The U.S. Department of Labor announced today the availability of up to $1 million in Brookwood-Sago grants aimed at enhancing mine safety and health education. These grants are intended to support training programs for the mining community, helping workers identify, avoid, and prevent unsafe and unhealthy working conditions.
The Brookwood-Sago grant program was established by the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006. It honors 25 miners who lost their lives in disasters at the Jim Walter Resources #5 mine in Brookwood, Alabama, in 2001, and at the Sago mine in Buckhannon, West Virginia, in 2006.
Administered by the department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), these grants will fund education and training initiatives focused on several key areas: exposure to respirable dust and crystalline silica; safe use of powered haulage and mobile equipment; mine emergency preparedness; electrical safety; insufficient training for new and inexperienced miners; lack of training for managers and supervisors performing mining tasks; pillar safety for underground mines; and inadequate personal protective equipment to prevent falls from heights among other hazards.
The grant program aligns with the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to improving safety and working conditions for miners nationwide. Special emphasis will be given to educational programs targeting miners at smaller mines as well as underserved populations within the industry. Priorities include diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.
Interested parties can learn more or submit a grant application until September 9, 2024. MSHA will award grants on or before September 30, 2024.
