Health professionals and mining families raised concerns about dust exposure and access to disability benefits.
MSHA recommends highwall examinations, scaling, benches and falling-object protection for mobile equipment.
Voluntary program evaluates safety practices at mines and quarries across the state.
The U.S. has approximately 17,000 abandoned underground mines and 56,000 abandoned surface mines.
The May 19 accident also injured two contractors and prompted the agency to issue roof and rib safety recommendations.
State mining and quarrying operations achieved zero fatalities and below-average injury rates for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.