The Federal
Mine Safety and Health Act (Mine Act)
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Frequently Asked Questions |
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The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (Mine Act) requires that the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) inspect all mines each year to ensure safe and healthy work environments for miners. In addition to setting safety and health standards for preventing hazardous and unhealthy conditions, MSHA's regulations establish requirements for:
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Immediate notification by the mine operator of accidents, injuries, and illnesses at the mine;
- Training programs that meet the requirements of the Mine Act; and
- Obtaining approval for certain equipment used in gassy underground mines.
The Mine Act covers all mine operators and miners throughout the United States, including the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
BASIC INFORMATION
FACT SHEETS
- MSHA Fact Sheets - Provides an index of links to mine safety and health fact sheets.
E-TOOLS
The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act contains recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including a requirement that each mine operator have a safety and health training
plan and provide training to all miners.
- Employment Law Guide - Black Lung Compensation - The Black Lung Benefits Act (BLBA) provides for monthly payments to, and medical treatments for, coal miners totally disabled from pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) arising from employment in or around the nation's coal mines. The BLBA is administered by the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation. See also Compliance Assistance By Law - The Black Lung Benefits Act.
- Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)
1100 Wilson Boulevard
21st Floor
Arlington, VA 22209-3939
Contact MSHA
Tel: 1-866-4-USA-DOL (1-866-487-2365) or 202-693-9400
TTY: 1-877-889-5627
Local Offices
- Employment Standards Administration (ESA)
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP)
Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation
200 Constitution Avenue, NW
Room C-3521
Washington, DC 20210
E-mail:
DCMWC-Public@dol.gov
Tel: 1-800-638-7072
TTY: 1-877-889-5627
Local Offices
- For questions on other DOL laws,
please call DOL's
Toll-Free Help Line at 1-866-4-USA-DOL. Live assistance is available in English
and Spanish, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Additional service is available in more than 140 languages through a
translation service. Tel: 1-866-4-USA-DOL
TTY: 1-877-889-5627
*Pursuant to the U.S. Department of Labor's Confidentiality Protocol
for Compliance Assistance Inquiries, information provided by a telephone caller
will be kept confidential within the bounds of the law. Compliance assistance
inquiries will not trigger an inspection, audit, investigation, etc.
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