Mine safety agency to conduct talks at US mines

Estimated read time: Less than a minute

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — Federal regulators are stepping up safety discussions with the nation's mines following 20 U.S. mining fatalities since October.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration said in a news release Wednesday that it will conduct visits to coal, metal and nonmetal mines to increase awareness of recent fatalities and encourage operators and miners to remain vigilant for unsafe conditions.

The agency said discussion topics will include task training, mine examinations, the causes of fatal mine accidents and the best practices to avoid accidents.

The release said inspectors will exercise their enforcement authority to punish safety violations.

MSHA already has been conducting mine inspections nationwide since 2010, when the Upper Big Branch mine explosion in West Virginia killed 29 coal miners.