After industry objections to several provisions of the Examinations of Working Places in Metal and Nonmetal Mines final rule issued by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the agency has published a final rule that includes changes to the provisions.
The final rule was initially published in January 2017, but some of its provisions were later stayed. The MSHA says the additional amendments will “provide mine operators additional flexibility in managing their safety and health programs and reduce regulatory burdens without reducing the protections afforded miners.”