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Compliance Assistance

MSHA provides services and materials to help mine operators comply with safety and health laws and regulations.

The primary contact for such assistance is the Educational Field and Small Mine Services (EFSMS) EFSMS works closely with MSHA District enforcement offices to identify industry needs and help mine operators develop or revise training, safety and health programs to address the conditions and hazards specific to their mines.

Policy and Procedures

In addition, a range of materials are available through this website to assist operators in staying compliant with current regulations. Among them are the following:

Program Policy Manual (PPM)
Contains material with long-term, continuing application to MSHA programs or constituents.
Program Policy Letters (PPLs)
Supplement the PPM with timely policy and guidelines.
Procedure Handbooks
Provide detailed instructions to carry out policy described in the Program Policy Manual.
Procedure Instruction Letters (PILs)
Supplement the Handbooks with enforcement-related procedural instructions.
Program Information Bulletins (PIBs)
Provide information or announcements that do not contain policy, procedures, or instructions. 
Compliance Guides and eLaws Advisors
Offer information on a wide variety of regulatory topics in booklet and interactive form.  

Petitions for Modification of Safety Standards

A mine operator or a representative of miners may petition MSHA to modify the application of any mandatory safety standard. You can learn more about the process through the Petitions for Modification Handbook, and view current and past Petitions for Modification of MSHA Rules.

Petitions are filed with the Director of the Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances (OSRV) at petitionsformodification@dol.gov.  Alternatively, they may be mailed to Director, OSRV, Mine Safety and Health Administration,  201 12th Street South, Suite 4E401, Arlington, Virginia 22202-5452.