[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 200 (Monday, October 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64110-64111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26474]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Mine Safety and Health Administration

RIN 1219-AB71


Safety and Health Management Programs for Mines

AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is holding a 
public meeting, and plans to hold additional public meetings, to gather 
more information on effective safety and health management programs to 
eliminate hazards and prevent injuries and illnesses at mines. Safety 
and health management programs are an important component of helping 
mine operators assure the safety and health of miners at their mines. 
MSHA encourages representatives from academia, safety and health 
professionals, industry organizations, worker organizations, government 
agencies, industries other than mining, and international organizations 
to present information on their model programs. MSHA believes that 
effective safety and health management programs in mining will create a 
sustained industry-wide effort to eliminate hazards and will result in 
the prevention of injuries and illnesses.

DATES: Public Meeting Date: The public meeting will be held on November 
10, 2011, at the location listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 
section of this notice.
    Comment Dates: MSHA will hold the date for comments open until all 
meetings are held, at which point MSHA will notify the public of the 
date the comment period will close.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified with ``RIN 1219-AB71'' and may 
be sent to MSHA by any of the following methods:
    (1) Federal E-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow 
the on-line instructions for submitting comments.
    (2) Facsimile: 202-693-9441.
    (3) Mail or Hand Delivery: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, 
and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 
22209-3939. For hand delivery, sign in at the receptionist's desk on 
the 21st floor.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roslyn B. Fontaine, Acting Director, 
Office of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at 
[email protected] (e-mail); 202-693-9440 (voice); or 202-693-9441 
(facsimile).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Availability of Information

Public Comments

    MSHA posts all comments without change, including any personal 
information provided. Access comments electronically at http://www.regulations.gov and on http://www.msha.gov/currentcomments.asp. 
Review comments in person at the Office of Standards, Regulations, and 
Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia. Sign 
in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st floor.

E-mail notification

    MSHA maintains a list that enables subscribers to receive e-mail 
notification when the Agency publishes rulemaking documents in the 
Federal Register. To subscribe, go to http://www.msha.gov/subscriptions/subscribe.aspx.

II. Public Meeting

    The public meeting will begin at 1 p.m. and conclude at 5 p.m., or 
until the last speaker speaks. The agenda for the meeting will include:
     Registration,
     Opening Statement,
     Presentations,
     Comments from the Public, and
     Closing Statement.
    MSHA invites academia, safety and health professionals, industry 
organizations, worker organizations, government agencies, and 
industries outside of mining, as well as international organizations to 
participate by making a presentation or by providing information on 
their model programs for best practices for safety and health 
management programs. Requests to present at the meeting may be made by 
telephone (202-693-9440), facsimile (202-693-9441), or mail (MSHA, 
Office of Standards, Regulations and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, 
Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209-3939).
    The meeting will be conducted in an informal manner. Presenters and 
attendees may provide written information to the court reporter for 
inclusion in the rulemaking record. MSHA will make transcripts of the 
meetings available on MSHA's Web site at: http://www.msha.gov/tscripts.htm, and include them in the rulemaking record.
    The meeting will be held in conjunction with the 6th Annual 
Southeastern Mining Safety and Health Conference on November 10, 2011, 
in Birmingham, Alabama. The meeting will be held at the Renaissance

[[Page 64111]]

Birmingham Ross Bridge Golf Resort and Spa, in the Conference Center 
Ballroom, 4000 Grand Ave., Hoover, Alabama 35226, phone 1-800-949-4444.
    Additional public meetings will be held, to the extent possible, in 
conjunction with other safety and health events. MSHA will announce 
these meetings in the Federal Register and post them on the Agency's 
Web site.

III. MSHA and OSHA Regulatory Initiatives

A. MSHA Rulemakings

    MSHA believes that operators with effective safety and health 
management programs would identify and correct hazards more quickly, 
resulting in fewer accidents, injuries, and illnesses. In the past 
year, MSHA published two proposed rules that are complementary to the 
Agency's initiative to develop safety and health management programs 
for mines. In December 2010, MSHA published a proposed rule addressing 
Examinations of Work Areas in Underground Coal Mines (75 FR 81165). 
This proposed rule is a critical element in the Secretary of Labor's 
``Plan, Prevent, and Protect'' strategy and an important part of an 
effective safety and health management program for underground coal 
mines.
    In February 2011, MSHA published a proposed rule addressing Pattern 
of Violations (76 FR 5719). The proposed rule would revise the Agency's 
existing regulation for pattern of violations (POV). Congress included 
the POV provision in the Mine Act so that operators would manage safety 
and health conditions at mines and find and fix the root causes of 
significant and substantial violations to protect the safety and health 
of miners.

B. OSHA's Injury and Illness Prevention Programs

    The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has 
announced rulemaking on Injury and Illness Prevention Programs (I2P2) 
which is similar to this regulatory initiative. In 2010, the OSHA held 
five stakeholder meetings on I2P2 soliciting information about safety 
and health management programs for the general industry.

IV. Background and Request for Comments

    MSHA has reviewed a number of guidelines for safety and health 
management programs and noted that the components of effective safety 
and health management programs generally include:
     Management Commitment.
     Worker Involvement.
     Hazard Identification, including workplace inspections for 
violations of mandatory health and safety standards.
     Hazard Prevention and Control.
     Safety and Health Training.
     Program Evaluation.
    MSHA held three public meetings in October 2010, gathering 
information and comments from the safety and health community about 
effective, comprehensive safety and health management programs (75 FR 
54804). Presenters included representatives from academia, safety and 
health professionals, industry and worker organizations (including 
mining), and government agencies that provided information on best 
practices for safety and health programs.
    MSHA is now interested in receiving information about safety and 
health management programs developed and implemented during the past 
five years, particularly those implemented in the last year.
    MSHA is interested in statistical results, lessons learned, and new 
and innovative approaches from different sectors of the mining industry 
and from small mines.
    To supplement the information the Agency has already received, MSHA 
will hold additional meetings. MSHA is interested in safety and health 
management programs that have shown results in:
     Reduced injury and illnesses.
     Increased safety and health results.
     Improved conditions in certain areas, (e.g. haulage, roof 
and rib, combustible materials, health hazards).
     Improved compliance.
     Improved communication.
     Increased productivity.
     Increased and improved worker and management involvement 
in the development of safety and health programs including training; 
and
     Increased morale.
    The Agency is interested in statistical results from companies and 
organizations that have programs that are effective and measurable. 
MSHA is also interested in safety and health management programs from 
industries other than mining, and safety and health management programs 
in other countries.
    The Agency is interested in receiving comments on all aspects of 
safety and health management programs. The meetings will provide MSHA 
with current information and views from a wide range of interests.

     Dated: October 7, 2011.
Joseph A. Main,
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2011-26474 Filed 10-13-11; 11:15 am]
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