The agency will continue efforts that have led to historical low numbers of deaths, injuries and illnesses, as well as record low respirable coal mine dust levels, it said.

“MSHA’s initiatives include targeted enforcement at mines with the worst compliance records in order to correct conditions more quickly, implementing a final dust rule to end black lung disease, and a final rule requiring proximity detection systems on continuous mining machines in underground coal mines,” it said.

“MSHA will also continue to work – in collaboration with the mining industry – on special initiatives for metal and nonmetal mines and providing outreach and training assistance to the mining community. We also believe it is critical to protect miners from workplace discrimination when they report unsafe and unhealthy conditions, and has increased its activities in this area.”