The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) oversees safety and health in American mines, conducting regular inspections and enforcing strict rules. The agency has the power to assess fines and close mines if necessary. Other countries, such as Japan and Germany, also have similar organizations to monitor mine safety and health. The US Congress passed the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act (MINER) in response to the Sago Mine disaster in 2006, requiring all American mines to have emergency response plans.
Becoming a miner is not for the faint of heart; underground mining is considered one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. Accidents are frequent and mine disasters often result in great loss of life. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) oversees safety and health in mines in the United States. This division of the US Department of Labor monitors sanitary conditions and safety procedures in all American mines and enforces a very strict set of rules and guidelines.
MSHA investigators conduct at least four annual inspections of underground mining operations and at least two annual inspections of surface coal mines. In addition to ensuring safety and health in the mines, the agency also has executive powers. The division oversees the structural integrity of the roofs, ventilation, training programs, transportation and emergency response plans. Violations that could be cited range from miners lacking proper safety helmets to unsafe storage of explosives to malfunctioning equipment.
MSHA has the ability to assess fines for any violations that one of its inspectors may discover. If the inspector determines that the circumstances are potentially dangerous to the safety and health of the miners, he can order the mine to be closed. Such closure could be immediate, indefinite and until the suspicious conditions are rectified.
In 2006, the US Congress passed the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act (MINER). This legislation was instituted largely in response to the January 2, 2006 Sago Mine disaster in West Virginia. On that date an underground explosion trapped and killed 12 miners. The MINER Act amended existing law to stipulate that all American mines must have emergency response plans tailored to each specific operation.
Many other countries monitor health and safety in mines through organizations that are operationally very similar to MSHA. Japan’s mining laws are enforced by two agencies regulated by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. The Japan Department of Mine Safety and Inspection and the Bureau of Mine Safety and Inspection have the right to investigate and close down mines as required. Agencies establish training procedures and clarify the responsibilities of mine owners and mine workers.
Safety and health in German mines is governed by a system of various state and federal laws, as well as local ordinances. Mine owners are obliged to contribute to a special insurance fund to cover potential accidents. German mining laws are a little looser than in other countries, although mine owners are required to set up training and safety programs for miners.
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