The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced the release of two new program information bulletins pertaining to the rights of miners who make hazardous condition complaints and request inspections, as well as miners’ protections against discrimination. 

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration today issued a safety alert and fatality update to the mining industry to draw renewed attention to deaths that have occurred this year in mines throughout the country.  “While headlines continue to focus on the disaster at Upper Big Branch Mine, we cannot lose sight of the fact that other miners are losing their lives at our nation’s mines,” said Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health. “Since the beginning of this year, 28 other miners from all sectors of mining have died in fatal accidents. We must take action to prevent additional fatalities.”

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been petitioned by Public Citizen, a national advocacy organization, as well as other groups and individuals, to issue regulations that would limit the work hours of resident physicians. In response to the request, the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health, Dr. David Michaels, today issued the following statement:

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of Dusti Gurule as her regional representative in Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. Gurule is based in Denver, Colo.

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis today announced the appointment of Robert Asaro-Angelo as her representative in the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and West Virginia as well as the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Asaro-Angelo will be based in New York City.