Coal Mining Deaths at a Low - Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)

MSHA: Coal Mining Deaths At Historic Low

"Press Release: ARLINGTON, Va. – Preliminary data released by the U.S.Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration indicates that 40 miners died in work-related accidents at the nation's mines in 2014, two fewer than in the previous year. Coal mining deaths dropped from 20 in 2013 to 16 in 2014, the lowest annual number of coal mining deaths ever recorded in the United States. The previous record low was 18 in 2009.

While the numbers of coal mines and miners have recently declined, the number of deaths in 2014 is about half what the industry experienced in the early 2000's, when the numbers of working coal miners were at comparable levels.

Twenty-four deaths occurred in metal and nonmetal mines last year, an increase from 22 deaths in 2013.

The most common causes of mining accidents in 2014 involved powered haulage and machinery; five powered haulage and five machinery related deaths occurred in coal mines, and powered haulage accounted for eight deaths in metal and nonmetal mining. Powered haulage accidents involve equipment used to transport people, materials or supplies, and machinery accidents are associated with the action or motion of machinery or failure of component parts.

During the last quarter of 2014, nine mining deaths occurred, compared to 15 during the same period in 2013. Four of those deaths occurred in coal mines and five in metal and nonmetal mines, compared to six and nine in the previous year, respectively.

“Mining deaths are preventable, and those that occurred in 2014 are no exception,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “While MSHA and the mining industry have made a number of improvements and have been moving mine safety in the right direction (Who NEEDS MSHA Training?), these deaths, particularly those in the metal and nonmetal industry, makes clear the need to do more to protect our nation's miners.

“Advancements in health and safety demand the cooperation of the entire mining community,” he added. “Miners deserve the reassurance that they will return home safe and healthy after every shift.”

Ten coal mining deaths occurred underground and six occurred at surface operations. In metal/nonmetal mining, six deaths occurred underground, and 18 occurred at surface operations.

Main stressed that, to prevent deaths, mine operators must maintain effective safety and health management programs that are constantly evaluated, continue find-and-fix programs to identify and eliminate mine hazards, and provide training for all mining personnel.

Among the measures MSHA has undertaken to prevent mining deaths are increasing surveillance and strategic enforcement through impact inspections at mines with troubling compliance histories; enhancing pattern of violations actions at mines with chronic violation histories; implementing special initiatives, such as “Rules to Live By,” which focuses attention on the most common causes of mining deaths; and engaging in outreach efforts with the mining community. “These actions by MSHA, along with the efforts of the mining industry, are leading to safer and healthier mines,” Main said.

An analysis of mining fatalities, along with best practices for mining operations, is available at http://www.msha.gov/fatals/summaries/summaries.asp."

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Who Needs MSHA Part 46 Training - Surface Mine Safety

Written by

F Marie Athey OHST | November 28, 2014 (Reprent with approval)

Who needs MSHA training? MSHA requires everyone who falls under the Part 46 Surface Mine regulations to comply in the same way. That means that mining contractors and all types of service providers performing work in active mining areas of a mine site, must meet the same training and documentation requirements as mine operators.

Online computer based training is an acceptable form of training per MSHA. There is a misunderstanding by many in the industry that online training companies operated like any other training facility or consultant and that a representative would sign a 5000-23 as the “responsible person.” That is not the case for online training, which MSHA deems as a “training method,” not an individual or entity endorsed by the trainee’s employer as the responsible person.

Three steps to get and stay compliant with MSHA Part 46:

1. Compliant Training Plan (keep a printed physical copy).

• Any company can go to this website to register for a contractor ID.
• Go here to fill out a compliant Training Plan.

2. Training performed in a compliant manner totaling the minimum 24 hours (for New Miners) within the 90 day time period, with repeated 8 hours annually for Annual Refresher training. Four hours of training will be required before new miners can begin work.

3. Compliant Certificate of Training 5000-23 Form (keep a printed and signed physical copy)

• Go to the MSHA website to get a 5000-23 Certificate of Completion.

MSHA requires that 3 individuals are identified on the forms:

1. Person Trained – This is the person receiving the training.
2. Competent Person – This is the person with the ability, training, knowledge, or experience, deemed competent on the subject matter by the production-operator or independent contractor, who performs or oversees the training. For Part 46, this does not have to be an MSHA-approved person. It can be anyone that the mine or mining contractor sees fit to perform the training. And it can be multiple people across different types of training as needed.
3. Responsible Person – This is the person ultimately responsible for the health and safety training of the person being trained. Usually, this is the safety manager, general manager, or owner of the business. In some cases, it can be the training facility to which trainees are sent or a training consultant who comes on-site to do training.

Please Note – MSHA allows for all 3 of these roles to actually be the same person in cases where the mining contractor is a sole proprietorship.

For Part 46, these forms do not have to be submitted to MSHA for approval. They do have to be completed, signed as needed, and physically printed so they’re available on-site at any time for an MSHA inspector’s review.

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