Essential Minerals Association Renews Federal Safety Alliance with MSHA at Annual Conference

May 21, 2014, STEVENSON, Wash. — The Essential Minerals Association (EMA) formally renewed its long-standing Alliance with the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), reaffirming a cooperative commitment to improving worker health and safety across the industrial minerals sector. The signing took place during EMA's Annual Conference in Stevenson, Washington, with Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health Wayne D. Palmer and EMA President Chris Greissing signing on behalf of their respective organizations.

First established in 2003 and renewed in 2004 and 2023, the Alliance provides miners and employees throughout the industrial minerals sector with access to information, educational resources, and technical guidance designed to protect worker health and safety. The renewed agreement will remain in effect for three years and establishes joint goals for education and training as well as outreach and communications.

Under the agreement, MSHA and EMA will work together to analyze injury, illness, and citation data to develop training and education tools; conduct annual analyses of incidence rates across U.S. industrial mineral mines and processing facilities; and develop best practices for operator and contractor safety at mines and processing facilities. The Alliance specifically focuses on preventing powered haulage accidents and controlling industrial minerals employees' exposure to mine dusts.

"The minerals industry has a proud tradition of looking out for the people who work every day to produce the minerals that are essential to our daily lives," said Chris Greissing, EMA president. "Renewing our Alliance with MSHA is a reaffirmation of that commitment. When industry and government work together on worker safety — sharing data, developing training tools, and talking openly about what works — the results speak for themselves. EMA is proud to continue this partnership and to make sure our members have every resource they need to bring their workforce home safe.”

Representatives from both organizations will meet at least twice annually to refine an action plan, define roles and responsibilities, and track progress toward Alliance goals. MSHA and EMA will also collaborate on outreach through conferences, publications, and electronic media.

The Essential Minerals Association (EMA) is a trade association representing industrial mineral producers in New York State and North America. EMA's membership includes producers of salt, anthracite, talc, bentonite, calcium carbonate, kaolin, silica, soda ash, zinc, and other critical minerals, as well as equipment manufacturers, transportation companies, and exploration-stage companies. For more information, visit essentialminerals.org.