[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 174 (Thursday, September 9, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54804-54805]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22403]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Mine Safety and Health Administration
30 CFR Chapter I
RIN 1219-AB71
Safety and Health Management Programs for Mines
AGENCY: Mine Safety and Health Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings; notice of close of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) will hold
three public meetings to gather information about effective,
comprehensive safety and health management programs at mines. Public
meetings will include presentations on model programs by
representatives from: Academia; safety and health professionals;
industry organizations; worker organizations; and government agencies.
Model programs should be designed to prevent injuries and illnesses,
maintain compliance with the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act, safety
and health standards and regulations, and include participation of
everyone from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to workers and
contractors. Model programs should involve hazard identification and
control and training and retraining of workers. The Agency will use
information from the meetings to help develop a proposed rule for
Safety and Health Management Programs for mines which will allow miners
and operators to be proactive in their approach to health and safety.
DATES: All comments must be received by midnight Eastern Standard Time
on December 17, 2010. MSHA will hold three meetings on October 8, 2010,
October 12, 2010, and October 14, 2010 at the locations listed in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Comments must be identified with ``RIN 1219-AB71'' and may
be sent by any of the following methods:
(1) Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
(2) Electronic mail: [email protected]. Include ``RIN 1219-
AB71'' in the subject line of the message.
(3) Facsimile: 202-693-9441. Include ``RIN 1219-AB71'' in the
subject line of the message.
(4) Regular Mail: MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations, and
Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209-
3939.
(5) Hand Delivery or Courier: MSHA, Office of Standards,
Regulations, and Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350,
Arlington, Virginia. Sign in at the receptionist's desk on the 21st
floor.
Comments can be accessed electronically at http://www.msha.gov
under the Rules and Regs link.
Comments may also be reviewed 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.
MSHA maintains a list that enables subscribers to receive e-mail
notification when rulemaking documents are published in the Federal
Register. To subscribe, go to http://www.msha.gov/subscriptions/subscribe.aspx.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia W. Silvey, Director, Office
of Standards, Regulations, and Variances, MSHA, at
[email protected] (e-mail), 202-693-9440 (voice), or 202-693-9441
(facsimile).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All meetings will start at 9 a.m. and
conclude by 5 p.m. The agenda for the meetings will include:
Registration,
Opening Statement,
Presentations,
Comments from the Public, and
Closing Statement.
MSHA requested academia, safety and health professionals, industry
organizations, worker organizations, and government agencies to present
information at these meetings on best practices for safety and health
programs. MSHA is particularly interested in information on programs
which include active involvement of workers from the development of the
program through implementation to evaluation. Requests to present at a
meeting may be made by telephone (202-693-9440), facsimile (202-693-
9441), or mail (MSHA, Office of Standards, Regulations and
[[Page 54805]]
Variances, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Room 2350, Arlington, Virginia 22209-
3939).
The meetings 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 http://www.msha.gov, and include
them in the rulemaking record.
The meetings will be held on the following dates at the locations
indicated:
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Date Location Contact number
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October 8, 2010............................. MSHA National Office, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, (202) 693-9440
25th Floor Conference Room, Arlington, VA
22209.
October 12, 2010............................ Embassy Suites Sacramento-Riverwalk Promenade, (916) 326-5000
100 Capitol Mall, Sacramento, CA 95814.
October 14, 2010............................ Omni William Penn Hotel, 530 William Penn (412) 281-7100
Place, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
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MSHA has reviewed a number of guidelines for safety and health
management programs, including:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's
(OSHA's) Voluntary Protection Program and its Safety and Health Program
Management Guidelines;
The American National Standards Institute's (ANSI's) and
American Industrial Hygiene Association's (AIHA's) ANSI/AIHA's Z10-
2005, Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems;
The International Standards Organization's (ISO's) ISO
9001:2008 (E), Quality management systems--Requirements; and
The British Standards Institution's (BSI's) BS OHSAS
18001:2007, Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series,
Occupational health and safety management systems--Requirements.
The Guidelines reveal that the components of effective safety and
health management programs generally include:
1. Management Commitment.
2. Worker Involvement.
3. Hazard Identification, including workplace inspections for
violations of mandatory health and safety standards.
4. Hazard Prevention and Control.
5. Safety and Health Training.
6. Program Evaluation.
Year after year, many companies experience low injury and illness
rates and low violation rates. For these companies, preventing harm to
their workers is more than compliance with safety and health
requirements; it reflects the embodiment of a culture of safety--from
the CEO to the worker to the contractor. This culture of safety derives
from a commitment to a systematic, effective, comprehensive safety and
health management program, implemented with the full participation of
all workers. MSHA understands that many companies have developed and
implemented effective safety and health management programs. At the
meetings, you will hear about some of these programs. The Agency is
interested in receiving comments on all aspects of safety and health
management programs.
MSHA will accept written comments and information for the record
from any interested party, including those not presenting oral
statements.
Dated: September 2, 2010.
Joseph A. Main,
Assistant Secretary of Labor, for Mine Safety and Health.
[FR Doc. 2010-22403 Filed 9-8-10; 8:45 am]
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