Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)

July is Extreme Heat Awareness Month. One of the biggest hazards at this time of year is overheating. Outdoor and indoor heat exposure may cause heat-related illnesses and can lead to preventable fatalities.

At mine sites, dams are essential infrastructure that provides flood control, store water for mine use, and control runoff. But dams can also pose significant danger to people working near them if they fail.

May is National Electrical Safety Month. Electricity is a serious hazard that exposes miners to dangers such as electric shock, electrocution, fires and explosions.

May 14-20 is National Women’s Health Week. The Mine Safety and Health Administration encourages women miners to check the condition and fit of their personal protective equipment.

Dr. Elizabeth Hayes was a fierce public health advocate who fought for coal miners and their families in the 1940s.

At 6 a.m. on Friday, June 3, 2016, 56-year-old James “Dee” Hemphill and 24-year-old Emmitt Shorter went to work at Harmony Mine and Mill in Mississippi. Both men were working together to excavate material from the Johnson Pit and transport it to the on-site plant or waste dump.

National Mine Health and Safety Academy Instructor Michele Santos-Cranford sat down with us to talk about her career and tips for women in the mining industry. 

Following the deaths of three miners, we’re urging all mine workers to follow electrical safety best practices.

Ahead of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we sat down with MSHA Director of Technical Support Melanie Calhoun to learn more about her career path and advice for other women interested in STEM careers. 

Drawing on lessons from the Sago and Aracoma mine disasters, the MINER Act helped improve emergency response at mines across the country.