U.S. Department of Labor  | April 1, 2024

WASHINGTON   – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that its Federal Black   Lung Program will host four outreach events in Pennsylvania   from April 8-11 for current and former coal miners suffering disabilities   related to black lung disease, and their families to assist them in filing or   refiling claims for benefits. 

Administered by the department’s Division of Coal Mine Workers’   Compensation, the Federal Black Lung Program currently provides benefits to   about 1,600 people in Pennsylvania. The program holds similar events   throughout the nation including, most recently in West Virginia from March   19-21, 2024, as part of its commitment to ensure eligible individuals can   claim and receive benefits in a timely manner. 

“The U.S. Department of Labor encourages current and former coal   miners, and their survivors, to attend one of these outreach events to learn   more about their eligibility for benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act,”   said Division of Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation Director Mike Chance.   “Attendees can get help with filing or refiling claims and get information on   eligibility and the adjudication process.”

Events are open to the public and do not require   pre-registration to attend. They will be as follows: 

Date

April 8

Location

Indiana Free Library

Address

845 Philadelphia St.

City

Indiana

Time

 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Date

April 9

Location

Indiana Free Library

Address

845 Philadelphia St.

City

Indiana

Time

10 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Date

April 10

Location

Pottsville Free Public Library

Address

215 W. Market St.

City

Pottsville

Time

11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Date

April 11

Location

Pottsville Free Public Library

Address

215 W. Market St.

City

Pottsville

Time

9 a.m.-7 p.m.

For more information and assistance on submitting any bills for   black lung related medical treatment, services, or medical supplies, contact   the Federal Black   Lung Program at 1-800-347-2502. 

Read important   information about filing a claim for benefits under the Black Lung Benefits   Act.

Learn more   about OWCP.

# # #

Media   Contact:

Patrick Malone, 202 997-3512, malone.patrick.m@dol.gov

Release Number:  24-606-NAT

US aluminum producer Alcoa Corp. made a $2.2 billion offer to acquire its Australian joint-venture partner Alumina Ltd. to consolidate ownership of key upstream assets with long-term demand for the metal forecast to rise.

The offer marks a premium of about 13% to Alumina’s closing share price on Friday. The Australian company’s board plans to support the deal, under which Alumina shareholders will receive Alcoa stock, if the sides get to a definitive agreement following further discussions, it said in an exchange filing on Monday.

Alumina’s shares rose as much as 9.3% in Sydney before closing 6.9% higher at A$1.09. Alcoa was down 3.4% during premarket trading at 8:06 a.m. in New York.

Buying its junior partner would give Alcoa full control of Alcoa World Alumina and Chemicals, one of the world’s largest producers of the semi-processed form of the metal. The offer comes about five months after Alcoa shook up its management amid struggles with operational and permitting setbacks in Australia for its bauxite mining business. It also announced plans in January to halt production at its Kwinana alumina plant in Western Australia to cut costs.

Aluminum has a wide variety of uses including beverage cans, window frames and airplane parts. Over the longer term, consumption is expected to be supported by the transition to cleaner sources of energy including electric vehicles and wind and solar power.

“Globally, growth in aluminum intensive EVs and renewable power infrastructure will continue to support this positive trend,” Alcoa chief executive officer William F. Oplinger said on an earnings call last month.

Alcoa offered 0.02854 of its shares for each of the remaining shares in Alumina, which owns 40% of AWAC. The US company has also agreed to buy Allan Gray Australia’s 19.9% stake in Alumina. Citic Group Corp.’s Australian resources arm holds 9.6% of the Australian producer.

“The stars are aligned for the process to progress to completion, as Alumina is recommending the deal,” Morgan Stanley analysts including Rahul Anand said in a note. “There are unlikely to be other interested parties given the commodity being niche and also the underlying business shareholding being a minority (40%), of which Alcoa already owns the majority.”

AWAC has an international network of alumina refineries in Australia, Brazil, and Spain, and is responsible for almost 10% of world alumina production, according to Alumina’s website.

Alcoa last month warned investors that it now plans to mine lower grades of bauxite, a key raw material needed to make aluminum, in Western Australia until it gets to its next mining phase, which could be around 2027. The plant was the first of the company’s three alumina refineries in the state that have been operating for around 60 years.

If approved, the takeover will increase its exposure to “tier-1” bauxite and alumina businesses and boost its global position as a pure-play upstream aluminum producer, the US company said in a separate statement.

“We recognize the value creation opportunities possible under a simplified ownership structure, including the ability to implement AWAC’s operational and strategic decisions on an accelerated basis,” Oplinger said in the statement. “We believe now is the right time to consolidate ownership in AWAC.”

Alumina has hired Flagstaff Partners and BofA Securities to act as financial advisers and King & Wood Mallesons as legal adviser it said. JPMorgan Securities LLC and UBS Investment Bank are acting as financial advisers to Alcoa, and Ashurst and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP are acting as its legal counsel, the company said.

(By Harry Brumpton and Joe Deaux)

This original article can be found be found at https://www.mining.com/web/alcoa-offers-2-2-billion-for-australian-peer-alumina/

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions has launched AutoMine for Underground Drills, a tele-remote solution designed for mining operations.

The new solution allows mining operators to control and supervise multiple automated Sandvik underground drills remotely and simultaneously.

This helps to increase safety, efficiency and overall productivity in mining operations, the company said.

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions underground automation product line manager Jouni Koppanen said: “Sandvik’s holistic approach to integrate drills, loaders and trucks into the AutoMine system will set a new standard for underground mining efficiency.

“AutoMine for Underground Drills is another milestone in our commitment to revolutionising out customers’ mining operations. This tele-remote system redefines underground drilling autonomy and safety standards.”Made available for Sandvik longhole drills i-series machines, the new system offers three levels of teleremote operations, notably single drill, drill fleet and machine fleet. Top of Form

Bottom of Form Operators will have an option to choose operating from an AutoMine chair or console station. This is based on offering the level needed for their operational requirements.

The new system features ring-to-ring tramming capabilities to enable seamless coordination and control of drills, loaders and trucks that are operating in the same area.

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions longhole production drilling product manager Sami Anttila said: “We have developed this system to offer our customers a deeper integration and cooperation in between the underground drills, the loading and hauling machines and especially the AutoMine environment.

“This means added value through improvements in machine and fleet flexible utilisation in remote operation.”

The AutoMine also features an enhanced Access Protector System to block personnel from entering the machine area while it is operating in remote mode or automation mode.

Furthermore, the system features an advanced traffic management system to allow operators to easily control the traffic flow of multi-machine operations.

Recently, Sandvik was selected by Byrnecut to supply automated loaders, underground drills and rock tools for the Kathleen Valley lithium project in Western Australia.

This original article can be found be found at https://www.mining-technology.com/

WASHINGTON   – The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health   Administration today released the results of its second 2023 pattern of   violations screening to identify chronic violators and mine operators   demonstrating a disregard for the health and safety of miners. This was the   first time that the agency conducted more than one POV screening in a single   calendar year.

The pattern of violations screening   process examines all of the nation’s mines and identifies   mines with a high number of significant and substantial violations and other   safety and health compliance problems. An S&S violation is one that could   contribute in a significant and substantial way to the cause and effect of a   safety or health hazard. Under the Mine Act, MSHA identifies mines exhibiting   a pattern of S&S violations and is authorized to issue a POV   notice – one of the agency’s toughest enforcement   actions – to mine operators. If a mine receives notice of a POV and   subsequently commits additional S&S violations, MSHA is authorized to   withdraw miners from the affected area except those necessary to correct the   violation.

As a result of the screening, MSHA identified that Mine No. 39   in McDowell County, West Virginia operated by Twin State Mining   Inc., met the initial POV criteria for the existence of a pattern of   violations under section 104(e) of the Mine Act. During the 12-month   review period – from Nov. 1, 2022, through Oct. 31,   2023 – MSHA cited 87 S&S violations at Mine No. 39. The S&S   rate per 100 inspection hours was 9.11; the national average rate for   underground coal mines was 2.90.  

Although the mine met the initial screening criteria, under the   POV process, the mine was reviewed for mitigating circumstances, which can   result in postponing or not issuing or a POV notice. MSHA determined that   postponement was warranted, pending the agency’s continued evaluation of Mine   No. 39’s operations and issued a postponement notice to Twin State   Mining Inc. MSHA will continue to monitor Mine No. 39 and has the discretion   to rescind the postponement and issue a POV notice if it determines such   action is needed to protect the safety and health of miners.

“The Biden-Harris administration has demonstrated that it will   use its enforcement tools such as its POV authority and impact inspections to   focus on chronic violators and protect miners’ safety and health,” said   Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson. “Following a   year when the mining industry experienced a troubling increase in fatalities,   MSHA continues to use all measures available to prevent fatal and serious   accidents and hold low-road operators accountable.”

MSHA’s two most recent POV issuances remain in effect. MSHA   issued a POV notice on July 6, 2023 to Atalco Gramercy   LLC, the operator of Gramercy Operation in Gramercy, Louisiana,   after identifying a pattern of S&S violations related to caustic spills   and leaks. On December 1, 2022, MSHA issued a POV notice to Morton Salt   Inc., operator of the Weeks Island Mine and Mill in New Iberia,   Louisiana, after identifying a pattern of S&S violations related to roof   and rib hazards.

Operators placed on a POV who commit S&S violations are   required to withdraw miners from the affected area until MSHA determines that   the violation has been abated. The POV notice is terminated if MSHA does not   issue a withdrawal order within 90-days after the issuance of the POV notice   or if an MSHA inspection of the entire mine finds no S&S   violations. 

MSHA offers two online calculators to help mine operators   monitor compliance: the Pattern of   Violations Calculator, which allows mine operators to monitor   performance under the POV screening criteria and alerts mine operators that   corrective actions are needed, and the Significant and   Substantial Calculator, which enables mine operators to   monitor their S&S violations. It is the responsibility of mine operators   to track their violation and injury histories to determine whether they need   to take action to avoid meeting the POV screening criteria. 

Learn more   about MSHA.

# # #

Media   Contacts:

Frances Alonzo, 202-997-6977, alonzo.frances@dol.gov
 Patrick Malone, 202 997-3512, malone.patrick.m@dol.gov 

Release Number:  24-177-NAT

WASHINGTON       – The U.S. Department of Labor announced today that its Mine       Safety and Health Administration completed impact inspections at 16 mines       in 11 states in December 2023, issuing 247 violations.

The agency began conducting impact inspections after an       April 2010 explosion in West Virginia at the Upper Big Branch Mine killed       29 miners.

MSHA’s impact inspections in 2023 identified 2,739       violations, including 764 significant and substantial and 56 unwarrantable       failure findings. An S&S violation is one that is reasonably likely       to cause a reasonably serious injury or illness. Violations designated as       unwarrantable failures occur when an inspector finds aggravated conduct       that constitutes more than ordinary negligence.

The agency conducts impact inspections at mines that merit       increased agency attention and enforcement due to poor compliance       history; previous accidents, injuries, and illnesses; and other       compliance concerns. Of the 247 violations MSHA identified in December,       57 were evaluated as S&S and three had unwarrantable failure       findings. The agency completed these inspections at mines in Alabama,       Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah,       West Virginia and Wisconsin.

“In 2023, MSHA employees demonstrated the importance of       conducting impact inspections by identifying hazards, issuing violations,       and ensuring that corrective actions were taken to protect miners’ health       and safety,” said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris       Williamson. “In 2024, the Biden-Harris administration will continue to       focus on good jobs, including ensuring that miners are able to return       home each day to their families and their communities safe and healthy,”       Williamson added.

The Excel #5 Mine, an underground coal mine in Varney,       Kentucky, was among the mines MSHA inspected in December. MSHA selected       the mine for an impact inspection based upon numerous criteria, including       enforcement history and plan compliance and examination issues. The mine       is operated by Excel Mining. The inspection identified 20 violations,       including nine S&S and two unwarrantable failure findings.       Specifically, MSHA inspectors found the following conditions existed at       the Excel #5 mine:

• Failure to remove accumulation            of combustible material. Combustible material accumulation was the            most cited condition during this inspection. MSHA continues to            remind operators of the importance of controlling the accumulation            of combustible material to prevent fires and explosions. 
• Failure to maintain            equipment in permissible condition was the second-most frequently            cited condition during this inspection. These conditions exposed            miners to explosion hazards due to exposed ignition sources. 
• Inadequate workplace            examinations. Inadequate examinations have contributed to fatal mine            accidents and disabling injuries and were identified as a root cause            in several mining fatalities the industry suffered in 2023. MSHA has            placed a priority on improving workplace examinations including the            identification, correction and documentation of hazardous conditions            to ensure miners’ safety and health. 
• Other serious violations            included not adequately supporting roof and ribs and inoperable fire            warning devices. 

Learn more       about MSHA.

# # #

Media       Contacts:

Frances Alonzo, 202-997-6977, alonzo.frances@dol.gov
     Patrick Malone, 202 997-3512, malone.patrick.m@dol.gov

Release Number:  24-155-NAT

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov. The Department’s Reasonable Accommodation Resource Center converts       departmental information and documents into alternative formats, which       include Braille and large print. For alternative format requests,       please contact the Department at (202) 693-7828 (voice) or (800) 877-8339       (federal relay).

     January 19th 2024 will be the effective date for MSHA's new Safety Program for Surface Mobile Equipment.  The new rule numbers are §§ 56.23000, 57.23000, and 77.2100.  All mine operators must comply with this final ruling by July 19th 2024.  This final rule is issued under section 101 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act), as amended. 30 U.S.C. 811.  The following is the summary for this new rule.

 "The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA or the Agency) is requiring that mine operators develop, implement, and update, periodically or when necessary, a written safety program for surface mobile equipment (excluding belt conveyors) at surface mines and surface areas of underground mines. The written safety program must be developed and updated with input from miners and their representatives. The written safety program must include actions mine operators will take to identify hazards and risks to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities related to surface mobile equipment. The final rule offers mine operators flexibility to devise a safety program that is appropriate for their specific mining conditions and operations. "

   Washington — A long-anticipated Mine Safety and Health Administration final rule intended to reduce miners’ exposure to silica has been sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review.

Advancing a rule to OMB, which is under the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, is one of the final steps in the regulatory process.

The rule would lower the PEL for respirable crystalline silica to 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air – half the current limit – over an 8-hour time-weighted average. It also would increase silica sampling and enforcement at metal and nonmetal mines.

Workers can inhale silica dust during mining and other operations, including cutting, sawing, drilling or crushing materials such as rock and stone. Crystalline silica can damage lung tissue and lead to black lung disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or incurable silicosis.

OSHA estimates that 2.3 million workers are exposed to silica dust annually.

The rule has been under OMB review since Jan. 12. A proposal was published on July 13.

“The purpose of this … rule is simple – to better protect miners from exposure to silica so they do not have to suffer from entirely preventable debilitating and deadly occupational illnesses,” MSHA head Chris Williamson says on an agency webpage for silica rulemaking. “Silica overexposures have a real-life impact on a miner’s health.”

During a Jan. 25, 2023, conference call with MSHA stakeholders, Williamson discussed the path the rulemaking has taken since first appearing in the Spring 1998 regulatory agenda. The agency at that time forecasted a proposed silica rule would be in place in December 1998, he said.

The original article can be found at this address. 

https://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/24930-msha-final-rule-on-respirable-crystalline-silica-under-white-house-review