Safety Topics Every Miner Should Know

Mining is one of the most essential—and potentially hazardous—industries in the world. Whether you’re operating a small sand and gravel pit or a large surface stone quarry, safety training is what keeps every miner aware, alert, and protected. Under the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), the Part 46 training standard defines how miners should be trained, what topics must be covered, and how training should be documented.

Understanding these Part 46 safety topics isn’t just a compliance requirement—it’s a life-saving foundation. Here are 10 essential topics your annual refresher should include:

• Recent accident trends and case studies – learning from real incidents.
• Changes in mining conditions or equipment.-such as mining lamps.
• Emergency evacuation drills and fire prevention.
• PPE updates and best practices.
• Ground control and slope stability review.
• Electrical and machinery safety.
• Workplace examinations and recordkeeping.
• Environmental and health hazards such as dust and noise exposure.
• Traffic control and mobile equipment awareness.
• Review of site-specific training plan changes.

By incorporating these core Part 46 refresher topics, you not only meet MSHA’s training requirement—you reinforce safety habits that protect lives.