Safety
New ARTBA chairman outlines plans for association
Doug Black, president and COO of Oldcastle Inc., was elected 2013-14 chairman of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA). The election was announced during the association’s national convention Sept. 8-10 in Milwaukee. According to a press release, Black… Keep Reading
OSHA proposes new standards to limit crystalline silica exposure
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) proposed a rule to curb lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in American workers. OSHA seeks to lower worker exposure to crystalline silica, which, according to a press release,… Keep Reading
Aggregate Industries hosts search-and-rescue exercise
Aggregate Industries and the International Rescue Dog Organization, based in Austria, put on a search-and-rescue test at the Aggregate Industries K-9 Testing Facility in Littleton, Mass. Rescue dogs and their handlers underwent rigorous testing, including a search for volunteer human… Keep Reading
MSHA releases mid-year fatality report
Eighteen miners died in work-related accidents at U.S. mines during the first half of 2013, according to MSHA. Of the 18, nine were killed in the metal and nonmetal mining sector. One of the metal/nonmetal miners died in a fall… Keep Reading
MSHA shares results of June impact inspections
MSHA issued 157 citations, 10 orders and one safeguard during special impact inspections conducted at four metal/nonmetal mines and nine coal mines in June. In metal/nonmetal mines between April 2010 and June 2013, total violations decreased 18 percent; significant and… Keep Reading
Main issues statement praising industry’s mine safety strides
Joe Main, assistant secretary of labor for MSHA, released a statement following recent visits with aggregate associations and operations in the Midwest and Southeast. Here's Main's full statement: One of my initiatives when I arrived at MSHA was to get… Keep Reading
NIOSH opens awards program to nominations
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2014 Safe-in-Sound Excellence in Hearing Loss Prevention Awards. The awards are given by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in partnership with the National Hearing Conservation Association (NHCA) to recognize effective practices… Keep Reading
Court upholds determination involving MSHA standard
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously agreed this week that failure to maintain emergency lifelines in a manner miners can use effectively is a Significant and Substantial (S&S) violation, regardless of the likelihood of… Keep Reading
Practicing what you preach
MSHA inspectors are finding fewer hazards at Conmat Inc., and the hazards they are finding are less severe than the ones they used to come across at the operation's limestone quarries in northwest Illinois. So what's making the difference? It's… Keep Reading
