WorldWide Drilling Resource

2016 Proved to be the Safest Year in Mining History Adapted from a News Release by the Mine Safety and Health Administration According to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 was the safest year in mining history. The country’s more than 13,000 mines recorded a record low of 24 fatalities between October 1, 2015, and September 30, 2016. “These numbers represent nearly a 30% drop since FY 2013,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor Joseph A. Main, speaking at the annual Training Resources Applied to Mining conference. “The extensive efforts by MSHA and the mining community that held metal and nonmetal mining deaths to three during a seven-month period were instrumental in driving these numbers.” Main cautioned against complacency, noting four fatal mining accidents occurred in September 2016. “We are eroding the gains we have made on behalf of our nation’s miners. Eliminating mining deaths and reducing injuries and illnesses is a goal that must be shared by all of us. We can, and must, strive to reach zero mining deaths,” he stated. For its part, MSHA is ramping up enforcement, outreach, and compliance assistance actions. In a recent conference call with industry stakeholders, the agency urged participants to reinvigorate their efforts to regain last year’s momen- tum, which produced the safest period in mining history. “We are calling on all of our stakeholders, including mine operators, miners’ organizations, associations, and trainers, to increase their attention to the conditions and hazards that are leading to fatalities,” said Main. The data also revealed efforts to lower levels of respirable coal mine dust and silica in the nation’s coal mines remain on track. Since the 2009 launch of the End Black Lung - Act Now campaign, average respirable dust levels have decreased annually. Dust sampling results for the year, collected under the respirable coal dust rule which went into effect in August 2014, dropped to historic lows. During this period, the yearly average respirable dust samples collected by MSHA from the dustiest occupations in underground coal mines fell to 0.64 milligrams per cubic meter (mg/m3), down from the FY 2015 average of 0.70 mg/m3. Mine operators and MSHA personnel have collected nearly 154,000 respirable dust samples under the new rule, and 99.3% of those samples met compliance levels. “The new respirable dust rule is working to reduce miners’ exposure to un- healthy conditions, and that is good news for miners,” said Main. Improving the quality of air that min- ers breathe is about more than just coal dust. MSHA continues its work to improve the air miners breathe through efforts on si l ica and diesel exhaust. In March, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration published its silica rule and MSHA is carefully developing its pro- posed rule on silica. In addition, MSHA has published a Request for Information on Exposure of Underground Miners to Diesel Exhaust. While these milestones in fatalities and coal dust concentrations are historic, it is important to remember that one death is still one death too many. We need to continue efforts to ensure those who choose the oc- cupation of a miner can go to work each and every day and return home safe and healthy at the end of each shift. Joseph A. Main began working at coal mines in 1967. He has worked for more than 40 years to improve miner health and safety around the world. A very good read for hands-on types in any related work. Keep up the good work. Dan Wallander Menasha, WI 84 DECEMBER 2016 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®