Main discusses MSHA progress at NSSGA Convention

Joe Main, assistant secretary of labor for MSHA, updated NSSGA‘s board of directors on recent actions the agency has taken to improve miner safety and health during a March 5 meeting at the NSSGA Annual Convention in Las Vegas.

According to a press release, Main told NSSGA that mine safety has been on a steady path of improvement since MSHA began implementing reforms in 2010, including the Rules to Live By initiative that focuses on the most common causes of mining deaths; impact inspections of problem mines; and the Pattern of Violations program targeting chronic violators.

Main also noted that MSHA has completed nearly 100 actions based on recommendations identified by the internal review of the 2010 Upper Big Branch mine disaster; helped create the Homes Mine Rescue Association; reformed coal, metal and nonmetal mine rescue training contests; improved enforcement of workplace safety discrimination cases; and reduced the backlog of cases pending before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.