According to the Charleston Gazette, the board agreed on Thursday to make the relevant proposal available for public comment for a 30-day period.

Board administrator Joel Watts reportedly said in a statement that the board’s action was quick and decisive.

Caitlin O'Dell, whose husband Steven was killed in a mining accident in November 2012, reportedly said the board members continued to postpone rulemaking on the mandatory installation of proximity detection on all mobile mining equipment.

“There is no time to waste on this issue,” she told the newspaper after the board meeting on Thursday.

“Lives are at stake on a daily basis. The board fails to recognise that delaying another day could result in another fatality.”

O’Dell is reportedly part of a lawsuit at the state’s Supreme Court on the issue.