Agency head speaks at National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association meeting
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Joseph A. Main told members at the annual convention of the National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association (NSSGA) in Baltimore earlier this week that mining industry improvements in the past five years have laid the foundation for better protections for miners. “We are seeing significant reductions in chronic violators, improved industry compliance, and successful implementation of standards in metal and nonmetal mining,” he said.
Main was quick to add that, while metal and nonmetal mining had historically low fatality and injury rates in 2011, 2012 and FY 2013, increases in metal and nonmetal deaths since October 2013 are a matter of great concern. The Mining Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) is working closely with the industry to reverse this trend.