House Approves Comprehensive Legislation to Make Work Safer for Miners  

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. House of Representatives today approved mine safety and health legislation which, by building on reforms adopted in 2006 and 2007, would provide comprehensive jobsite protections for miners.

The legislation would help prevent mining disasters, improve emergency response when disasters do occur, and reduce long-term health risks, such as black lung disease, threatening miners.

“It is critical that Congress take this action, because one thing is clear: We cannot leave mine safety and health to the Bush administration.,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, on the House floor this afternoon. “We owe it to the loved ones of miners who died on the job to pass these protections today.

Mining remains one of the most dangerous occupations in America, with a fatality rate more than seven times higher than the average for all private industries. In 2007, 64 miners died on the job in the U.S, according to the Mine Safety and Health Administration.  

The legislation, H.R. 2768, the Supplementary Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act, would:

• Help prevent disasters. The legislation adds new safeguards for a dangerous practice called “retreat mining.” It strengthens standards to contain explosions and fires inside mines. It strengthens the enforcement hand of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration, in part by giving the agency subpoena authority. It increases certain penalties against mine operators that violate the law. And it creates a miner ombudsman’s office to handle safety complaints from miners.

• Improve emergency response in the event that a disaster does occur. The legislation more clearly defines MSHA’s responsibilities and authority at the scene of a disaster. It requires MSHA to develop a plan to better coordinate with state and local authorities. It establishes rules for independent investigations of mining disasters. And it improves safety technology in the mines, including requiring better tracking and communications equipment and adequate breathable air supplies for trapped miners.

• Reduce long-term health risks facing miners. The legislation updates standards to combat black lung disease and to reduce miners’ exposure to other deadly health risks, such as asbestos. It also strengthens rules to better inform miners of the health risks they face. And the legislation requires the U.S. Labor Secretary to determine if the federal government should address substance abuse among miners and, if so, authorizes the Secretary to set up a drug testing and treatment program. In addition, an amendment offered by Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) and approved by the House today would authorize up to $10 million to provide grants for rehabilitation services for active and former miners suffering from mental health impairments, including substance abuse.

For more information on the S-MINER Act, click here.

To read Miller’s floor statement on the legislation, click here.

To see letters of support for the legislation, click here.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kiley / Rachel Racusen
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-226-0853