The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced a new campaign to help ensure mine operators provide proper training in a Feb. 28 news release.
Dozens of miners have reportedly been injured or killed in mining incidents over the past year, according to the news release. Many such accidents can be avoided with proper training, so the Department of Labor has initiated a new safety campaign called Take Time Save Lives to reach miners and educate operators on their responsibility to ensure a safe workplace.
“The purpose of this new campaign is simple: mine operators need to take the time to train miners on equipment and safety protocols, and miners need to take time to remember their training before they begin a task,” said MSHA Acting Assistant Secretary Jeannette Galanis in the release. “While the Take Time Save Lives campaign specifically highlights best practices for frequently occurring incidents, our goal is to reach miners with a wide-ranging set of resources.”
As part of the campaign, miners and operators will have access to training materials on powered haulage safety, roof and rib falls and fire suppression and prevention, as well as updated information on fatalities.
“MSHA will continue to ensure miners have the knowledge to stay safe on the job, but it’s up to mine operators to make sure miners are fully trained and able to take time to follow best safety practices that can prevent deadly accidents,” Galanis said.
