MSHA issues final silica rule

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has issued a final rule to better protect the nation’s miners from health hazards associated with exposure to respirable crystalline silica. It lowers the permissible exposure limit to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air for a full-shift exposure, calculated as an eight-hour, time-weighted average. Full story.

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MSHA issues multiple violations in January

The Mine Safety and Health Administration completed impact inspections at 15 mines in 10 states in January, issuing 188 violations. Since 2023, the agency has identified 2,927 violations, including 827 significant and substantial and 57 unwarrantable failure findings during its impact inspections. Full story.

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MSHA July impact inspections: 288 violations

The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) completed impact inspections at 15 mines in 12 states in July 2023, issuing 288 violations and four safeguard notices. MSHA began impact inspections after an explosion killed 29 miners at West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch Mine in 2010. Full story.

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MSHA extends public comment period for silica rule

The U.S. Department of Labor said the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will extend the public comment period from August 28 to September 11 on proposed amendments to existing federal standards related to workplace exposure of respirable crystalline silica or silica dust. Full story.

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MSHA calls on industry to ‘Stand Down to Save Lives’

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will hold its first “Stand Down to Save Lives” on May 17 as part of a national campaign to encourage the nation’s mining community to take steps to prevent injuries and illnesses and stop an alarming rise in the number of miners killed on the job in 2023. Full…

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