The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported that on June 20, 2022, a 50-year-old miner at a Lhoist Group plant in Virginia died when the excavator he was operating underground slid over an elevated loading pad and was engulfed by lime dust. This is the 15th fatality reported in 2022, and the fifth classified as “Machinery.” MSHA recommends the…
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MSHA remembers Sunshine mine 50 years later
In early May, the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Sunshine mine disaster in Idaho that trapped 173 workers underground and killed 91. It was a “day that changed the mining industry forever,” according to the agency: on May 2, 1972, a fire broke out underground at the operation in Kellogg just before noon…
Read MoreMSHA Reports Eighth Fatality
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 issues reports for year’s first four fatalities
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…
Read MoreMSHA rolls out safety campaign
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…
Read MoreMSHA issues safety reminder for development mining near wells
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 MoreMSHA reports second, third fatalities of 2022
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reported that on Jan. 7, a 35-year-old continuous mining machine (CMM) operator was fatally injured when he was pinned between the remote controlled CMM and the coal rib; and on Jan. 11, a 32-year-old miner died while driving on a mine road when a tree fell from a highwall onto the cab of his pickup truck. These…
Read MoreIncrease in MSHA penalties
On January 14, the U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule in the Federal Register that will increase Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) civil monetary penalties by 1.06222%. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 requires the department to adjust its civil monetary penalty levels for inflation annually no later than Jan. 15 of…
Read MoreWilliamson tapped to lead MSHA
The 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…
Read MoreMSHA Calls for Powered Haulage Safety
The Mine Safety and Health Administration reported that as of July 12, nine miners have been killed and 185 have been injured in accidents involving powered haulage equipment. Year to date, this is the highest number of powered haulage fatalities since 2006. That’s why the agency, on July 20, hosted a national Stand Down for Safety Day focused on powered…
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