Over 50 National Stone, Sand and Gravel Association Safety and Environmental professionals from all over the country met in Washington D.C. on September 15-17 to discuss several items that affect the mining industry. This event included Safety and Environmental Committees, as well as meeting with members of Congress and their staffs about key mining legislation. Larry Harshbarger represented US Aggregates as a member of the NSSGA Safety Committee. While at the meeting, Larry hosted a compliance roundtable, which focused on near misses and injury information from MSHA. Some of the key takeaways that Larry has brought back to us are:
- Historically, October has been the deadliest month for the metal and nonmetal mining industry, with 51 fatalities occurring in the month of October since 2000. During this fall period MSHA intends to continue enhanced enforcement, education and outreach with a special emphasis on the historically high number of mining deaths.
- MSHA also wants to promote a Safety Week, where mines would devote time each day to talk to employees about safety.
- In 2014, 29 miners died in workplace accidents, an additional 45 miners died as a result of personal health conditions while on a mine site.
