MSHA released miners’ representatives guide
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) said a guide for miners’ representatives will be available as a handbook and an online resource. The “Miners’ Representative Guide” expands upon the “Guide to Miners’ Rights and Responsibilities” released by the agency in June 2011.
A miners’ representative is any person, group or organization designated by two or more miners to represent their interest during health and safety enforcement processes at a mine. The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 states that a miners’ representative can be included in aspects of mine safety and health, including traveling with and assisting federal inspectors, filing hazard complaints, participating in modification of mandatory safety standards and playing a role in litigation under the Mine Act.
The guide provides detailed information about reporting hazardous conditions and imminent dangers, accident investigations, understanding discrimination under Section 105(c), health and safety training, modifying safety standards, rights to information and records, civil penalties and Freedom of Information Act requests.
The “Miners’ Representative Guide” and “Guide to Miners’ Rights and Responsibilities” are available online at www.msha.gov/minersrepguide.