Health & Safety

Employee safety is the highest priority of the mining industry. Advanced technology, greater emphasis on worker training and safety awareness, and regulatory efforts by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and state mine safety agencies have all contributed to steady improvements in mine safety throughout U.S. mines.

Year-over-year record improvements in safety performance were tragically interrupted in 2006. Because U.S. operators are committed to reaching our goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries, the National Mining Association convened an independent panel of technical and safety experts to analyze mine safety technology and training needs and to provide recommendations to improve mine safety. The recommendations of the Mine Safety Technology and Training Commission are now being implemented. The industry also supported new federal legislation, the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act, which became law in mid-2006, and a significant effort has been made to implement the MINER Act's major requirements.

NMA's Safety Initiatives: Safety First: Stay Alert, and Stay Away, Stay Alive
Request complimentary hardhat stickers, posters and videos

January 22, 2010: Statement of Senator Isakson: Improvements in Mine Safety

Good Practice Guidance on Occupational Health Risk Assessment
International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM)

Sentinels of Safety Awards

Issue Brief: Mining Safety

The MINER Act

Mine Safety Accomplishments

NMA Crisis Communications Template (Word File)

Mine Rescue Handbook

NMA Comments on MSHA's Criteria and Procedures for Proposed Assesment of Civil Penalties

MSHA's Proposed Coal Mine Dust Sampling Regulations

Explosives

NMA's position on Taggant Technology for Post-Blast Explosives Identification