MSHA News Release: [02/08/2008]
Contact: Matthew Faraci Amy Louviere
Phone: (202) 693-9406 (202) 693-9423
Release Number 08-143-NAT
MSHA reminds mining community of phone number to use for reporting mine accidents, hazards
ARLINGTON, Va. - The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) reminds the mining community to use the agency's national hotline to report all mine accidents and workplace hazards. Through the "One Call Does It All" campaign, begun last summer, MSHA is distributing an array of stickers, magnets and business cards that display the toll-free number to miners and mine operators nationwide.
That number - 800-746-1553 - should be used to report hazardous conditions at a mine as well as imminent danger hazardous conditions, those which could cause a serious accident, injury or illness. The hotline also accepts calls to report the location of old mine maps, impoundments and abandoned mines.
"This 'One Call Does It All' phone number makes it easy to contact MSHA in the event of a mine emergency or potential mine hazard," said Richard E. Stickler, acting assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. "We want to remind miners, also, of their right to confidentially and anonymously report to MSHA any uncorrected hazardous workplace conditions they may encounter. We can better prevent mining injuries and fatalities when hazards are quickly removed from the work environment."
The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006 included a provision that requires all mine operators to notify MSHA of all accidents that pose a reasonable risk of death within 15 minutes of when the operator realizes an accident has occurred. Violators risk a civil penalty ranging from $5,000 to $60,000.
The new materials, which include a hard hat sticker, a business card, a telephone sticker and a magnet, all carry the one telephone number miners and mine operators need. The items are being distributed by federal inspectors during normal inspections. Additional materials are available from MSHA's National Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beckley, W.Va.
