Mar
2
Hug, ‘Old Boys’ Club’ Remark and Lecture Mark Congressional Hearing
Tue, 03/02/2010 - 13:20
Last week’s hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives on MSHA’s civil litigation backlog problem included a bear hug between two witnesses, an allegation that informal safety and health conferences were an example of “an old boys’ club” at work, and a pointed lecture to the head of the mine safety agency.
Feb
13
New MSHA Initiative to Boost Penalties
Sat, 02/13/2010 - 12:30
If news reports are any indication, operators’ concerns are well placed that MSHA’s new Rules to Live By fatality prevention initiative will involve increased penalties.
Feb
1
Enlightened Approach Needed to Fix MSHA Citation Problem
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 02:00
Citations have hit an all-time high in mining, and the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) top regulatory official thinks it’s because mine operators are not taking enough ownership of mine health and safety.
Soon after taking office last fall, Joe Main said that if there are violations, “it tells me we need to beef up the health and safety programs that exist where we have the mine operators taking more responsibility about getting out in advance and inspecting these areas, identifying the problems and getting them corrected.”
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Dec
8
Main Hedges on Lowering Coal Dust PEL
Tue, 12/08/2009 - 21:40
Joe Main refuses to say one way or the other whether new regulations under development at MSHA to eliminate black lung will include a lower exposure limit for respirable coal dust.
Dec
3
MSHA Launches Campaign to End Black Lung Disease
Thu, 12/03/2009 - 16:35
The U.S. Government today put its full weight behind ending black lung disease among the nation’s coal miners.
Dec
1
Joe Main's Safety Agenda Shows Hopeful Signs
Tue, 12/01/2009 - 02:00
As the new head of MSHA, Joe Main outlined an ambitious agenda during a conference call with reporters Nov. 20. Although, as expected, he showed support for tough enforcement, his message was not all doom and gloom for mine operators.
Given Main’s history as a career union safety and health official, some industry operators have expressed concern the new assistant secretary would wield a heavier club against non-union operations than those with an organized workforce.
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