The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has established a new Small Mine Office to address the specialized needs of the nearly 6,500 small mines around the country. MSHA defines small mines as any surface or underground operation with five or fewer employees.

"For the last several years, the fatal incident rate at small mine operations has been more than double the rate for larger mines," said MSHA chief Dave D. Lauriski. "This new division will enable us to better focus our resources on reducing these accident and injury rates."