Mine Safety Overview
Injury and Health Issues and the Federal Response
On January 2, 2006, the Nation was reminded of the dangers of underground mining, as 12 miners died in an explosion and fire in the Sago mine in West Virginia. Subsequently, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issued new regulations; Congress passed the first major revision of the mine safety law since 1977 and has taken further bills under consideration; and State legislatures in West Virginia, Kentucky, and Illinois have tightened their own laws. These responses have emphasized factors thought to have played a part in the Sago tragedy, including emergency oxygen supplies, tracking and communication systems, and deployment…
