The U.S. Department of Labor announced a proposal by its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to amend current federal standards to “better protect the nation’s miners from health hazards related to exposure to respirable crystalline silica, or silica dust.” The proposed rule change will ensure miners have at least the same level of protections as workers in other industries.…
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MSHA Impact Inspections Target 20 Mines in 15 States
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) completed impact inspections at 20 mines in 15 states in April 2023 and found 335 violations. Since Jan. 1, 2023, MSHA’s inspections identified 914 violations, including 257 significant and substantial and 18 unwarrantable failure findings. An S&S violation is one reasonably likely to cause a reasonably…
Read MoreMSHA Impact Inspections Include Aggregates, Cement Plants
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that monthly impact inspections by its Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) at 16 mines in 12 states in March 2023 have identified 205 violations, including 52 significant and substantial findings. Impact inspections are done at mines that merit increased agency attention and enforcement related to poor compliance history; previous accidents, injuries, and illnesses;…
Read MoreDOL Offers Safety App for Spanish-Speaking Miners
The U.S. Department of Labor announced that its Miner Safety and Health app for iOS and Android devices is now available in Spanish. In August 2022, the Mine Safety and Health Administration launched the app’s original version. With today’s launch, Spanish-speaking miners will have access to the app’s benefits. Users will need to switch their phone settings to Spanish to…
Read MoreOIG’s Audit of MSHA Enforcement is a Mess
Feb. 11, 2022 – In our February issue Law column – OIG’s Audit of MSHA Enforcement is a Mess – attorney Brian Hendrix writes, “Audits aren’t fun for anyone, though it’s better to be the auditor rather than the auditee. Most of the time, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is basically the auditor. On occasion, MSHA is on…
Read MoreOIG’s Audit of MSHA Enforcement is a Mess
OIG Concluded That MSHA Wasn’t Effectively Managing the Enforcement Process. So What Does That Mean for You? By Brian Hendrix Audits aren’t fun for anyone, though it’s better to be the auditor rather than the auditee. Most of the time, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is basically the auditor. On occasion, MSHA is on the receiving end of…
Read MoreIncrease in MSHA Penalties
Jan. 14, 2022 – On Jan. 14, the U.S. Department of Labor published a final rule in the Federal Register that will increase Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) civil monetary penalties by 1.06222%. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 requires the department to adjust its civil monetary penalty levels for inflation annually no later than Jan. 15 of each year.…
Read MorePalmer Interim Head at MSHA
August 21, 2017 – According to The National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA), the Trump Administration has announced its selection of Wayne Palmer to serve as acting assistant secretary for MSHA. Palmer has been serving as the Trump Administration’s chief of staff of the Department of Labor (DoL), and will be replaced there by Nicholas Geale, DoL’s solicitor. Earlier…
Read MoreSome MSHA Employees Do Not Meet Medical Standards
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced immediate action to address a longstanding issue by implementing an action plan for employees who do not meet the Agency’s medical standards. Some employees have not met medical standards for several years.
Read MoreConstruction Materials Prices Increase
Overall construction materials prices increased 0.4 percent in April and are up 1.5 percent year over year, according to the May 14 Producer Price Index released by the U.S. Department of Labor. Nonresidential construction material prices were up 0.5 percent for the month and are 1.4 percent higher than the same time last year.
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