MSHA and AEM have agreed to use their collaborative effort and expertise to provide miners who operate and maintain equipment with information, guidance and access to resources that will help protect miner health and safety.

This agreement will focus on the proper use of restraining devices like seat belts, and it will also concentrate on hazards such as slips and falls from equipment, equipment roll-overs and tip-overs, operator fatigue, equipment fires and equipment misuse.

“MSHA and AEM will work closely together to address issues related to mining equipment safety and, thereby, foster an improvement in safety and health for working miners," MSHA assistant secretary Richard Stickler said.

Among other activities under the agreement, MSHA and AEM will:

Develop and disseminate training materials – including DVDs, posters, stickers and flyers – and educational programs to maintain and operate equipment in a safe and healthful manner;

Identify the best practices to operate and maintain mining equipment; and

Distribute information to the mining community and develop innovative ways to effectively convey hazard warnings and messages.