Protecting Miner Safety & Health

112th Congress

Committee Democrats Introduce the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2011

The reforms in H.R. 1579 will bring our nation’s mine health and safety laws up to date, give MSHA the ability to effectively protect miners’ lives, and hold mine operators accountable for putting their workers in unnecessary danger. House Republicans voted to block similar legislation last Congress.

Previous Congresses 

Committee Introduces Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010

Despite progress over the last several decades, mining remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the U.S.  On April 5, 2010, a massive explosion ripped through Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia, killing 29 miners and injuring others. Tools the Mine Safety and Health Administration could use to hold bad mine operators like Massey accountable were rendered ineffective because of indiscriminate mine operator appeals of violations and weak laws. The Miner Safety and Health Act of 2010 (H.R. 5663) would provide stronger tools to ensure that mine operators with troubling safety records improve safety, empower workers to speak up about safety concerns and give the Department of Labor the tools it needs to ensure that all workers go home safely at the end of the day.

Committee Investigates Upper Big Branch Mine Tragedy

The Committee held a field hearing in Beckley, West Virginia to investigate the worst mining tragedy in the U.S. in almost four decades. On April 5, an explosion at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia killed 29 miners and injured others.

Reducing the Growing Backlog of Contested Mine Safety Cases

On February 23, 2010, the Committee held a hearing to assess whether a backlog of mine safety enforcement actions are adversely impacting the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s ability to protect miners’ safety and prevent future tragedies, and to evaluate options to remedy the problem.

In early 2010, there was a rapidly growing number of mine safety enforcement cases pending before the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission (FMSHRC), a small independent agency which provides administrative trial and appellate review of contested citations, penalties, and worker retaliation cases. As the result of stepped-up enforcement and tougher penalties after a spate of mine tragedies in 2005 and 2006, mine owners tripled the number of violations they appeal and are now litigating 67 percent of all penalties. The backlog of cases FMSHRC must review jumped from 2,100 in 2006 to approximately 16,000 as of February 2010.

Committee Investigates Crandall Canyon Mine Tragedy

On August 6, 2007, the Crandall Canyon Mine in Utah became the site of the worst coal mining tragedy of 2007. The Committee launched an investigation immediately after the disaster, finding it likely that the tragedy was the result of a flawed plan for conducting retreat mining in the area of the mine where the deaths occurred. 
 

Mine Safety Measure Passed by House

The House passed the S-MINER Act on January 16, 2008. This mine safety and health legislation would help prevent mining disasters, improve emergency response when disasters do occur, and reduce long-term health risks, such as black lung disease, facing miners.

Chairman Miller’s statement on the legislation »
Summary of the legislation (UPDATED 1/11/08) »
Full text of the legislation »
Letters of support »
 

Other Mine Safety News