The Mine Act, formally known as the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, was developed following the Farmington No. 9 mine disaster in November 1968 in West Virginia. An explosion at the Consolidation Coal operation took 78 lives, leaving angry family members and industry representatives to call for sweeping changes to mine safety law.
The act, known as the strongest and most comprehensive occupational safety and health protection ever enacted in the US, was signed by then-US president Richard Nixon on December 30, 1969.
"The Farmington disaster changed the course of history and transformed mine safety and health in this country," secretary of labor Hilda Solis said.
"In the end, those who perished led the way to legal reforms that spared the lives of the thousands of miners who would follow."
MSHA assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health Joe Main said he recalled working in the industry at the time and had witnessed the changes brought about by the legislation over four decades.
Among the changes were increased mine enforcement power, a mandate for four complete inspections annually at underground mines (two per year at surface mines), and the establishment of mandatory fines and potential criminal penalties for violations.
Safety standards were developed to curb incidents such as mine fires, explosions and roof falls, and provided coal mine dust limits. Miners disabled by black lung disease were granted government benefits under the Mine Act.
MSHA will further commemorate the anniversary of the Mine Act in March 2010, the 40th anniversary of when the legislation went into effect.
