James McHugh joins MSHA

Charleston, W.Va., lawyer James McHugh, with the Chris Pence Law Firm has joined the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) as deputy assistant secretary for policy.  McHugh will head the agency temporarily until Wayne Palmer is confirmed by the U.S. Senate.   McHugh has represented clients before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission and the Occupational Safety and…

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Smart PPE driving mining’s digital revolution

How some forward-thinking operators are discovering the improvement in safety and costs that can come from the emergence of smart PPE technology. A mining operation’s daily startup process remains critical and time-intensive to ensure the safety of those entering; teams and safety managers often begin their mornings managing extensive documentation, from verifying current certifications to reviewing equipment inspection records, often…

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Littler welcomes Adele Abrams as senior counsel 

Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, announced the addition of Adele L. Abrams as senior counsel in its expanding Washington, D.C. office.  “Adele brings over three decades of legal experience, with a significant focus on safety, health and employment law. Her extensive background as a safety professional and trainer, along with her leadership skills, makes her…

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Court 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…

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Five mine fatalities in first month of 2025

MSHA reported that five fatalities took place in January 2025 at mines in Texas, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Two of these accidents took place at coal mines, while the others occurred at construction sand and gravel and dimension stone operations. On January 10, a mobile bridge carrier operator died at Wilson Creek Energy’s Acosta Deep coal mine in Somerset County,…

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MSHA reports 10th fatality

MSHA reported that on March 5, a miner at Calhoun Quarry #1. Jersey, Ill., was fatally injured at a surface mine when flyrock from blasting operations struck him. The miner was assisting in detonating the explosives. This is the 10th fatality reported in 2025, and the first classified as “Explosives and Breaking Agents.”   MSHA recommends the following best practices to…

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