MSHA reported that on May 19, a miner at Silver Lake mine in San Bernardino County, Calif., died when the haul truck he was operating traveled through a berm and over an approximately 40-ft. highwall to the bench below.
Read MoreThe U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has launched the new MSHA Information Hub to help miners, operators, contractors and other stakeholders quickly find answers to their most frequently asked questions. The MSHA Information Hub makes it easier than ever to access important safety and health information and serves as a centralized resource for compliance assistance…
Read MoreThe Trump administration has decided to scrap plans to terminate the leases for 34 offices in the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), reported the Associated Press. Earlier this year, the Department of Government Efficiency had projected closing the offices would save $18 million. A statement released by a Department of Labor spokesperson said it has been working closely with…
Read MoreBetween 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,…
Read MoreAs we journey toward the center of the year (already?), it is a good time to take stock of some things, how we’re doing, and what’s going well – and not so well. So, when someone says, “You want the good news first, or the bad news?” I generally will choose the latter. Rip off the Band-Aid, then let’s figure…
Read MoreCharleston, 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…
Read MoreAs of April 1, 2,201 injuries have been reported to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) since Oct. 1, 2024. Fourteen were fatal injuries. For the remaining injuries, 1,523 were non-fatal and resulted in days lost or restricted duty (NFDL), 27 resulted in a permanent disability, and 637 resulted in no days lost or restricted duty. Since Oct. 1,…
Read MoreMSHA reported that on March 28 at a sand and gravel operation in Washington, Kan., a miner was fatally injured at a surface mine when sand from the highwall engulfed the front-end loader he was operating. The miner was digging sand from the toe of the highwall. This is the 11th fatality reported in 2025, and the fifth classified as…
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This month I’d like to tell you about a problem that really shouldn’t be a problem. I’m talking about the current tempest-in-a-teapot that is approval of settlement motions in Mine Act enforcement cases. I’ll bet you already know this, but the vast majority of penalty cases that are filed with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (which I’m…
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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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