Florida Mine Safety Program in the News: Mine rescue teams across the nation flock to Havana for special training

“Mine rescue teams from across the nation flocked to Havana, Florida for the 6th annual Surface Mining Emergency Response Training and Competition. Twelve teams participated in training sessions and a rigorous competition at the Florida Public Safety Institute. Seven of those teams came from across the Sunshine State and the others came from states including…

Director of Continuing Education at the Florida Public Safety Institute Featured on the News: New Active Shooter Training Aims to Save Lives Faster

Logan Lane, Director of Continuing Education at the Florida Public Safety Institute, was recently featured in a Channel 7 news article titled “New Active Shooter Training Aims to Save Lives Faster.” In the article, Logan discusses the Active Shooter training, which is a course offered by the Florida Mine Safety Program. Here’s a snippet from…

US Department of Labor issues final rule adopting voluntary consensus standards for electric motor-driven mine equipment, accessories

The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration has issued a final rule that updates testing, evaluation and approval requirements for electric motor-driven mine equipment and accessories used in gassy mines with high risks of fire and explosion. Read the full news release now: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/msha/msha20241209

Dump Point and Stockpile Safety – Safety Alert

Recent accidents highlight the risks associated with dump points and stockpiles, especially where stockpile stability and visibility are of concern. Fatalities and serious injuries have occurred when heavy equipment operators traveled or dumped material too close to a stockpile edge or worked too close to the toe of an over-steepened stockpile. Best Practices Examine stockpiles…

US Department of Labor conducted impact inspections at 15 mines with histories of repeated health, safety violations in October 2024

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine Safety and Health Administration completed impact inspections in October 2024 at 15 mines in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Wyoming and issued 286 violations. The agency conducts impact inspections at mines that merit…

Resource Guide to Prevent Opioid Use Disorder

Opioid use disorder is a serious concern in the mining industry, and we’re committed to supporting safe, healthy workplaces. The new “Implementing Effective Workplace Solutions to Prevent Opioid Use Disorder: A Resource Guide for the Mining Industry” provides practical tools to help mine operators, safety managers, and others implement workplace strategies that prevent opioid use…

HEALTH ALERT: Mold During Disaster Cleanups

Water damage from natural disasters can result in mold growth. Following the devastating effects of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, workplaces with water damage (including flooding, excess rainwater, and/or damaged plumbing) should be monitored for mold growth. How does mold grow after a hurricane? Mold can form on materials that contain moisture. Mold often forms 24…

April 13, 2024 Fatality – Fatality Alert

MINE FATALITY – On April 13, 2024, a front-end loader operator drowned, lying face down in a pool of water. The front-end loader operator was last seen using a water hose to wash material off a concrete pad next to a pool of water. Best Practices: Conduct adequate workplace examinations before work begins in an…