U.S. Department of Labor MSHA: Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants for Miner Education and Training

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL or the Department, or we), Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), is providing notice of the availability of up to $1,000,000 available in grant funds for education and training programs to help the mining community identify, avoid, and prevent unsafe and unhealthy working conditions in and around mines. The focus of these grants for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 will be on: occupational hazards caused by exposures to respirable dust and crystalline silica, powered haulage and mobile equipment safety, mine emergency preparedness, mine rescue, electrical safety, contract and customer truck drivers, lack of training for new and inexperienced miners (including managers and supervisors performing mining tasks), pillar safety for underground mines, lack of personal protective equipment (including falls from heights), and other programs to ensure the safety and health of miners. MSHA is interested in supporting programs emphasizing training on miners’ statutory rights, including the right to be provided a safe and healthy working environment (including Part 90 miners), to refuse an unsafe task, and to have a voice in the safety and health conditions at the mine. MSHA shall give special emphasis to programs and materials that target smaller mines and underserved mines and miners in the mining industry, and prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.  

Applicants for the grants may be states, territories, and tribal governments (this includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and Federally recognized tribes) and private or public nonprofit entities (this includes tribal organizations, Alaska Native entities, Indian-controlled organizations serving Native Americans and Native Hawaiians). MSHA could award as many as 20 grants. The minimum amount of each individual grant will be at least $50,000 and the maximum amount will be up to $1,000,000.

The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to expanding the availability of Good Jobs to all workers, including improve working conditions by creating safer work environments. This program provides funding for education and training programs to help the mining community better identify, avoid, and prevent unsafe and unhealthy working conditions in and around mines. The program uses grant funds to establish and implement education and training programs, to create training materials and programs, or both. The Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 (MINER Act) requires the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) to give priority to mine safety demonstrations and pilot projects with broad applicability. The MINER Act also mandates that the Secretary emphasize programs and materials that target miners in smaller mines, including training mine operators and miners about new MSHA standards, high-risk activities, and other identified safety and health priorities.