MSHA grants awarded for safety, health training

The Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) awarded more than $10.5 million in grants, with a goal of reducing mining accidents, injuries and illnesses by supporting programs such as safety and health courses.

MSHA awarded its grants to support the delivery of federally mandated training and retraining for miners at surface and underground coal and metal/nonmetal mines, as well as miners engaged in shell dredging or those employed at surface stone, sand and gravel operations.

This year’s grant recipients represent 43 different states, as well as U.S. territories.

“Training is a critical element in protecting the safety and health of our nation’s miners,” says Chris Williamson, assistant secretary at MSHA. “Deficiencies in miner training continue to be a root cause of fatal accidents. These grants fund programs and training designed to reduce mining accidents, injuries and illnesses.”

The largest MSHA grants were awarded to the University of Texas at Austin ($726,741), the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection ($590,454) and the West Virginia Office of Miners Health Safety & Training ($516,841).

States and territories can apply for MSHA grant funding, which state mine inspectors’ offices, state departments of labor and state-supported colleges and universities administer.

Related: 5 MSHA standards to watch out for