Annual report and achievements 1977

Technical Report · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:5631819

Our commitment to mine health and safety is a strong one, for we fully believe that the right of the American worker to a safe, healthful workplace is fundamental, and that the Government's duty is to insure this right as a daily reality. The next few years will be critical in developing an energy base for this country and establishing the role coal will play in this base. As we increasingly turn to coal for the energy to sustain and simulate our economy, the safety and health of the American miner must be protected. As a result of a series of mine explosions, and the gradual realization of the magnitude of coal workers' pneumoconiosis, increase public and Congressional concern has led to a gradual increase in the federal presence and eventually to federal preeminence in the fields of coal mine health and safety. By enacting the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969, Congress emphatically stated that responsibility for achieving safe and healthful working environments and practices rests with mine operators and miners. The Secretary of the Interior was assigned the responsibility for determining compliance with the Act. On March 9, 1978, these responsibilities were transferred from the Secretary of the Interior to the Secretary of Labor. Since the passage of the 1969 Act, coal mining fatalities have been reduced 47 percent, and the frequency rate of nonfatal injuries has fallen 16 percent. Although great strides have been made toward improving health and safety in the Nation's coal mines, much remains to be done. As we move to step up production of coal and minerals, death, injury, and occupational disease in the coal and noncoal mining industry will not be tolerated by the public. Enforcement of safe working practices and working conditions is our responsibility under the law, but it is the daily responsibility of industry and labor as well.

• Research Organization: Mining Enforcement and Safety Administration, Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5631819
• Report Number(s): NP-3903016; ON: DE83903016
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
012000* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Mining
016000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Health & Safety
017000 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Legislation & Regulations
ACCIDENTS
COAL MINERS
COAL MINING
COMPLIANCE
DATA
DISEASES
DUSTS
ENFORCEMENT
ENGINEERING
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
INFORMATION
INJURIES
INSPECTION
LAWS
LEGISLATION
MINE RESCUE
MINERS
MINING
MINING LAWS
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUMERICAL DATA
OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES
PERSONNEL
PNEUMOCONIOSES
RESCUE OPERATIONS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SAFETY ENGINEERING
TRAINING
US DOI
US ORGANIZATIONS
WATER INFLUX