Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis last week announced a final rule to strengthen safety in the nation's most dangerous mines. The rule, which revises the Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) pattern of violations regulation in 30 Code of Federal Regulations Part 104, has been submitted to the Federal Register for publication. It is intended to ensure that mine operators monitor and address the most hazardous safety problems in their mines and to strengthen MSHA's ability to respond to dangerous mining conditions, and improve safety and health for miners.
Solis invoked the tragedy at the Upper Big Branch Mine when making the announcement, noting that in the three years since, the Labor Department has undergone a comprehensive evaluation of mine safety practices which led to reforms.