The U.S. Department of Labor today announced the award of $10.5 million in grants to organizations in 43 states, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands to provide mine safety and health training designed to reduce and prevent mining workers’ injuries and illnesses.
The department’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA)awarded the grants to support the delivery of federally mandated training and re-training for miners working at surface and underground coal and metal and nonmetal mines. Miners working in shell dredging or employed at surface stone, sand and gravel mining operations are also included.
“Mine safety and health training is critical to ensuring miners know and understand mining conditions and the potential hazards they may encounter on a mine site,” said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Christopher J. Williamson. “These grants will help deliver training to thousands of miners, contractors and operators across the country and can make the difference between a safe and healthy day at work and a tragedy or illness.”
States and territories apply for the grants, which are awarded to state mine inspectors’ offices, state departments of labor and state-supported colleges and universities. Recipients tailor their mine safety and health training programs based on the needs of mines and miners in their areas, including mining conditions and hazards miners may encounter.
Learn more about MSHA.
MSHA has awarded the following grants:
| Recipient | State/Territory | Amount |
| Bevill State Community College | Alabama | $236,089 |
| University of Alaska | Alaska | $147,080 |
| Arizona State Mine Inspector | Arizona | $414,159 |
| Navajo Nation Minerals Department | Arizona | $36,112 |
| Arkansas Department of Labor and Licensing | Arkansas | $130,443 |
| Department of Industrial Relations | California | $200,000 |
| Department of Natural Resources | Colorado | $260,757 |
| Central Connecticut University | Connecticut | $90,732 |
| Tallahassee Community College | Florida | $191,510 |
| Technical College System of Georgia | Georgia | $212,774 |
| Government of Guam | Guam | $14,444 |
| North Idaho College | Idaho | $157,768 |
| Department of Natural Resources | Illinois | $261,185 |
| Vincennes University | Indiana | $256,052 |
| Eastern Iowa Community College | Iowa | $197,036 |
| Hutchinson Community College | Kansas | $134,009 |
| Division of Mine Safety | Kentucky | $367,510 |
| Northshore Technical Community College | Louisiana | $113,671 |
| Department of Labor | Maine | $117,104 |
| Department of the Environment, CSM | Maryland | $71,048 |
| Department of Labor Standards | Massachusetts | $105,138 |
| Michigan Technological University | Michigan | $264,760 |
| Minnesota State Colleges and Universities | Minnesota | $395,243 |
| Department of Environmental Quality | Mississippi | $46,118 |
| Department of Labor & Industrial Relations | Missouri | $285,503 |
| Department of Labor & Industry | Montana | $213,744 |
| University of Nebraska at Kearney | Nebraska | $93,905 |
| Mine Safety and Training Section | Nevada | $416,281 |
| Department of Business and Economic Affairs | New Hampshire | $79,686 |
| Department of Labor and Workforce Development | New Jersey | $67,416 |
| New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology | New Mexico | $184,417 |
| Department of Labor, Division of Safety | New York | $344,485 |
| Department of Labor | North Carolina | $186,311 |
| Department of Career and Technical Education | North Dakota | $113,915 |
| Office of the Governor | No. Mariana Islands | $14,444 |
| Department of Natural Resources | Ohio | $245,878 |
| Department of Mines | Oklahoma | $182,331 |
| Eastern Oregon University | Oregon | $171,384 |
| Department of Environmental Protection | Pennsylvania | $593,162 |
| Tri-County Technical College | South Carolina | $95,604 |
| School of Mines and Technology | South Dakota | $97,008 |
| Department of Labor and Workforce | Tennessee | $204,412 |
| University of Texas at Austin | Texas | $714,290 |
| Utah State University | Utah | $260,608 |
| Department of Labor | Vermont | $113,871 |
| Department of Mines, Minerals & Energy | Virginia | $248,466 |
| Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training | West Virginia | $515,827 |
| Northcentral Technical College | Wisconsin | $365,031 |
| North Wyoming Community College | Wyoming | $308,279 |
| Total | $10,537,000 |