MSHA announces mining safety grants

The MSHA has announced that 47 states and the Navajo Nation will receive a total of US$8 441 000 in funds to support safety and health training courses and other programmes to reduce mining accidents, injuries and illnesses.

Grant recipients will use the funds to provide miners with federally mandated training. The awards cover the training and retraining of miners working at surface and underground coal, metal and nonmetal mines, including miners engaged in shell dredging or employed at surface stone, sand and gravel mining operations.

The 2016 grants were awarded based on applications from states and other eligible entities. State mine inspectors’ offices, state departments of labour and state-supported colleges and universities administer the grants. Each recipient tailors its programme to the needs of its mines and miners and provide technical assistance.

“This funding will enable educational, governmental and industry organisations across the country to develop training resources and train miners in an effort to ensure they return home – safe and healthy – after every shift,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labour for mine safety and health.

Authorised by the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, the state grants program has received funds to provide safety and health training to miners since 1971.

In addition to safety and health training, some states use these grants to support their mine emergency response efforts and other statutory functions.

Adapted from press release by Rebecca Bowden

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/the-americas/12072016/msha-announces-mining-safety-grants-506/