is simple: mine operators need to take the time to train miners on equipment and safety…
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The Mine Safety and Health Administration released a safety notice in February for the nation’s mining operations relating to development mining near wells, an issue it says is happening thousands of times across the U.S. In the new notice, the agency points out that much has changes for both the mining and gas industries in recent years: “Today’s coal mines…
Read MoreThe U.S. Senate held a voice vote and confirmed Chris Williamson as the next assistant secretary for mine safety and health. The West Virginia native comes to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) where he was senior counsel to Chair Lauren McFerran.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Labor has announced a new program designed to encourage COVID-19 vaccination among miners in Kentucky and Arizona. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that vaccination rates are below 60% in the two states where a number of mining operations exist. The department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will pilot the Mine Vaccine Outreach…
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The new year in mining has already had its share of hazards, with four miner deaths in the U.S. in the first 14 days of 2022. The first worker died January 7 at the Sunrise Coal Oaktown Fuels Mine No. 1 in Knox County, Ky., owned by Hallador Energy. The victim, a 35-year-old continuous miner machine operator with nine years…
Read MoreThe Biden administration has nominated West Virginia native Christopher Williamson for assistant secretary for mine safety and health at the U.S. Department of Labor. Williamson, who will replace David Zatezalo if his nomination is confirmed by the Senate, currently serves as the senior counsel to Chairman Lauren McFerran at the National Labor Relations Board. Prior to his current seat, he…
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In November, MSHA announced a pillar collapse program that has spotlighted limestone mines but could also have an impact on other commodity operations. The agency noted that, since October 2020, four massive pillar collapses have occurred in limestone mines. Each was accompanied by a powerful air blast and the formation of a large surface sinkhole. Fortunately, no injuries were reported…
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