Title: The effects of mine safety legislation on mining technology in the USA

Authors: Antonio Nieto, Alek Duerksen

Addresses: Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 100 Holden Hall, Blacksburg, 24061-0239, Virginia, USA. ' Department of Mining and Minerals Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 100 Holden Hall, Blacksburg, 24061-0239, Virginia, USA

Abstract: Health and safety are paramount to the success of the mining industry. Mining technology and safety habits have been advanced by innovative corporations and encouraged by governmental legislation (Glover and Morse, 2000). The governments have been influenced by public demand resulting from mining accidents and damages. Increasing public concerns have led to the passage of new safety laws in the USA (Hartman and Mutmansky 2002) – most notably the MINER Act of 2006. In the US mining law influences significantly the path which future safety innovations will take. This article gives a brief introduction of mine safety and health legislation governing the mining industry and shows how it has affected mining technology in the USA.

Keywords: mining; health and safety; mine safety legislation; mine technology; USA; United States; mining law.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMME.2008.020473

International Journal of Mining and Mineral Engineering, 2008 Vol.1 No.1, pp.95 - 103

Published online: 27 Sep 2008 *

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