The MSHA will provide the mining industry with technical assistance on administering the sampling requirements and complying with the rule, as well as a forum where operators can exchange their own best practices and best methods for getting coal dust controls in place.
The ruling was announced by the MSHA as a result of the department’s “End black lung – act now” campaign and came into effect on May 1.
MSHA met with stakeholders on April 24 to highlight the major provisions of the rule, which aims to lower miners’ exposure to reparable coal dust in all underground and surface coal mines, as well as to discuss its requirements and effective dates.
At the meeting, MSHA invited mine operators to join a cooperative effort.
