Attendees of the MSHA Spring Thaw meeting, which was hosted on 2 March by the Ohio Aggregates and Industrial Minerals Association (OAIMA), were awarded Part 46 Refresher Training credit. Earning credit this way is an efficient methods for operatiors to secure the annually-required credits for employees. The NSSGA has been pushing for the MSHA to allow credits to be gained in this fashion, and currently it is only available for Spring Thaws held in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maine.
Spring Thaw workshops are held around the country in the production start-up period, from February to May. The workshops are managed jointly by MSHA and operators and are usually coordinated by the state aggregates association.
For those states interesting in using Spring Thaws to deliver Part 46 Refresher Training, the key is to work effectively and with the local MSHA area office, well in advance. State associations need to make sure that agenda topics are consistent with Part 46 Refresher requirements, and that operators attending the Spring Thaw ensure that their own training plans include the topics before training is begun.
Adapted from press release by Rebecca Bowden