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Newly Hired to Work at a Mine Site?
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If you have been hired to work in the mining industry, you are considered a "miner" under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) operates under the authority of this Mine Act. The United States Congress created MSHA to help reduce fatalities, injuries and illnesses among miners in our nation's mines through a variety of activities, including on-site mine safety and health inspections.
As a miner, you have certain rights and responsibilities where safety and health are concerned. Please take a look at the booklet, Guide to Miner's Rights and Responsibilities Under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977."
In an effort to promote increased safety in the mining industry, MSHA and the Joseph A. Holmes Safety Association recognizes miners who work safely for extended periods of time as official "Professional Miners" under a program begun in 2004. MSHA encourages all miners to work safely on the job each shift of every day. The U.S. mining industry is safer today than ever before. Fewer miners were fatally injured on the job in recent years than ever before in history. However black lung disease among coal miners remains a problem in today’s mining industry. For more information on black lung disease, please use this link. For a health hazard card on black lung, please use this link.
Miners are encouraged to call attention to safety and health hazards in the workplace that pose a threat to the safety or health of workers. You may contact MSHA anonymously to report any safety or health hazard which is not being fixed by your mining company or operator. Contact MSHA at the hotline number provided and an MSHA inspector will check out the complaint as soon as possible.
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