Partner Brian Hendrix recently published “‘One MSHA’ Is Coming Into Focus” in Rock Products Magazine, weighing in on the “One MSHA Initiative.” Continue reading here.
MSHA
MSHA Unveils New Unified Inspection Handbook
Back in November, MSHA head David Zatezalo indicated that MSHA’s initiative to “blur the lines” between coal and M/NM enforcement had ended. As an apparent follow-up, in late December MSHA released a new, unified M/NM and coal inspection handbook, and has now started training investigators on the new handbook.
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Continue Reading MSHA Unveils New Unified Inspection Handbook
2020 Hindsight
Read Mark Savit’s recent column in Rock Products that looks back at 2019 and ahead to 2020.
MSHA Says Its Workplace Examination Rule Is Fully Cooked and Ready to Serve. But Is It?

Avi Meyerstein recently published an article in Rock Products examining the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s 2017 “Final Rule on Examinations of Working Places in Metal and Nonmetal Mines.” Read the article here.
MSHA Enforcement and Maslow’s Hammer
Brian Hendrix recently published an article in the November 25, 2019 edition of Coal Age on the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s use of enforcement rather than the other tools at its disposal. Read “Drugs, MSHA Enforcement, Maslow’s Hammer” here.
Keeping Up with the OSHAs
Mark Savit recently published an article in Coal Age about the effect of MSHA regulations on the ability of the mining industry to take advantage of improving technology in the safety arena. Read it here.
Know Your Rules for MSHA Enforcement Actions

Are you aware of the deadlines and communication necessary to contest/challenge MSHA enforcement actions? Eric Dullea summarizes recent cases.
Read the full article from the June issue of Rock Products magazine.
An Industry Approaching Zero

Rock Products magazine recently published an article by Husch Blackwell’s Avi Meyerstein discussing what we can learn from the mining industry’s second-best year on record for the number of fatal mining accidents.
Marijuana at work? As state law develops, time to revisit policies.

As medical marijuana expands under state laws, a number of courts are recognizing protections for employees that complicate zero-tolerance rules. Donna Pryor, Partner, reviews the latest, leading cases and discusses considerations for employers in her recent Coal Age article.