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U.S. Department of Labor


 Mine Safety and Health Administration
1100 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939


ISSUE DATE: April 13, 2009

PROGRAM INFORMATION BULLETIN NO. P09-06

FROM:           SYED HAFEEZ   SYED HAFEEZ
                      Acting Director, Program Evaluation and
                      Information Resources

SUBJECT:     Online Eligibility and Verification for
                    the 2008 Sentinels of Safety Awards Program

Who needs this information?
Mine operators including independent contractors, Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) personnel, the National Mining Association and other interested parties.

Why is MSHA issuing this bulletin?
To advise mine operators that they can determine their award eligibility on-line, and, if eligible, submit their Sentinels of Safety verification letters electronically.

What is the background for this update?
The purpose of the annual Sentinels of Safety Award Program is to recognize achievement of outstanding safety records, stimulate greater interest in safety, and encourage development of more effective accident prevention programs among the Nation's coal and mineral extractive industries.

MSHA, in a joint effort with the National Mining Association, is offering mine operators new, voluntary, options to determine their eligibility and to apply for the award on MSHA's webpage.

What are the main points of this bulletin?
  • Operators can access information about their award eligibility under http://www.msha.gov/SentinelsofSafety/SentinelsofSafetyhomepage.asp.


    • All eligible mine operators who would like to be considered for the Sentinels of Safety Awards Program must submit a Sentinels of Safety Verification Letter. First, operators verify that the injury and employment information on file with MSHA is correct for the mine in question. If the injury and employment information on file with MSHA is correct, operators can access the MSHA on-line filing page at http://www.msha.gov/SentinelsofSafety/SentinelsofSafetyhomepage.asp to submit a verification letter. Electronic submission will require the operator to register for the MSHA E-Gov System. This can be done at the time the verification letter is submitted.

  • If the data on file with MSHA is not correct, new or amended 7000-1 and 7000-2 forms need to be submitted and a verification letter submitted by mail or fax.


  • Operators can review a detailed record of the injury and employment data that they have submitted for their mine properties on the MSHA Data Retrieval System located at http://www.msha.gov/drs/drshome.htm.


  • Award finalists will have injury and employment data verified by MSHA auditors.


    • Who can be contacted about this bulletin?
    For Questions about the Program Please Contact: Is this information on the internet?
    This Program Information Bulletin may be viewed on the Internet by accessing the MSHA home page http://www.msha.gov/ and then choosing Compliance Info/Program Information Bulletins.

    Who will receive this bulletin?
    MSHA Personnel
    Program Policy Manual Holders
    Mine Operators and Contractors
    National Mining Association