History of MSHA

1
History of MSHA

• Leadership Intensive Course
• Mine Safety and Health Administration

Jesse P. Cole, District Manager Mine Safety and
Health Administration, District 4
2
Coal History
3
First Legislation

• On September 16, 1869, 179 miners perished in a
  fire at the Avondale Colliery, located west of
  Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Avondale was thought
  to be a safe mine.
• Pennsylvania Legislature passed the Act of 1870.
• Required 55 cubic feet of air per second for
  every 55 men.
• Regulated air currents and movements in mines,
  forbade the use of a single airway as the intake
  and exhaust.
• Required mines to be divided into districts at
  each level, with each district receiving a
  separate air current. This helped to contain
  sections of bad-air and contain it to one general
  location.

4
Late 1800s Multiple Disasters

• Most notable
• Laurel Mine Explosion Pocahontas, VA
• 112 miners March 13, 1884.
• Mommouth Mine Mount Pleasant, PA
• 109 miners January 27, 1891.
• Congress responded March 3, 1891 An Act for the
  Protection of the Lives of Miners in the
  Territories. First federal statute for mine
  safety.

5
An Act for the Protection of the Lives of Miners
in the Territories

• Established minimum ventilation requirements at
  underground coal mines.
• Prohibited operators from employing children
  under 12 years of age.
• No Enforcement Provisions.

6
Bloody December - 1907

• Naomi Mine Fayette City, PA Gas and Dust
  Explosion kills 34 miners on December 1, 1907.
• 5 days later, the greatest single mining disaster
  in American History
• MONONGAH Monongah 6 7, explosion kills
  362 miners at Monongah, WV.

7
Monongah 1907362 Miners Killed
8
Sole Survivor Patrick McDonald
9
Public Law 61-179

• In effect May 16, 1910, established
• The Bureau of Mines in the Department of
  Interior.
• Actions of Bureau limited to research and
  investigations.
• Dr. Joseph A. Holmes, First Director of the U.S.
  Bureau of Mines.

10
Death and Disasters Continued to Occur..

• Between 1910 and 1941 there were 62,281 mining
  related deaths (era of less than poor reporting).
• 1941 Public Law 77-49
• Federal inspectors given right-of-entry to
  conduct annual or other inspections and
  investigations.
• NO safety or health regulations were mandated.

11

• Still, Death and Disasters Continued to Occur
• March 5, 1947 Centralia, Illinois Centralia
  No. 5 Mine Explodes
• 65 miners fatally burned.
• 45 additional die from afterdamp.
• Public Law 80-326 passed in 1947
• First Code of Federal Regulations for mine safety
  for bituminous and lignite mines.
• NO enforcement provisions, law expired in one
  year.

12
1951 Explosions Continue to Kill

• Reported explosions killed 163 persons.
• 10 ignitions of gas or dust by electric arc.
• 10 ignitions of gas or dust by open lights or
  smoking.
• 3 ignitions of gas and dust by blasting.
• This record led to further legislation in 1952.

13
Enforcement Begins to Increase

• 1952 Federal Coal Mine Safety Act
• Mandated annual inspections of underground coal
  mines, with more stringent standards for gassy
  mines.
• Power to issue violation notices and imminent
  danger withdrawal orders.
• Mandated orders of withdrawal for failure to
  abate conditions of less serious violations.
• Surface mines and all mines lt 15 people were
  exempt.

14

• 23 more coal disasters killed 299 persons from
  1952 to 1966.
• Public Law 89-376 1966
• Extended 1952 law to all underground coal mines
  and provided for orders of withdrawal for
  repeated unwarrantable failures to comply with
  standards.
• Expanded education and training.

15
Farmington

• November 20, 1968 - Consol No. 9 Farmington WV
• 78 of 99 miners underground died. Fifteen
  separate explosions.

16

• Disaster occurred less than five miles from
  Monongah.

17
1969 - Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act

• Inspection provisions of both surface and
  underground coal mines.
• 2 annual inspections of surface mines, 4 annual
  inspections of underground mines.
• Increased enforcement powers.
• Monetary penalties and criminal penalties
  established.
• Established black lung compensation for
  disabilities due to the disease.

18
1972 Buffalo Creek Disaster

• 0805 a.m. February, 26, 1972 - Dam failure at
  Buffalo Creek, West Virginia resulted in a deluge
  of water.
• 132 million gallons of black water released.
• 126 people living below the dam were killed,
  1,100 injured, and over 4,000 left homeless.

19
Buffalo Creek Flood and Disaster

• Former Site of the Town of Saunders.

20
1973 Mining Enforcement and Safety
Administration (MESA)

• MESA is created by an administrative action.
• Given the enforcement responsibilities that
  formerly belonged to the Bureau of Mines.
• Basically a separation between research and
  enforcement.

21
1976 Scotia Mine Disaster

• March 9, 1976 Explosion occurred at Whitesburg,
  Kentucky killing 15 miners.
• 2 days later A second explosion kills 11 rescue
  workers.

Scotia Mining Complex Arrow Indicates Mine
Portal
22
1977 - Public Law 95-164 The Federal Mine Safety
and Health Act

• MESA moved to Department of Labor and changed to
  Mine Safety and Health Administration.
• Combined Coal and Metal/Nonmetal health and
  safety laws.
• Established the Federal Mine Safety and Health
  Review Commission.
• Expanded the rights of miners.

23
Coal Mine Fatalities 1900-2003
Dark Ages 1900-1934
Group Safety And Hazard Control Era
1969-2000
Personal Safety 2000-Present
Mechanization Era
1934-1969
24
Major Fatality Events 1960-2003
Mechanization Era 1934-1969
Group Safety and Hazard Control Era 1969 - 2000
Personal Safety Era 2000 - Present
1969 Passage of Coal Act
1977 Mine Act
1993-Annual Fatalities Drop Below 50
2002-Record Low 27 Fatalities
1983-Annual Fatalities Drop Below 100
25
Metal / Nonmetal History
26
Early 1900s

• June 8, 1917 Fire at Granite Mountain Mine near
  Butte, Montana.
• 163 persons died of smoke inhalation.
• August 27, 1922 Fire at Argonaut Mine, Jackson,
  California.
• 47 miners killed.
• November 3, 1926 Fall of Ground at
  Barnes-Hecker Mine, Ishpeming, Michigan.
• 51 miners killed, lone survivor climbed over 800
  feet of ladders to the surface.

27
Mining Disasters

• Not as abundant as Coal however.
• 1950s
• 30 Miners were killed in 6 separate disasters.
• 1961 Public Law 87-300
• Gave right of entry to collect information and
  study causes of and prevention of accidents.

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Between 1961 and 1966

• 1070 miners were killed at a rate of
• 178 per year.
• August 28, 1963 Texas Gulf Sulfur Co. - Moab,
  UT - 18 miners killed in a gas explosion at a
  Potash mine.

29
1966 Public Law 89-577The Federal Metal and
Nonmetallic Mine Safety Act

• Provided for the promulgation of standards.
• Allowed inspections and investigations.
• Minimal enforcement authority.

30
Disasters Continued

• 1968 Mine Fire - Cargill Underground Salt Mine
  Belle Isle, Louisiana.
• 21 miners died from carbon monoxide and head
  injuries.
• 1972 Mine Fire Sunshine Mine Kellogg,
  Idaho.
• 92 Miners died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
  One of the worst metal and non-metal mining
  disasters in history.

31
Two Men were Rescued 7 days Later from the 4800
Level
32
1973 Mining Enforcement and Safety
Administration (MESA)
Two Events Common with Coal
1977 Public Law 95-164The Federal Mine Safety
and Health Act
33
Metal / Nonmental Mine Fatalities 1911-2003
Dark Ages 1911-1932
Group Safety And Hazard Control Era 1969-2000
Personal Safety 2000-Present
Mechanization Era 1932-1969
34
Major Metal Nonmetal Fatality Events 1911-2003
1917 Granite Mountain Fire kills 163
1972 Sunshine Mine Disaster
1966 The Federal Metal and Nonmetallic Mine
Safety Act
1977 The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act
35
Recent Event - Quecreek Rescue

• Black Wolf Coal Company Inc. Quecreek 1 Mine
  July 28, 2002

36
Future Challenges

• Increased challenges from extreme mining
  conditions.
• Lower seam heights, poor roof/floor conditions.
• Overlying multiple coal beds / interseam
  interactions.
• Older existing mines developed towards depletion.
• Equipment improvements including digital
  technology.
• Information Technology.
• New Training Challenges.
• Renewal of an Aging Workforce.
• Further Reduction in Accident Rates.
• Judicial Use of Limited Budgets.
• Teamwork One MSHA.
• Increased Production due to High Oil Prices.
• Meeting the Supervisory Needs of Industry.
• Behavior Based Initiatives.

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Future Leaders

• Broad Opportunity for Motivated Leaders
• Set achievable goals.
• Communicate expectations to ensure goals are
  realized.
• Set the pace for others to follow.
• Provide guidance to ensure daily hurdles are
  surpassed.
• Mentor workforce to develop skills.
• Challenge your people to achieve growth.
• Monitor your progress.
• Assess development/progress and modify plan as
  necessary.

38

• Good leaders and managers
• plan.
• The end.

39
WESTERN COAL MINING DISASTERS 1800-2000

• ALASKA
• 10-26-37 Jonesville Jonesville, AK 14 EXP
• 01-18-57 Evan Jones Jonesville, AK 5 EXP
• ARKANSAS
• 03-04-1897 Kansas Texas No. 4 Huntington,
  AR 14 EXP
• 11-20-03 Bonanza No. 20 Bonanza, AR 11 EXP
• 06-25-22 Central Coal Coke Huntington,
  AR 5 SUFFOC
• 02-24-28 Mama No. 3 Jenny Lind, AR 13 EXP
• 11-19-36 Bates Bates, AR 5 EXP
• 08-27-40 No. 2 Bates, AR 10 EXP
• 05-11-42 Peerless No. 2 Excelsior, AR 6 EXP
• 02-08-48 Sun Excelsior Excelsior, AR 8 EXP
• CALIFORNIA
• 07-24-1876 Black Diamond Nortonville CA 6 FIRE
• 01-19-09 Stone Canyon Chancellor, CA 6 EXP
• COLORADO
• 01-24-1884 Crested Butte Crested Butte,
  CO 59 EXP
• 09-09-1889 White Ash Greeley, CO 10 Inun H2O
• 01-10-1893 Como King, CO 24 EXP

40
WESTERN COAL MINING DISASTERS 1800-2000 (cont.)

• 10-08-10 Starksville Starksville, CO 56 EXP
• 11-08-10 Victor American No. 3 Delagua,
  CO 79 EXP
• 12-11-10 Leyden Leyden, CO 10 FIRE
• 02-09-11 Cokedale Trinidad, CO 17 EXP
• 06-18-12 Hastings Hastings, CO 12 EXP
• 12-16-13 Vulcan New Castle, CO 37 EXP
• 04-27-17 Hastings Hastings, CO 121 EXP
• 03-31-19 Empire Aguilar, CO 13 EXP
• 08-18-19 Oakdale La Veta, CO 18 EXP
• 02-12-21 Moffat No. 1 2 Oak Hill, CO 5 EXP
• 12-13-21 Satanic Morrison, CO 6 FIRE
• 03-24-22 Sopris No. 2 Sopris, CO 17 EXP
• 05-05-23 Southwestern Aguilar, CO 10 EXP
• 10-07-23 Midwest Palisades, CO 6 EXP
• 05-27-27 Delagua Delagua, CO 7 EXP
• 01-20-36 Monarch No. 2 Broomfield, CO 8 EXP
• 01-27-42 Wadge Mount Harris, CO 34 EXP
• 12-28-65 Dutch Creek Mine Redstone, CO 9 EXP
• 03-02-66 Burnwell No. 1 Hesperus, CO 3 EXP

41
WESTERN COAL MINING DISASTERS 1800-2000 (cont.)

• KANSAS
• 11-09-1888 Shaft No. 2 Frontenac, KS 40 EXP
• 12-20-06 No. 1 Stone City, KS 7 EXP
• 03-18-11 No. 16 Mineral, KS 5 EXP
• 01-14-14 N0. 7 Mulberry, KS 6 HAUL
• 12-13-16 Fidelity No. 9 Stone City, KS 20 EXP
• MISSOURI
• 03-29-1888 Keith Perry No. 6 Rich Hill,
  MO 24 EXP
• 02-18-15 New Home No. 2 Rich Hill, MO 5 EXP
• MONTANA
• 06-07-06 Red Lodge Red Lodge, MT 8 FIRE
• 11-20-08 Red Lodge Red Lodge, MT 9 FIRE
• 02-27-43 Smith Washoe, MT 74 EXP
• NEW MEXICO
• 02-27-1895 White Ash Madrid, NM 24 EXP
• 04-21-1899 Cook White Madrid, NM 5 EXP
• 06-19-03 Blassburg No. 3 Blossburg, NM 5 EXP
• 10-05-06 Dutchman Blossburg, NM 10 EXP
• 12-31-07 Bernal Carthage, NM 11 EXP

42
WESTERN COAL MINING DISASTERS 1800-2000 (cont.)

• OKLAHOMA
• 04-04-1887 Old Savanna No. 2 Savanna, OK 18 EXP
• 01-07-1892 No. 11 Krebs, OK 100 EXP
• 03-13-1893 Choctaw Alderson, OK 9 EXP
• 01-04-1897 No. 1 Alderson, OK 5 EXP
• 04-29-01 McAlester No. 5 Alderson, OK 6 EXP
• 12-28-01 No. 1 Hartshorne, OK 6 HAUL
• 01-13-02 Milby Dow Dow, OK 10 FIRE
• 04-12-03 Central Slope 77 Carbon, OK 6 EXP
• 04-30-05 No. 19 Wilburton, OK 13 EXP
• 01-24-06 Poteau No. 6 Witteville, OK 14 EXP
• 08-26-08 Hailey-Okla No. 1 Haileyville,
  OK 29 FIRE
• 10-21-09 Rock Island No. 8 Hartshorne, OK 10 EXP
• 03-31-10 Great Western No. 2 Wilburton, OK 6 EXP
• 02-22-12 Western No. 5 Lehigh, OK 9 FIRE
• 03-20-12 San Bois No. 2 McCurtain, OK 73 EXP
• 09-04-14 No. 1 Adamson, OK 13 R FALL
• 06-30-19 Alderson No. 5 Alderson, OK 15 EXP
• 08-21-20 No. 19 Degnan, OK 10 EXP

43
WESTERN COAL MINING DISASTERS 1800-2000 (cont.)

• 02-06-30 Standard Standardville, UT 23 EXP
• 03-08-30 New Peerless Lynn, UT 5 EXP
• 03-14-45 Kennilworth Kennilworth, UT 7 EXP
• 05-09-45 No. 1 Sunnyside, UT 23 EXP
• 12-16-63 Carbon Fuel No. 2 Helper, UT 9 EXP
• 05-12-75 Deer Creek Huntington, UT 3 RFALL
• 08-24-79 Star Point No. 1 Wattis, UT 4 RFALL
• 12-19-84 Wilberg Mine Orangeville, UT 27 FIRE
• WASHINGTON
• 05-10-1892 Roslyn Roslyn, WA 45 EXP
• 08-24-1894 Franklin Franklin, WA 37 FIRE
• 04-08-1895 Blue Canyon Lake Whatcom, WA 23 EXP
• 12-09-1899 Carbon Hill No. 7 Carbonado, WA 31 EXP
• 08-21-00 Issaquah Issaquah, WA 5 FIRE
• 10-01-02 Lawson Black Diamond, WA 11 EXP
• 12-07-04 No. 5 Burnett, WA 17 EXP
• 04-26-07 Morgan Black Diamond, WA 7 EXP
• 10-03-09 Northwestern Roslyn, WA 10 EXP
• 11-06-10 Lawson Black Diamond, WA 16 EXP

44
WESTERN COAL MINING DISASTERS 1800-2000 (cont.)

• WYOMING
• 03-04-1881 Almy Almy, WY 38 EXP
• 01-13-1886 Almy No. 4 Almy, WY 13 EXP
• 03-20-1895 Red Canyon Red Canyon, WY 60 EXP
• 02-25-01 Diamondville No. 1 Diamondville,
  WY 26 FIRE
• 10-26-01 Diamondville Diamondville, WY 22 FIRE
• 06-30-03 Hanna No. 1 Hanna, WY 169 EXP
• 12-02-05 Diamondville No. 1 Diamondville,
  WY 18 EXP
• 03-28-08 Hanna No. 1 Hanna, WY 59 EXP
• 01-20-12 Kemmerer No. 4 Kemmerer, WY 6 EXP
• 04-30-14 No. 2 Cumberland, WY 5 HAUL
• 07-26-20 No. 6 Sublet, WY 8 EXP
• 08-14-23 Frontier No. 1 Kemmerer, WY 99 EXP
• 09-16-24 Sublet No. 5 Sublet, WY 39 EXP
• 02-11-38 Vail (Star Valley) Afton, WY 5 EXP

45
WESTERN M/NM MINING DISASTERS FROM 1860 TO 2000

• ALASKA
• 03-02-10 Alaska-Mexican Treadwell,
  AK 37 Gold EXP
• 09-28-11 Shakespeare Placer Dome Creek,
  AK 14 Gold SHAFT CAVE
• 12-09-12 Great Northern Development Cordova,
  AK 9 Gold SNOWSLIDE
• 03-15-43 Atkinson Quarry Excursion Inlet,
  AK 5 Rock EXP
• ARIZONA
• 04-17-13 Miami Miami, AZ 5 COPP CAVE IN
• 08-13-13 Coronado Incline Clifton,
  AZ 9 COPP HAULAGE
• 11-24-27 Magma Superior, AZ 7 COPP FIRE
• 02-20-45 St. Anthony Tiger, AZ 5 Lead Bnk House
  FIRE
• 07-24-52 Arizona Precast Concrete Maricopa City,
  AZ 5 Rock Tun Collapse
• 06-11-55 Miami Copper Miami, AZ 4 COPP Shaft
  Acc
• 11-11-71 Inspiration Concentrator Inspiration,
  AZ 3 COPP Asphx
• 05-10-82 Magma Superior, AZ 3 COPP Roof Fall
• 08-10-93 Magma Superior , AZ 4 COPP Raise
  Collapse
• CALIFORNIA
• 05-30-1874 Amador Amador, CA 5 Gold Fall of
  Cage
• 10-03-1879 Tioga Bodie, CA 6 Gold Cage accident
• 11-30-07 Fremont Drytown, CA 11 Gold FIRE

46
WESTERN M/NM MINING DISASTERS FROM 1860 TO 2000
(cont.)

• 07-14-30 Glenn Lost Chance, CA 5 Gold FIRE
• 11-12-34 Rohl Connolly Quarry Avalon,
  CA 9 Gran EXP
• 02-19-37 Walker Walkermine, CA 6 COPP EXP
• 01-05-71 El Dorado Mine Shingle Springs,
  CA 4 Limes Hoisting
• COLORADO
• 11-13-1885 Bull Domingo Silver Cliff,
  CO 10 Gd/Sl EXP
• 08-29-1895 Sleepy Hollow Sleepy Hollow,
  CO 12 Gold Inundation
• 09-26-1895 Belgian Leadville, CO 6 Gold EXP
• 01-04-1896 Anna Lee El Paso City, CO 8 Gold Cave
  In
• 11-20-01 Smuggler-Union Pandora, CO 31 Gd/Sl Bnk
  House FIRE
• 01-26-04 Strattons Independence Victor,
  CO 14 Gold CAGE
• 06-07-30 Climax Mine Lake County, CO 6 Moly CAVE
  IN
• 01-09-42 Pride Silverton, CO 8 Cp,Gd suffocation
  
• IDAHO
• 02-25-17 North Star Hailey, ID 16 Gd,Sl Snowslid
  e
• 07-25-19 Hecla Burke, ID 5 Lead CAGE
• 10-06-36 Morning Mine Mullan, ID 10 Lead Hoistin
  g
• 05-02-72 Sunshine Mining Co Kellogg,
  ID 91 Silver FIRE
• 09-09-81 Warrior Mine Riggins, ID 3 Gold EXP

47
WESTERN M/NM MINING DISASTERS FROM 1860 TO 2000
(cont.)

• MISSOURI
• 02-26-09 Keystone Joplin, MO 5 Lead CAVE IN
• MONTANA
• 02-16-1881 Belmont Belmont. MT 6 COPP FIRE
• 11-23-1889 Neversweat-St.Lawrence Butte,
  MT 6 COPP FIRE
• 04-21-1893 Silver Bow 2 Butte, MT 9 COPP FIRE
• 04-08-1896 Hope Basin, MT 7 Gold FIRE
• 04-11-1896 St. Lawrence Butte, MT 6 COPP EXP
• 11-06-03 Koarsarge Virginia City, MT 9 Gold FIRE
• 05-12-05 Cora Butte, MT 7 COPP EXP
• 01-18-11 Keating Radersburg, MT 6 Gold EXP
• 09-03-11 Butte Superior Butte, MT 6 ZINC CAGE
• 04-23-13 Leonard Butte, MT 5 COPP Hoisting
• 10-19-15 Granite Mountain Shaft Butte,
  Mt 16 COPP EXP
• 02-14-16 Pennsylvania Butte, MT 21 COPP FIRE
• 06-08-17 Granite Mountain Butte,
  MT 163 COPP FIRE
• 07-17-17 Three Forks Quarry Trident,
  MT 8 Gyps EXP
• 11-05-53 American Gilsonite Co Bonanza,
  MT 8 Gils EXP
• NEVADA

48
WESTERN M/NM MINING DISASTERS FROM 1860 TO 2000
(cont.)

• 11-09-14 Sibley N0. 9 Shaft Ely, NV 5 Iron Cave
  In
• 08-13-36 Mountain City Copper Mountain City,
  NV 6 COPP suffocation
• 06-23-70 Texavada Pine Grove, NV 3 Gold Fall
• NEW MEXICO
• 03-10-1895 Old Abe White Oaks, NM 8 Gold FIRE
• 03-31-54 Santa Rita Open Pit Santa Rita,
  NM 5 COPP EXP
• Oklahoma
• 11-28-10 Jumbo Durant, OK 13 Asphlt EXP
• OREGON
• 6-15-76 Silver Ridge Mine Quartzville,
  OR 3 Silver EXP
• South Dakota
• 03-21-72 Homestake Mine Lead, SD 3 Gold GR Fall
• TEXAS
• 02-15-75 El Paso Quarry El Paso,
  TX 3 Stone Mach
• UTAH
• 07-15-02 Park-Utah Park City, UT 34 Ld,Cp Powder
  Fumes
• 06-01-10 Union Quarry Devils Slide,
  UT 25 Limstn EXP
• 01-21-14 Boston Bingham, UT 5 COPP FIRE
• 09-17-14 Centennial-Eureka Eureka,
  UT 11 Gold CAVE IN