Between Oct. 1, 2024, and April 1, 2025, 2,201 injuries have been reported to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Fourteen were fatal injuries. For the remaining injuries, 1,523 were non-fatal and resulted in days lost or restricted duty, 27 resulted in a permanent disability, and 637 resulted in no days lost or restricted duty. Since Oct. 1, 2024,…
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Taking the first step
In last month’s column, I spotlighted the job losses of many gifted researchers from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), many of which are key contributors to the future of mining more safely and with better health behaviors. The layoffs, triggered by governmental cuts from the DOGE program, also have included agencies such as the Mine Safety…
Read MoreCourt temporarily blocks silica rule
A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked The Mine Safety and Health Administration’s silica dust rule to limit silica dust exposure for coal miners. It was supposed to take effect on April 14. The National Sand, Stone and Gravel Association recently sought an emergency stay of the rule in the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis and…
Read MoreMSHA issues safety alert in response to 10 fatalities
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported that 10 miner fatalities have occurred between Jan. 3 and March 5 – more than triple the number for the same period in 2024. Accidents classified as Powered Haulage remain the most common with four fatalities, followed by Machinery (two fatalities), and Fall of Face, Rib, Side or Highwall (two fatalities). Four…
Read MoreMSHA reports 24th fatality of 2024
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has reported that a miner has died from injuries sustained while realigning some longwall shields at Arch Resources’ underground Leer mine complex in West Virginia. The 34-year-old miner, who had 14 years of mining experience, was initially injured on September 28 when the hook and strap assembly broke while attached to two longwall…
Read MoreJust hear us out – More to the point, give us a fair opportunity to be heard
By Willa B. Perlmutter So, last week I had the pleasure of attending a seminar put on by the Energy & Mineral Law Foundation at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. It was called a “safety seminar,” but that’s kind of a misnomer. With one interesting exception, a mine operator who talked about how they’d improved mobile equipment…
Read MoreExamining mental health connections in mining
An important discussion of mental health and well-being with mining and construction workers. By Joe McGuire, PhD, Emily J. Haas, PhD, Lucas Simpson, MS, Vince Hafeli, DBA Mining and construction are often cited as inherently hazardous and stressful occupations and can pose risks to workers’ mental health and well-being.1,2 Psychosocial risk factors that can increase the occurrence of mental health…
Read MoreMSHA completes July impact inspections at 16 mines
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) completed impact inspections at 16 mines in 10 states in July 2024, issuing 239 violations and one safeguard. The agency began conducting impact inspections after an April 2010 explosion in West Virginia at the Upper Big Branch Mine killed 29 miners. MSHA’s impact inspections since 2023 have identified 4,314…
Read MoreA new Guardian for miner safety
By Jeanne Grunert Mines pose unique safety challenges. Dark and damp conditions, low ceilings, poor visibility, and a noisy environment make it imperative that mine owners do everything they can to prevent accidents and fatalities. In the demanding conditions of an underground mine, even the most cautious and vigilant miner can meet with an accident. According to the Mine Safety…
Read MoreMSHA impact inspections in June target 15 mines
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) completed impact inspections at 15 mines in 12 states in June 2024 and cited mine operators for 195 violations. The agency conducts impact inspections at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement due to poor compliance history; previous accidents, injuries, and illnesses; and other compliance…
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