Commemorating National Miners Day

On National Miners Day, we join together to show our appreciation for the miners—past and present—that power our homes, support our national defense and have built our nation with their hands. 

Today thousands of miners work in over 13,000 mines across the United States to supply the country with critical minerals, materials and metals. In big cities and small towns throughout our country, people use phones, drive vehicles, use cook and bakeware, wash clothes, have electricity and travel on roads and bridges all made possible because of the work done by miners.

December 6 was chosen as National Miners Day to commemorate the Monongah mining disaster – the deadliest mining disaster in American history. Two years ago, I visited Monongah, West Virginia, on National Miners Day to represent the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and pay tribute to those who were lost 117 years ago. Although many lives were unnecessarily lost that day, including an unknown number of children, it led to the first serious federal focus on mine safety and health through the creation of the U.S. Bureau of Mines. 

To commemorate National Miners Day this year, I am visiting the Robena Memorial 62nd Anniversary event hosted by the United Mine Workers of America paying tribute to the 37 men who lost their lives at the Greene County, Pennsylvania, mine on December 6, 1962. On this day every year, we remember all the miners who we have lost in mine accidents and disasters, and those who suffered because of preventable occupational illnesses such as silicosis and black lung disease. We also remember all the affected families and communities.

MSHA shows our commitment to our nation’s miners by uplifting miners’ voices, partnering with the mining community, issuing new protections and using all tools in our enforcement toolbox to ensure miners have good jobs—in workplaces that are safe and healthy, built on input from workers and their representatives.

This year, we made historic progress for miners. We issued a new silica rule to reduce miners’ exposure to toxic silica dust and protect them from suffering from preventative diseases like silicosis and black lung disease. The final rule brings the permissible exposure limit for miners in line with the limit for workers in other industries. It includes safeguards for miners’ health like requirements for engineering controls and monitoring exposure levels. It also has requirements for free medical exams for metal and non-metal miners like those already provided to coal miners. We’ve spoken to current and former miners throughout Appalachia and beyond about the significant impact the silica standard will make in protecting the health of miners today.

Following a troubling increase in fatal accidents in 2023, MSHA asked the mining community to join in identifying and eliminating safety and health hazards that can cost miners their lives. In 2024, due to the collective efforts of the mining community, fatal mining accidents have decreased by 26% – which means 10 fewer miners have died in workplace accidents so far this year.  Although this progress is encouraging, even one miner fatality is still too many. MSHA will continue to use all its tools and asks everyone to continue to remain vigilant and focus on preventing accidents

This year, MSHA held the second annual Stand Down to Save Lives to pause and take time across mines to prioritize the safety and health of our nation’s miners. Also, enforcement began of the surface mobile equipment safety program rule that requires mine operators to have a safety program to protect miners and improve safety in equipment use. This rule directly addresses powered haulage equipment and machinery that have been leading causes of serious and fatal mine accidents.

In addition to mandatory inspections across the country, MSHA conducted monthly impact inspections to identify and eliminate hazards that can cost miners their lives. Since being reinvigorated in 2023, impact inspections have identified 4,965 violations, including 1,380 significant and substantial and 99 unwarrantable failure findings in 316 mines. These inspections hold mine operators accountable and ensure that the hazards found are corrected to protect miners.

Throughout the year, the Department of Labor’s leadership had the honor of recognizing miners across the country and hearing what a good mining job means to their families and communities. In Franklin, Wisconsin, we met with International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) miners who proudly provide construction materials for crucial infrastructure and data center investments throughout the area. In Ishpeming, Michigan, and Mountain Iron, Minnesota, we met with United Steel Workers iron ore miners that produce the iron crucial for domestic steel production. In Carson City, Nevada, we met with IUOE miners who mine aggregates necessary for building roads and bridges in the community. We’ve heard directly from miners and their unions about the impact MSHA and its employees have in their workplaces and communities.

This National Miners Day, please join MSHA in expressing appreciation for our nation’s miners and their families and committing to protect their safety and health. 

Chris Williamson is Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health. Follow MSHA on X at @MSHA_DOL.