Show Me Your Badge!

Here’s A Story About An Operator Who Called Local Law Enforcement 
On A Field Office Supervisor Who Refused To Present His Credentials. By Brian Hendrix A reader in the industry recently asked me for my take on his practice of asking MSHA inspectors for their credentials. He explained that he asks for an inspector’s credentials, either an authorized representative (AR)…

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What Is A “Miners’ Representative”?

The Answer Isn’t Obvious And Would Likely Surprise Anyone Who’s Not Familiar With The Mining Industry. By Brian Hendrix What is a miners’ representative? Are they selected, elected, designated or authorized? How? By whom? Are they affiliated with a union or represent union members? A miners’ representatives must at least be an experienced miner, right? Currently employed as a miner…

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New App Will Provide Miners With Health, Safety, Miners’ Rights Information

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration launched an app for use on iPhone and Android devices that will help get timely information directly to miners and members of the mining community. The app allows miners to easily use the tool at mine sites and outside of working hours to search for best safety and health practices…

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Drugs, MSHA Enforcement and Maslow’s Hammer

The Agency Often Neglects Or Undervalues Its Other Tools In Favor Of Enforcement. Why?  By Brian Hendrix Without a doubt, MSHA is an enforcement agency. It walks, talks, thinks and acts like an enforcement agency. It sees itself as an enforcement agency. Enforcement is its favorite tool, and the tool that it uses most frequently. The trouble is that, after…

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