I need to be totally honest with you, folks. Sometimes I get close to the due date for this column and I’m utterly at a loss about what to write. That was the case a couple of months back, when I told you I wanted to write about developments at the Department of Labor, but couldn’t do it without risking…
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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…
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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 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 MoreLittler, 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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Kentucky-based Denios now offers a new line of non-sparking tools to bring vital safety and reliability to locations with higher risk of fire or explosion. Crafted from high-quality, non-ferrous materials including aluminum bronze, phosphor bronze and brass, beryllium copper, or copper-nickel metals, they are designed to prevent spark generation, making them ideal for areas where flammable vapors, gases, or dust…
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This month, I want to go back to basics and talk about the process and considerations that might drive a mine operator’s decision to challenge an MSHA citation or order. As you know, the Mine Act requires an inspector to issue a citation or order if he believes an operator “has violated this Act, or any mandatory health or safety…
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Waterblasting, according to Jetstream, takes more than just water – there are key elements of the task that require not only efficient work, but also proper safety and training. By John Schaer There are instances in life when standards may be set too high. However, when it comes to waterblasting and handling water jets powerful enough to cut through the…
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An enormous part of worker safety is the prevention of hazardous situations at the mine site – especially those areas where risks are highest. There is always room to improve that level of safety, and behind that is understanding more about risk mitigation. To create a fire there must be three elements: oxygen, heat and fuel (also known as “the…
Read MoreBy Rachel S. Aramburu and Krista K. McIntyre In response to the Wall Street Crash of 1929, Congress passed the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to combat securities fraud and increase market transparency. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is the agency that delegated enforcement of these acts,…
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