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…
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Just 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…
Read MoreMSHA issues final silica rule
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has issued a final rule to better protect the nation’s miners from health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica. It lowers the permissible exposure limit to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air for a full-shift exposure, calculated as an eight-hour, time-weighted average. If a miner’s exposure exceeds the limit, the…
Read MoreMoving tons through the Iron Ore Range
A look at the design and maintenance of mechanical conveyors for this vital American mining region. By Dan Baxter Several factors play into the safety, reliability, and maintenance requirements of mechanical conveying systems. And while all mining and mineral processing operations are more demanding of their mechanical conveying equipment, handling iron ore and taconite in the Iron Range requires special…
Read MoreMSHA issues multiple violations in January
The Mine Safety and Health Administration completed impact inspections at 15 mines in 10 states in January, issuing 188 violations. Since 2023, the agency has identified 2,927 violations, including 827 significant and substantial and 57 unwarrantable failure findings during its impact inspections. Of the violations MSHA identified in January, 63 were evaluated as S&S and one had unwarrantable failure findings.…
Read MoreUnited Coal bolsters mine rescue training at Virginia Tech
United Coal Company (UCC) has donated Biomarine mine rescue equipment to Virginia Tech’s Mine Engineering Department to help facilitate students’ development into proficient mining engineers. “The impact of this donation on the Virginia Tech Mine Engineering Department is expected to be profound, enhancing their ability to train and prepare for mine rescue operations,” said UCC officials. “The equipment enables more…
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