Tightened Regulations for Coal Mine Rescue Teams

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--New regulations published by the Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) address requirements for rescue teams in underground coal mines. The new final rule adjusts training and team-member requirements in order to comply with a federal court ruling.

The new requirements continue the trend of increased mine regulation by amending the February 2008 Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act (MINER), which originated in 2006. Proponents point to new regulations as the basis for improvement in mine safety in recent years; only 28 mines fatalities occurred in 2008, a drop of 31% from 2007 and the lowest number of fatalities on record since official statistics began being kept in 1910. Despite improvements, however, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics still ranks mining as the second-highest industry sector for fatal occupational injury rates.

A key aspect to the new rule includes mandating that mine-site teams train semi-annually at small mines, rather than annually. In addition, state employee members of state-sponsored teams may serve as judges at only one of the two required "mine rescue contests" per year, but must be a normal participant in the second contest. Michael A. Davis, MSHA's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations stated, "MSHA recognizes the invaluable role that mine rescue teams play in the aftermath of a mine disaster. These teams are critical for ensuring the necessary response in the event of a mine emergency."

Industrial Info, as part of its North American Industrial Database, currently tracks 930 operational mines and 220 mines under development in the U.S. and Canada. Our Canada & U.S. Mining Industry - 1st Edition wall map features locations and names of these mines, mine types, operation start dates and valuable information on project spending within this market sector.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy related markets. For more than 26 years, Industrial Info has provided plant and project opportunity databases, market forecasts, high resolution maps, and daily industry news.