Another tool available from MSHA is the recently released Safety Pro in a Box. MSHA worked with the NSSGA to develop this resource for small mine operators and new mine operators. The toolbox is a collection of compliance and training materials produced by MSHA’s Mine Academy that are necessary to manage a health and safety program in compliance with regulations. Safety Pro in a Box is available on MSHA’s Web site at http://www.msha.gov/safetypro_in_a_box/index.asp.

“We worked to develop some specific training programs on guarding,” Main says. “It’s one of the most common conditions cited by our agency. We wanted to better educate everyone in the mining industry, including our inspectors, so we developed a power point presentation that pictorially shows what guarding needs to be in place. This is another tool available to the entire mining industry that helps guide mine operators in what it takes to comply with the guarding requirements.” Guarding Conveyor Belts at Metal & Nonmetal Mines is available on the MSHA Web site at http://www.msha.gov/Accident_Prevention/EquipmentGuardingConveyorBelts2010.ppt#3.

“One of the things I’ve tried to do since I’ve been here is to prepare the mining industry for what the expectations are,” Main says. “We’re not in the ‘gotcha’ business. We’re obligated to enforce the law, to do inspections, and to cite what we see, but we also try to develop a lot of training programs that will improve consistency and provide the best information we can to guide folks. We’re working with a number of aggregate associations to resolve some of the differences that have existed, provide better consistency, more clarity, and try to train everybody to the same training module. That’s my plan going forward.

“As long as I’m here, I have no plans to close the Small Mine Office,” Main adds. “I think it’s an essential part of what we do. I have plans to make it more efficient, to serve a better purpose, to be out there getting more of the job done. If my plan works, we’re going to have more resources helping more people, and more focus with the state aggregate associations to help get information and resources out to the mining community.”

MSHA’s Small Mine Office developed a series of weekly ToolBox talks that can be used by small mine operators and others to hold safety and health discussions with the employees at their mining operations. These ToolBox talks were developed in consultation with members of the mining community. To get the free app, enter http://gettag.mobi into your browser.

MSHA worked with the NSSGA to develop Safety Pro in a Box, a collection of compliance and training materials produced by MSHA’s Mine Academy.  To get the free app, enter http://gettag.mobi into your browser.