The Essential Minerals Association (EMA) and the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) renewed a 20-year alliance focused on fostering a culture of safety and prevention throughout the minerals industry. The agreement was signed at EMA’s Fall Conference & Fly-In, held in Washington, D.C.
“EMA and MSHA have enjoyed a close relationship for 20 years through the MSHA Alliance, and I’m proud of our collective efforts to promote safety and health initiatives that are the number one priority for EMA’s members,” said Chris Greissing, EMA president. “The industry’s work begins and ends with safety, making sure our people get home safely each and every single day. Together with MSHA, we’re working to provide the industry with the information and tools they need to make that happen.”
EMA and MSHA formed the partnership in 2003 to use their collective expertise to help foster safer and more healthful working conditions in U.S. mining and processing operations. The alliance will provide the metal and non-metal mining personnel with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect the health and safety of those working in mines and processing facilities.
EMA and MSHA will work together to implement education and outreach efforts to raise awareness of safety and health best practices, including but not limited to:
- Provide education, training, and technical assistance to raise safety and health awareness within the industrial and green energy minerals sector to help prevent injuries and illnesses.
- Conduct and promote annual summary analyses of incidence rates and case studies for U.S. industrial and green energy mines and processing facilities.
- Ensure that health and safety programs are fair and inclusive and reach all persons in the industry workforce.
- Ensure that personal protective equipment is available, accessible, and suitably fitted to all workers in the industry.
- Proactively address worker safety and health issues by speaking and exhibiting at conferences, meetings, and other events or through print and electronic media.
As part of EMA’s partnership with MSHA, the two organizations presented the annual Safety Achievement Awards at EMA’s fall conference in Washington, D.C. The awards recognize the best reportable injury rate for an individual EMA member company’s entire operation in North America and for an individual EMA member company site location.
Among operations honored was Mississippi Lime Company, Shelby, Alabama Lime Plant, Calera, Ala., Small Mine 99,426 hours with zero injuries, for an all-injury rate of 0.00 per 200,000 employee work hours