Original article published by MSHA
Alliance Signed: February 11, 2003
Renewed: March 29, 2023
Photo: NMA
The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and the National Mining Association (NMA) recognize the value of continuing a collaborative relationship to foster safer and more healthful working conditions at the Nation’s mining and milling operations.
MSHA and NMA hereby renew their Alliance under the authority of 30 U.S.C. § 962 to provide coal and metal and nonmetal mining personnel with information, guidance, and access to training resources that will help protect the health and safety of those working at coal and metal and nonmetal mines, and in preparation plants and mills.
MSHA and NMA will work together to achieve the following education and training goals designed to improve worker health and safety:
- Provide information, education, training, and technical assistance to raise safety and health awareness within the coal and metal and nonmetal mining industry and to help prevent injuries and illnesses and protect worker safety and health;
- Conduct annual summary analyses of incidence rates for coal and metal and nonmetal mines, preparation plants and mills, and perform worker injury and illness case studies to identify hazardous safety and health conditions and practices;
- Analyze injury, illness, and citation data to develop training and education tools to improve injury and illness incidence rates;
- Develop education and training programs for operator and contractor employees working at coal and metal and nonmetal mines and in preparation plants and mills;
- Develop and share best practices and effective approaches to improve operator and contractor safety and health at coal and metal and nonmetal mines and in preparation plants and mills;
- Collaborate on emergency response, rescue and recovery techniques for facility operations located at coal and metal and nonmetal mines, preparation plants and mills;
- Develop resources to support excellence in mine rescue preparedness and keep current a centralized data bank of mine emergency preparedness capabilities, equipment and resources that will be available to mine safety personnel in the event of a mine emergency, disaster, or rescue;
- Ensure that health and safety programs are fair and inclusive, and reach all persons in the industry workforce, including those who do not speak English as their primary language; and
- Ensure that personal protective equipment (PPE) is available, accessible, and suitably fitted to all workers in the industry, including those who are hard to fit, and that workers understand how and when to properly use PPE.
MSHA and NMA will strive to achieve the following outreach and communications goals:
- Provide statistical information regarding injuries and illnesses that occur in coal and metal and nonmetal mines and in preparation plants and mills;
- Develop and disseminate information on worker safety and health issues at conferences, events or through print and electronic media, including links from MSHA’s and NMA’s websites;
- Raise awareness and demonstrate commitment to worker safety and health whenever MSHA or NMA leaders address groups;
- Convene or participate in workshops, conferences, round table discussions, or stakeholder meetings to forge innovative solutions to worker health and safety issues;
- Collaborative exchange of timely information on Injury and Employment data; and
- Publicize the results of worker injury and illness case studies through print, electronic media, promotion at conferences, or other means of outreach.
McCraren Compliance offers many opportunities in safety training to help circumvent accidents. Please take a moment to visit our calendar of classes to see what we can do to help your safety measures from training to consulting.