Main is new head of MSHA
A Rices Landing native has been named the head of the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). The U.S. Senate confirmed by unanimous vote former United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) union official Joseph Main of Spotsylvania, Va., Wednesday evening.
Main, who began his career with the UMWA in Greene County, has been tapped to run MSHA, which is responsible for overseeing the health and safety of the nation’s 392,000 miners.
According to the Associated Press, Main spent 22 years heading the UMW’s Occupational Health and Safety Department before retiring.
His nomination has been praised by union activists, but greeted with some trepidation by coal companies, according to AP reports.
UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts congratulated Main in a press release Thursday.
“We sincerely believe that Joe’s long experience as an advocate for miners’ health and safety on the job will bring a refreshing change to an agency that for too long has favored production over strong enforcement of workplace safety and health in America’s mines.
“The UMWA will continue to be the primary advocate for miners’ health and safety. We understand that Joe has many challenges confronting him as he takes the helm, not least of which will be suspicion and confrontation from mine operators who are not used to vigorous enforcement of the law.”