Released Monday, September 27, 2004

U.S. Labor Department Officials Join National Mining Association Attendees at MINExpo in Las Vegas

WASHINGTON - Two Labor Department officials will participate in meetings at MINExpo in Las Vegas, which convenes on Monday, September 27, 2004. The conference is sponsored by the National Mining Association.

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco meets with mining industry representatives in Las Vegas today to discuss ways to meet the industry's demand for tech-savvy workers for the next generation of mines. DeRocco is moderating the Energy Industry Executive Forum at the National Mining Association's MINExpo.

On Tuesday, September 28, 2004, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Dave Lauriski will speak about Getting to Zero: The Stakeholder's Role in Making an Industry Free of Fatalities & Injuries. Last year the mining industry set its best safety record since statistics were first compiled in 1910. This decline in injuries and fatalities is the result of a number of factors, including new MSHA initiatives and programs, alliances, technical advances, and an emphasis on compliance assistance. Taken together, MSHA and its stakeholders have created and are now institutionalizing an industry-wide culture of prevention and compliance.