Message from Jeannette Galanis, Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health
On Labor Day and every day we are working at MSHA to protect the mining industry’s most valuable resource – miners. I am proud to join Sec. Walsh in honoring the resiliency of our workforce and building a future that empowers all workers.
Mining is critical many of our daily activities from our electronics to building materials for our homes. We continue our work to reduce injuries, illnesses and death through strong enforcement and active outreach, education, training, and technical support to the mining industry.
This has been a particularly difficult year, with more fatalities and injuries in powered haulage than in recent years. MSHA is laser-focused on reversing this trend by reaching out to miners and mine operators with critical safety information such as our powered haulage guidance, lifting travel restrictions so Educational and Field and Small Mine Services staff can provide compliance assistance at the mines, as well as hiring more inspectors.
We know that mining is inherently dangerous and critical work. We can and we must work to ensure that all mine operators have systems in place to train and protect miners.
We are also following strict COVID precautions for our inspectors in accordance with the CDC so they can the important work of protecting miners.
We stand proudly with America’s miners on Labor Day and will continue our mission to keep them safe for their families and their communities.
Interested in working with us at MSHA? Visit our jobs page to see how you can help us make mining safer for all miners.