MSHA Training FAQs

MSHA stands for the Mine Safety and Health Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Labor responsible for administering and enforcing federal mine safety and health laws.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is the federal agency responsible for helping protect the safety and health of miners in the United States. MSHA operates under the U.S. Department of Labor and administers and enforces the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, as amended.

MSHA's responsibilities include developing and enforcing mandatory safety and health standards, inspecting mines, investigating certain accidents and complaints, and supporting education and training. Mine operators also have responsibilities under federal mine safety and health laws, including applicable miner training and recordkeeping requirements.

Learn more about MSHA regulations and standards and how they apply to mine safety and health.

MSHA was established under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977, commonly called the Mine Act. The law was enacted on November 9, 1977, and MSHA began operating under the new law in 1978.

Federal mine safety regulation existed before MSHA, but the 1977 Mine Act strengthened and consolidated federal mine safety and health enforcement. The law has since been amended, including by the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006

For additional background, see this history of MSHA.

MSHA training requirements vary depending on the type of mining operation, a miner's experience and job duties, and the regulations that apply. Two key sets of federal training regulations are 30 CFR Part 46 and Part 48.

Mine operators and independent contractors should determine which requirements apply to their operations and workers, including any new miner, experienced miner, task, hazard awareness, or annual refresher training that may be required.

Read more about what MSHA training is and how federal mine safety training requirements work.

MSHA Part 46 and Part 48 apply to different mining operations and establish different training requirements. Determining which part applies depends on factors such as the type of mine and operation.

See our guide to MSHA Part 46 vs. Part 48 for a more detailed comparison.

Part 46 establishes training and retraining requirements for miners working at certain surface mining operations, including shell dredging, sand, gravel, surface stone, surface clay, colloidal phosphate, and surface limestone mines.

The regulation covers areas such as new miner training, newly hired experienced miner training, new task training, annual refresher training, and site-specific hazard awareness training.

Learn more about MSHA Part 46 requirements, including training plans and different types of required training.

Applicable MSHA training must be properly documented. The specific recordkeeping requirements depend on the regulation and type of training involved.

MSHA Form 5000-23, Certificate of Training, is used to document training under Part 48. Under Part 46, operators and independent contractors may use Form 5000-23 or another training record that contains the information required by 30 CFR § 46.9. If Form 5000-23 is used for Part 46 training, additional information required by Part 46 must be included.

Part 46 training records generally identify the person trained, type and duration of training, date of training, competent person who provided the training, mine or independent contractor information, and training location. Part 46 also establishes requirements for when these records must be certified and who is responsible for certification.

The cost of MSHA training varies based on the applicable training requirements, type and amount of training needed, training provider, and delivery method.

Costs can also depend on whether additional mine-specific, task-specific, hazard awareness, or other training is necessary. An online course may provide part of an applicable training program, but purchasing or completing a single course does not necessarily satisfy every MSHA training requirement for a particular miner, contractor, or mining operation.

Mine operators and contractors that violate applicable MSHA requirements may be subject to civil penalties. The amount of a penalty depends on the circumstances of the violation and the applicable penalty provision.

Under the Mine Act and 30 CFR Part 100, factors considered in civil penalty assessments include the operator's history of previous violations, size of the business, negligence, gravity of the violation, good-faith efforts to achieve rapid compliance after notification of a violation, and the effect of the penalty on the operator's ability to continue in business.

Certain violations may be subject to special assessment procedures or other enforcement action. Because civil penalty amounts and requirements can change, mine operators and contractors should consult current MSHA guidance and 30 CFR Part 100 for applicable penalty information.

MSHA hires mine safety and health inspectors through the U.S. Department of Labor. Inspector positions have specific experience and qualification requirements that can vary by position and specialty.

Candidates may need relevant mining experience and may be required to complete assessments or other steps as part of the federal hiring process. Requirements for electrical, coal, metal/nonmetal, or other inspector positions may differ.

If you're interested in becoming an MSHA inspector, review MSHA's current Mine Inspector Hiring Program and federal job announcements for current qualifications, openings, and application requirements.

360training offers online MSHA training courses covering Part 46 and Part 48 topics.

The training you need depends on factors such as the type of mine, applicable regulation, experience, job duties, and training already completed. Mine operators and contractors are responsible for determining and meeting the MSHA requirements that apply to their operations and workers.