The U.S. Department of Labor has announced the distribution of $1 million in grants to seven organizations across five states. These funds aim to support education and training initiatives designed to identify and prevent unsafe working conditions in mines.
Administered by the department's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety grant program will enable recipients to develop accessible, comprehensive training materials in multiple languages, promote and conduct mine safety training or educational programs, and evaluate their effectiveness.
MSHA placed particular emphasis on programs targeting miners at smaller mines and underserved populations within the industry. The training and education supported by these grants align with MSHA priorities such as mine rescue, protection from silica dust exposure, and powered haulage safety.
"As the Biden-Harris administration moves full steam ahead to ensure the implementation of MSHA’s new respirable silica dust standard, the grants awarded today are a valuable tool to make training and resources available to better protect miners from the debilitating and deadly effects of silica dust exposure," said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson. "All miners deserve a safe and healthy work environment and the ability to retire with their dignity and enjoy the fruits of their labor."
The grant program was established under the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 in honor of 25 miners who died in disasters at Jim Walter Resources #5 mine in Brookwood, Alabama on September 23, 2001, and at Sago Mine in Buckhannon, West Virginia on January 2, 2006.
"In remembrance of the 25 miners who lost their lives, the Brookwood-Sago grants have historically included awards for mine emergency preparedness and rescue," Williamson stated. "This year we are proud to continue that important tradition by supporting those critical programs. This year’s grant recipients share our commitment to mine rescue and ensuring miners return home safe and healthy to their families and communities at the end of their shift."
The recipients of the 2024 Brookwood-Sago grants include:
- University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ) - $134,999
- Wayne State University (Detroit, MI) - $201,276
- Desert Research Institute (Reno, NV) - $128,233
- UMWA Career Centers Inc (Prosperity, PA) - $74,810
- Pennsylvania State University (University Park, PA) - $149,465
- West Virginia University (Morgantown WV) - $173543
- West Virginia University Research Corp. (Morgantown WV) - $151392
