MSHA'S Accident Prevention web site includes safety tips, programs, and material that can be used to prevent accidents in the mining industry. The safety tips, programs and material were donated by miners, mine operators, MSHA employees, and other interested parties.
We encourage you to submit your ideas for inclusion on this site. You can do this by presenting your ideas to any MSHA employee or directly to the Accident Prevention Committee. If your idea is posted, you will receive recognition for your idea, both on this site and in any hardcopy publication.
The Incident Reduction (IR) Program offered by MSHA Technical Support, Applied Engineering Division (AED) began in late 2002 to assist in the reduction of mining accidents. The program is voluntary i.e. the operator asks the district for assistance and in turn, the district requests AED assistance. The effort begins with an initial meeting with the district, mine operator and AED; at this meeting AED explains the process and the operator decides to request the program or not. The effort is a one year program and consists of interviews with employees, consultation with the district and the operator's managers, review of statistics and accidents, review of the mine's safety culture and program, observance of work habits and mining process, and a written report of findings and recommendations by AED. Quarterly follow-up continues during the annual effort and consists of visits and quarterly update reports of company response/action to the initial report. To date, over 20 coal mines, preparation plants or contractors have received assistance as part of this program with average results being a 44 percent reduction in the NFDL rate for the participating mines by the end of the year long effort.
MSHA is reviewing and will be field-testing a number of wireless emergency communications and tracking systems that represent the most promising technologies for application in underground coal mines.
Submit your own suggestion for a "Safety Idea" or "Miner's Tips". Please specify what category (mining type) this is for and whether you want your submission to be anonymous or not.
Some or all of the files available on this page are PDF. For more information on PDF, PDF readers and accessibility issues, please use this link.
