Laboratory Information:
Mine Safety and Health Administration
1100 Wilson Boulevard, 21st Floor
Arlington, VA 22209-3939
Website: http://www.msha.gov/
Technology Transfer Website: http://www.msha.gov/alliances/alliances.htm
Agency/Department: Dept. of Labor
Region: Mid-Atlantic
FLC Laboratory Representative:
Mr. David Creamer
Phone: 304-547-2085
Fax: 304-547-2044
Email: creamer.david@dol.gov
Background/History of the Laboratory:
The U.S. Labor Department's Mine Safety and Health Administration
(MSHA) helps reduce deaths, injuries, and
illnesses in the nation's mines with a variety of activities and programs. The agency develops and enforces
safety and health rules applying to all U.S. mines, helps mine operators who have special compliance
problems, and makes available technical, educational and other types of assistance. MSHA works
cooperatively with industry, labor, and other Federal and state agencies toward improving safety and
health
conditions for all miners. MSHA's responsibilities are spelled out in the Federal Mine Safety and Health
Act of
1977.
MSHA was created in 1978, when the 1977 Act transferred
the Federal mine safety program from the
Department of the Interior to the Department of Labor. The Mine Act requires MSHA to make at least four
complete inspections of all underground operations yearly and at least two surface mine inspections
a year.
In recent years, MSHA has strongly encouraged the American
mining community to join in a number of
cooperative programs aimed at solving safety and health problems.
Mission of the Laboratory:
The mission of the Mine Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA) is to administer the provisions of the Federal
Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) and to enforce compliance with mandatory safety and health
standards as a means to eliminate fatal accidents; to reduce the frequency and severity of nonfatal
accidents; to
minimize health hazards; and to promote improved safety and health conditions in the Nation's mines.
Technology Areas of Expertise:
- Coal Mine Safety and Health
- Hazardous condition investigation
- Metal and Nonmetal Mine Safety and Health
- Mine accidents
- Roof control
- Safety and health standards
- Training plans
- Underground and surface mine inspections
- Ventilation
