MSHA remembers fallen miners, reaffirms mission on National Miners Day
Photo: Department of Labor
Arlington, VA – The Mine Safety and Health Administration took time on Dec. 6 to honor the hundreds of workers who died in the worst mining disaster in U.S. history, and to recognize those who work in the industry today, as part of National Miners Day.
On Dec. 6, 1907, an underground explosion in Monongah, WV, killed 362 miners. The explosion was one of 18 in the coal mining industry that year, according to the Department of Labor. As a result, Congress established the Bureau of Mines.
“Our work, however, is not finished, and MSHA’s mission is clear – to make sure every worker who chooses the occupation of miner can go to work, put in their shift, and return home safe and healthy,” MSHA administrator Joseph A. Main said in a blog post.
An MSHA webpage features a video and other resources dedicated to recognizing the 366,000 miners who work in more than 13,000 underground and surface mines nationwide.
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