At the 2023 annual meeting of the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME), IME President Clark Mica and the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) Administrator for Mine Safety and Health Enforcement Brian Goepfert announced the renewal of a collaborative relationship to continue fostering safe and healthy working conditions at the nation’s mining operations.
The announcement, under the authority of the provisions of the federal code that govern mineral lands and mining in the United States (30 U.S.C. § 962), puts in formal writing that IME and MSHA renewed their Alliance to provide mine industry personnel with information, guidance, and access to training materials that emphasize and advance the safe use of commercial explosives.
“Safety is part of our core mission at IME. We’re pleased to continue working with MSHA to protect the health and safety of our workforce and the communities in which we operate,” Mica said. “This partnership is also a value-add for the commercial explosives industry, serving as a benefit in recruiting and retaining a healthy workforce for years to come.”
Specifically, MSHA and IME will work cooperatively through the Alliance to:
- Promote explosives safety for the mining community.
- Aid in identifying the scope of mine safety and health concerns and provide ways to proactively communicate those concerns to manufacturers of explosives and blasting materials that provide services at mine sites.
- Leverage IME’s explosives expertise to develop, distribute and promote educational and safety training resources related to explosive and blasting materials.
- Develop and disseminate best practices to stakeholders who use explosives and contract blasting services.
- Promote distribution of MSHA Safety Alerts and other safety resources.
- Promote IME participation in the development of appropriate safety resources.
- Speak, exhibit, or appear at MSHA and IME conferences, other industry conferences or meetings attended by mine operators and explosives users and contractors to promote safe use of explosives and blasting materials.
- Ensure that health and safety programs are fair and inclusive, and reach all persons in the explosives industry workforce, including those who do not speak English as their primary language.
- Review final MSHA-provided accident reports and accident data that involve materials and work practices within IME’s scope.
“This alliance is a great collaborative effort that has and will continue to improve the health and safety of miners across the country,” said Goepfert.