Safety Agency Not Prepared for Major Mine Disaster, Report Finds

The federal agency charged with overseeing mine safety may be unprepared to respond to a large disaster, according to an internal watchdog report.

The Department of Labor’s Office of the Inspector General found lapses across critical areas of the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s emergency response plans, including inconsistent guidance, insufficient staff training, and gaps in equipment readiness.

The findings from the review, which took place from 2018 to 2023, raise concerns that MSHA could struggle to respond effectively to one large or multiple simultaneous mine emergencies, potentially delaying life-saving actions in high-risks situations.

Bloomberg Law first reported last November ...