ventilation or impedes passage; A coal or rock outburst that causes withdrawal of miners or which disrupts regular mining activity for more than one hour; An unstable condition at an impoundment, refuse pile, or culm bank which requires emergency action in order to prevent failure, or which causes individuals to evacuate an area; or, failure of an impoundment, refuse pile or culm bank; Damage to hoisting equipment in a shaft or slope which endangers an individual or which interferes with use of the equipment for more than thirty minutes; and An event at a mine which causes death or bodily injury to an individual not at the mine at the time the event occurs. Statistical analyses performed by MSHA show that between 1990 and 2004, the industry cut the rate of injuries (a measure comparing the rate of incidents to overall number of employees or hours worked) by more than half and fatalities by two-thirds following three prior decades of steady improvement. MSHA inspections MSHA employs nearly one safety inspector for every four coal mines. Underground coal mines are thoroughly inspected at least four times annually by MSHA inspectors. In addition, miners can report violations, and request additional inspections. Miners with such concerns for their work safety cannot be penalized with any threat to the loss of employment. Additionally, the Mine Safety and Health Act authorizes the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop recommendations for mine health standards for the Mine Safety and Health Administration; administer a medical surveillance program for miners, including chest X-rays to detect pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) in coal miners; conduct on-site investigations in mines; and test and certify personal protective equipment and hazard-measurement instruments. See also Title 30 of the Code of Federal Regulations :Category:Mining disasters in the United States American Mining Congress v. Mine Safety & Health Administration Through-the-earth mine communications Mining in the United States References External links Mine Safety and Health Administration Mine Safety and Health Administration in the Federal Register Mining Division National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health National Mining Association Emergency Communication System use at Willow Creek Mine Fire - MSHA Report MSHA Best Practices Fire Protection - Communications Miners Give a Nod to Nodes Reprint from Mission Critical Magazine on successful mine safety deployment Wireless Mesh