MSHA reported that on Aug. 7, a contractor at a Rockland, Mich., sand and gravel operation died after the front-end loader he was operating traveled over the edge of a highwall, falling approximately 70 ft. This is the 18th fatality reported in 2025, and the seventh classified as “Powered Haulage.” MSHA recommends the following best practices to avoid this type…
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MSHA issues safety alert for operating mobile equipment
MSHA reported that since the beginning of calendar year 2025, mine operators have reported more than 150 accidents from the operation of mobile equipment, including 13 of 20 fatal accidents. Accidents can be prevented by examiners and mobile equipment operators looking for hazards above, below, in front, behind, and beside mobile equipment. MSHA recommends the following best practices to avoid…
Read MoreCitations vs. Orders:What Every Mine Operator Needs to Know About MSHA Enforcement
Emily Schimelpfenig, a colleague of Willa Perlmutter at Stoel Rives LLP, is guest writing on this issue’s column. Emily is an experienced attorney who represents and advises clients on both Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliance, contests, and accident investigations. In this column, Emily breaks down the differences between MSHA citations and…
Read MoreMine hoists in the spotlight
Hoists are the backbone of most underground mines; without them, operations come to a standstill, threatening worker safety and mine productivity. North American Mining explores factors in the selection, operation and maintenance of this critical infrastructure. by Jonathan Rowland Underground mining is “increasingly trending toward deeper operations and larger payloads,” as Francis Lacasse, ABB’s local business line manager for hoisting…
Read MoreMSHA reports 16th and 17th fatalities of 2025
MSHA reported that on July 26, an electrician at Stillwater Mine, Stillwater, Mont., was electrocuted when he came in contact with one phase of a 13,200-volt three phase power source. This is the 16th fatality reported in 2025, and the first classified as “Electrical.” MSHA recommends the following best practices to avoid this type of accident: MSHA also reported that…
Read MoreMSHA issues impoundment safety alert after heavy precipitation
MSHA is warning that heavy rainfall and flooding across mining regions can increase the risk of impoundment instability and potential failures. Mine operators and contractors must manage these risks and take proactive steps to ensure the safety of all impoundment structures. MSHA recommends the following best practices to avoid issues with impoundments:
Read MoreBambi vs. Godzilla? No, wait – it’s just OSHA and MSHA
You know, some months when I sit down to write this column, the topics just present themselves to me. There’s some new Commission case, or some development over at MSHA, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, that screams to be written about. The problem these days, though, is that while a lot is going on over at the Department of…
Read MoreUS Department of Labor announces safety funding availability
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration is making $10.5 million in grant funding available to help provide mine safety training for the nation’s miners. MSHA will award these grants as part of its fiscal year 2025 State Grants Program to fund the delivery of federally mandated training and re-training for miners who work at surface, underground…
Read MoreMSHA reports 16th fatality of 2025
MSHA reported that on July 12, a delivery truck driver at Pueblo Plant & Quarry, Pueblo Colo., died when the truck he was driving traveled off the road and crashed into a ravine. This is the 16th fatality reported in 2025, and the seventh classified as “Powered Haulage.” MSHA recommends the following best practices to avoid this type of accident:
Read MoreTRAM training materials competition opens
Momentum is building for the 2025 Training Resources Applied to Mining (TRAM) conference, this Nov. 4-6 at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beaver, W.Va. Every year at the conference, MSHA holds the Training Materials Competition. There’s still time to submit your original training materials to the 2025 TRAM Training Materials Competition. The entry deadline is Monday, Sept.…
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