On April 16, 2024, the Mine Safety & Health Administration (“MSHA”) released its final rule for Respirable Crystalline Silica (“RCS”) for preliminary viewing, and it was published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2024....more
4/23/2024
/ Coal Mines ,
Corrective Actions ,
Final Rules ,
Health Care Providers ,
Medical Examinations ,
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) ,
Mining ,
Occupational Exposure ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Silica ,
Workplace Hazards ,
Workplace Safety
The Mine Safety & Health Administration (“MSHA”) has finally published its final rule on Safety Programs for Surface Mobile Equipment. This final rule has been a long time coming. MSHA originally published a Request...more
2/16/2024
/ Contractors ,
Employer Liability Issues ,
Energy Sector ,
Final Rules ,
Health and Safety ,
Heavy Equipment ,
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) ,
Mining ,
Operators ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Safety Inspections ,
Workplace Hazards ,
Workplace Safety
The Mine Act of 1977 governs all mine operators, and grants MSHA authority over the industry. While the agency clearly has the power to regulate and inspect active mining operations around the country, its reach has limits,...more
In the last several years, MSHA has issued 107(A) Imminent Danger orders with increased frequency. On the surface, these orders seem self-explanatory, yet the agency has been moving beyond the common assumption that these...more
MSHA investigations can catch operators off-guard and are laden with small comments or mishaps that can escalate into enforcement nightmares. The tactics and personnel used during MSHA investigations are typically much more...more
Regular MSHA inspections (aka E01 inspections) are commonplace for mines – an average of two to four inspections per year for surface and underground operations respectively. Yet, MSHA has in its arsenal a host of other...more
Mine operators can look to MSHA’s 2015 enforcement data to identify patterns in the most frequently cited safety and health violations, making it easier to avoid costly citations and possible long-term legal ramifications....more