MSHA Awards $10.5 Million for Mine Safety and Health Training
The agency’s grants will support targeted mine safety training across 45 states and two territories, aiming to reduce accidents and health issues.
- By Robert Yaniz Jr.
- Nov 12, 2024
MSHA has allocated over $10.5 million in grants to state departments, agencies, and state-supported universities and colleges for miner safety and health education across 45 states, the Navajo Nation and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
According to a recent release, this funding will support essential training and re-training initiatives targeting miners in diverse environments, such as surface and underground coal, metal, nonmetal, shell dredging and other aggregate mining operations. Of the 47 grant recipients, the University of Texas at Austin and Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection received the most with $736,187 and $587,556, respectively.
“Training is crucial to ensuring the protection of miners’ safety and health and the grants awarded today will support these essential training programs,” MSHA Assistant Secretary Chris Williamson said in a statement. “Every miner deserves to end their shift safe and healthy, and quality educational programs will go a long way toward reducing mining accidents, injuries and illnesses.”
Grant recipients will use the funds to develop regionally tailored programs to address local conditions and hazards miners may face on the job. This funding approach allows each state and territory to apply for resources according to its specific needs and mining environments. Localized training supported by MSHA aims to equip miners with skills and knowledge to navigate the risks they encounter within their respective regions.
About the Author
Robert Yaniz Jr. is the Content Editor of Occupational Health & Safety.