Coal

Washington – The Mine Safety and Health Administration needs to provide better oversight of coal mine operators’ emergency response plans, according to a recent audit conducted by the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.

Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration is proposing to delay until July 24 the effective date of a final rule intended to improve pre-shift examinations of metal and non-metal mines.

Washington – A series of free, confidential health screenings will be available for coal miners as part of the NIOSH Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program.

Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration has extended the comment period for a proposed rule that would require underground coal mine operators to equip coal-hauling machines and scoops with proximity detection systems.

Atlanta – A radiology practice in eastern Kentucky diagnosed 60 current or former coal miners with progressive massive fibrosis – the most severe case of black lung disease – between January 2015 and August 2016, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration has released its annual safety alert to call attention to the unique hazards the mining industry faces during the winter months.

Washington – The Department of Health and Human Services has finalized amendments to NIOSH’s Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program regulations to set standards that require coal mine operators to present a plan for providing lung testing and X-ray exams to surface and underground coal miners.

Arlington, VA – An upward trend in serious injuries among coal miners has prompted the Mine Safety and Health Administration to issue a national call to safety.

Arlington, VA – The overall permissible level of respirable dust in coal mines has been lowered to 1.5 milligrams per cubic meter of air from 2.0 as part of the third – and final – phase of the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s rule on limiting miner exposure to coal mine dust.

Arlington, VA – Virtually all respirable coal dust samples collected earlier this year complied with Mine Safety and Health Administration coal mine dust standards, the agency announced July 18.