The National Mine Health and Safety Academy is organized based on the functions each group serves. Each of the five major units of the Academy, along with the Office of the Superintendent, work together to support one another while working toward the organization's goals. Read more about the organizational units below.
Office of the Superintendent
The Office of the Superintendent manages the Academy’s resources, structure, and internal operations.
It coordinates all training programs, including scheduling of mine safety and health training and related activities with MSHA, NIOSH, DOL, mining industry, and representatives of miners both in the United States and abroad to promote reduction of accidents and fatalities. It also oversees printing, reproduction, warehousing, and distribution of Academy-produced training products and MSHA informational materials in print and electronic formats, and all support services.
The Superintendent’s Office also houses the Student Services Branch. This branch operates the Academy’s residence hall and coordinates an array of functions including facility scheduling, student recordkeeping, contract administration, student enrollment, and security.
The Superintendent of the National Mine Health and Safety Academy is Lincoln L. Selfe, Jr.
Facilities and Maintenance Department
The Facilities and Maintenance Department maintains the Academy’s campus physical structures, building systems, and campus grounds, establishes and implements regular preventive and emergency maintenance and repair programs, manages and maintains the Academy’s vehicle fleet in safe and operable condition, and maintains and upkeeps the campus grounds to include mowing, weeding, trimming, snow removal, and regular maintenance of the walk/run trail. This department also prepares and manage all contracts assigned to facilities and maintenance.
Instructional Services Department
The Instructional Services Department provides training and manages designated labs and training equipment. This department develops, reviews, revises, and evaluates training programs and materials related to mine law, regulation, and policy, safety, inspection procedures, citation and orders, electrical systems and machinery, surface mining, computer application systems, surface haulage and equipment, and other mine-related topics. Training Instructors assigned to this department develop and teach technical mine health and safety classes for MSHA, other federal agencies, and the mining community.
This department also plans, coordinates, schedules, and evaluates instructional programs, workshops, conferences, and seminars for MSHA and the mining industry.
Mine Technology Department
The Mine Technology Department provides training and manages designated labs and training equipment. This department develops, reviews, revises, and evaluates training programs and materials related to health, surface and underground coal and metal-non-metal subjects, ventilation, noise and respirable dust, roof control, longwall, and other mine-related topics. Training Instructors assigned to this department develop and teach technical mine health and safety classes for MSHA, other federal agencies, and the mining community. This department also plans, coordinates, schedules, and evaluates instructional programs, workshops, conferences, and seminars for MSHA and the mining industry. It also operates and maintains 48,000 square feet mine simulation lab.
Department of Instructional Materials
The Department of Instructional Materials provides oversight and manages activities and resources in several areas. These areas include course development, audio-video production, graphics and photography, a studio, print shop, warehouse and distribution center, and the Academy’s Technical Information Center and Library.
The Course Development branch researches and prepares training materials and informational publications for use by MSHA and the mining industry. This group also works to develop and teach courses and programs for MSHA and industry. The Distance Learning branch develops, implements, and supports online training and materials development for all sections of the Academy and MSHA.
The Audiovisual Production branch researches, prepares, and produces material to support MSHA initiatives and health and safety training programs. The Graphics branch prepares and produces graphic items in different formats to enhance and support Agency initiatives and training.
The print shop produces printed material for the agency and the warehouse and distribution center maintains printed material for distribution of training products and MSHA informational materials.
The Academy’s Technical Information Center and Library affords Academy students and clients immediate and easy access to current worldwide sources of information on mine health and safety topics and issues.