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The United States Government Manual
Mine Safety and Health Administration
201 12th Street South, Suite 400, Arlington, Virginia 22202
202-693-9400
http://www.msha.gov
| ASSISTANT SECRETARY | David G. Zatezalo |
| DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARIES | |
| Operations | Patricia W. Silvey |
| Policy | Wayne D. Palmer |
The Mine Safety and Health Administration works to prevent mine-related deaths, illnesses, and injuries and promotes safe and healthy work environments.
ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION
On November 9, 1977, President James E. Carter approved Public Law 95–164, which is also cited as the Federal Mine Safety and Health Amendments Act of 1977. This statute amended the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 (PL 91–173), including its short title, which was changed to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (91 Stat. 1290).
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-91/pdf/STATUTE-91-Pg1290.pdfThe Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 created the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) in 1978 by transferring the Federal mine safety program and its functions from the Department of the Interior to the Department of Labor.
https://www.msha.gov/about/historyThe MSHA is organized into program areas.
https://www.msha.gov/about/program-areasThe MSHA posts its organizational chart online in Portable Document Format (PDF) for viewing and downloading.
https://www.msha.gov/sites/default/files/Organizational_Charts/OAS-Org-Chart.pdfSTATUTORY AND REGULATORY AUTHORITIES
"Chapter 22—Mine Safety and Health" has been assigned to 30 U.S.C.
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title30/chapter22&edition=prelimRules and regulations that are associated with the MSHA are assigned to the first chapter of 30 CFR. The chapter includes parts 1–199.
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=2f9b3d9dbb071240550f37a930d0135d&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title30/30cfrv1_02.tpl#0ACTIVITIES
The MSHA helps protect the Nation's miners by promoting healthy and safe work environments for them. It works toward the elimination of fatal mining accidents, the reduction of the frequency and severity of accidents, and the minimization of health hazards through enforcement of mandatory safety and health standards in the mining industry. It also provides technical, educational, and other assistance, including the testing and approval of equipment for use in the industry, to mine operators. The MSHA cooperates with industry, labor, and other Federal and State agencies to improve safety and health conditions for miners.
https://www.msha.gov/aboutSources of Information
Archived Records
The "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States" indicates that MSHA records have been assigned to record group 433. That record group does not have a description that is associated with it.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/000.htmlCareer Opportunities
Information on employment opportunities is available online.
http://www.msha.gov/about/careersIn 2019, the MSHA ranked 260th among 420 agency subcomponents in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
https://bestplacestowork.org/rankings/detail/DLMSContact Information
The "Contact MSHA" web page has emergency and general contact information.
https://www.msha.gov/about/contact-msha | Email: AskMSHA@dol.govData Sources / Calculators
The "Data Sources and Calculators" web page allows convenient access to a range of mine safety and health data (e.g., information on accidents, air sampling, employment, injuries, illnesses, inspections, production totals, and violations). Compliance calculator tools can be used to illuminate the history of key health and safety violations of a mine.
https://www.msha.gov/data-reports/data-sources-calculatorsEducational Resources
The MSHA posts training and educational resources on its website.
https://www.msha.gov/training-educationThe National Mine Health and Safety Academy conducts education and training programs in health and safety and related subjects for Federal mine inspectors and other government mining and industry personnel.
https://arlweb.msha.gov/PROGRAMS/MineAcademy/Academy.aspFederal Register
Significant documents and documents that the MSHA recently published in the Federal Register are accessible online.
https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/mine-safety-and-health-administrationFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The MSHA posts answers to FAQs on rulemaking.
https://www.msha.gov/rulemaking-frequently-asked-questionsHistorical Statutes / Legislative History
The "Laws" web page has key historical statutes and their legislative history.
https://www.msha.gov/regulations/lawsLibrary
The MSHA digital library's holdings include accident reports, images, photographs, and research material.
https://arlweb.msha.gov/TRAINING/LIBRARY/mshaPortal/index.htmlMedia Gallery
Online visitors may browse or search historical photographs and videos, including mine training and health training videos.
https://www.msha.gov/news-media/media-galleryMine Disasters
Five or more fatalities define a mining disaster. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health posts data tables that summarize all U.S. mining disasters from 1839 to the present. Starting with the year 1900, graphs are also available.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/statistics/minedisasters.htmlNews / Media
The MSHA posts alerts and hazards, announcements, congressional testimonies, events, news releases, photographs and videos, and speeches on its website.
https://www.msha.gov/news-mediaReports
Current and historical preliminary accident reports, fatalgrams, and fatal investigation reports for metal, nonmetal, and coal mines are accessible on the MSHA website. Quarterly and annual summaries of mining fatalities along with associated best practices and preventative recommendations are also accessible.
https://www.msha.gov/data-reports/fatality-reportsPart 50 of Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations (30 CFR 50) requires mine operators to notify the MSHA when accidents occur and to investigate those accidents, while restricting disturbance of accident-related areas. Part 50 also requires mine operators to file reports on accidents, occupational injuries, and occupational illnesses, as well as employment and coal production data.
https://www.msha.gov/data-reports/reportsResources / Tools
The MSHA posts mine emergency operations information, miners' resources, and technical resources on its "Resources and Tools" web page.
https://www.msha.gov/support-resources/resources-toolsSpanish
In the top right corner of the MSHA's home page are an Español option and an Inglés option. Using these options, visitors to the website can toggle between content in either language.
https://www.msha.govState Mining Agencies
A list of links to the websites of State mining agencies is available on the MSHA website.
https://www.msha.gov/support-resources/external-mining-resources/state-mining-agenciesStatistics
The "Statistics" web page allows easy access to numbers on mine employment and coal production; the most frequently cited standards (i.e., regulatory violations) by year, mine type, and industry group; and graphs, maps, and tables that The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has created to summarize a range of information on employees, fatalities, injuries, and mines.
https://www.msha.gov/data-reports/statisticsTargeted Inspections
The MSHA conducts targeted inspections each month at mines that merit increased attention and enforcement due to their poor compliance history or particular compliance concerns. Each month's inspection results are posted online.
https://www.msha.gov/monthly-targeted-inspection-resultsThe Sources of Information were updated 9–2020.