Mining/Oil/Gas

Washington — The Senate made no changes to its proposed budgets for safety agencies in an appropriations “minibus” passed Aug. 23. Meanwhile, an amendment to protect the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s coal dust rule failed, but another intended to increase participation in black lung screening programs was added.

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration is requesting input on its updated Mine Data Retrieval System, an online tool intended to assist miners with accessing data and visualizations, including operator history.

Washington — Offshore drilling rig operators in the Gulf of Mexico reported 1,129 blowout preventer equipment component failures in 2017, according to the latest annual report from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement’s SafeOCS reporting system.

Montreal — Canadian scientific research organization IRSST has released a new video intended to ensure the optimal use of backup alarms “under realistic working conditions.”

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration is accepting applications for its Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants Program.

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration has scheduled six public stakeholder meetings and a webinar on a Request for Information on technologies that may help reduce incidents involving mobile equipment at surface mines, as well as belt conveyors at surface and underground mines.

Washington — Effective process safety management can help prevent hazards and incidents related to process unit startups and shutdowns, according to a new “Safety Digest” from the Chemical Safety Board.

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration is seeking input on a study of its respirable coal mine dust rule, as outlined in the 2014 regulation, according to a Request for Information published in the July 9 Federal Register.

Washington — Officials from the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement met June 21 to discuss a BSEE-sponsored report that outlines strategies for enhancing bolting technology in offshore oil and gas operations, a press release from the agency states.

Washington — A “fundamental shift” is needed in the mining industry’s approach to coal dust exposure to help mitigate a surge in black lung disease among underground coal miners, according a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.