Alcohol and drug abuse by miners threatens the safety of their colleagues, and that cannot be tolerated. |
All of us at MSHA deeply grieve the loss of these miners' lives, and I want to assure their families and friends that we are conducting an uncompromising investigation into this accident. We will uncover the truth of why this tragedy happened, and how we can best protect miners in the future. |
Education can be an effective tool in building public awareness and broadcasting our safety message to kids and, in turn, to their parents. |
I am asking miners and management at every mine operation to do the right thing: Take one hour out for safety's sake. This Monday, we urge that extra time be taken, at the beginning of each shift and before the start of any mining activity, to go over the hazards involved with mining and the vital safeguards that need to be taken. |
In order to get to the next level -- to make it down that final slope toward zero -- we must address the difficult questions of what motivates and drives people's decisions and choices about safety and health in the workplace. |
MSHA and the entire mining community extend our deepest condolences when miners are in danger. |
MSHA and the industry have worked long and hard together to take care of many of the obvious physical hazards, the ones that could be fixed with better engineering, better equipment, and better technology. We're now down to the hardest thing of all to fix, the human aspect of safety. |
MSHA is moving quickly and aggressively to evaluate technology that may help save the lives of miners in this nation. We will test these systems - as well as other promising technologies that arise - to provide miners and mine operators with useful data on the effectiveness of devices such as these in making mines safer workplaces. |
MSHA is pursuing promising wireless technologies to help ensure safe working environments for miners and improve rescue teams' abilities to locate them should an accident occur. MSHA is dedicated to conducting a thorough evaluation of existing technologies and pursuing promising technological advances to ensure that every step is taken to improve mine safety. |
MSHA took strong enforcement action by levying the highest fines possible, and we're disappointed with the decision and are reviewing our options. |
MSHA vigorously investigates all acts of unlawful conduct that threaten miners' safety and refers those cases involving criminal conduct to the United States Attorney's Office for prosecution. |
MSHA will use all available legal means to ensure the deterrent effect of penalties. |
Responses to this request for information will assist the agency in determining an appropriate course of action as necessary to improve mine rescue capabilities. |
Senator, we've still got a mine fire going. We have a rescue team that's in the Sago Mine. They have another mine fire—which no one was hurt—burning in Colorado.. We've got some really pressing matters. |
The simple, cost-efficient, just plain effective things, those are the things we are most likely to mandate first. |