Through the Safety and Buildings Division of the Department of Commerce, the State of Wisconsin promotes Federal and State coordination and cooperation in mine safety and health, through training and inspection initiatives. The Wisconsin Mine Safety Program serves the safety and health needs of approximately 500 mines, pit and quarry operations and independent contractors throughout the State. The Mine Safety Program has a long-standing reputation for excellence in developing and conducting training programs for the improvement of overall safety and health conditions and work practices, in surface and underground metal/nonmetal mines within the State. The program has evolved from an enforcement-oriented agency to a consultative/training agency.

30 CFR Parts 46 and 48 Annual Refresher training is conducted primarily in the late winter and early spring as employers begin to start-up after seasonal layoffs. Training classes are scheduled to provide as much company and/or contractor-specific and mine-specific/on-site training as possible. Training program content is developed in coordination with company training plans, company management and/or in-house safety staff to achieve the best match with their needs.

Classes are offered in:

• 30 CFR Parts 46 and 48 Annual Refresher Training; and
• 30 CFR Parts 46 and 48 New Miner Training (scheduled throughout the year).

Other classes and services conducted by the Mine Safety program include:

• Training Plan Implementation seminars;
• Train the Trainer seminars;
• Train the Trainer Update seminar;
• educational outreach and consultation;
• development and training modules and roundtable seminars.

The Mine Safety Staff also writes and publishes a newsletter and helps direct the Wisconsin Chapter of the Holmes Safety Association in cooperation with the Aggregate Producers of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association.

For more program information contact Mr. Dave Vriezen at (608) 261-2503 or e-mail David.Vriezen@Wisconsin.gov.