MSHA Certification & Training Part 46

Working in a mine, you face numerous health hazards, such as explosions, cave-ins, dust, chemicals, electricity, and so on. Fortunately, mines have become much safer with the introduction of legislation and advances in safety equipment.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) creates regulations and provides support to ensure that anyone who works at a mine is protected from death, illness, and injury. This includes mandatory miner safety training, which falls under 30 CFR: Part 46 and Part 48. 

OSHAcampus® has all the online safety training courses you need to meet your compliance requirements and get to work fast!

According to federal law, all miners must receive basic and annual refresher training. In addition to training, all mine operators must maintain an effective training plan. MSHA provides information, guidance, and hands-on support to miners and operators in order to help them satisfy their training requirements and more.

The type of mine you work at determines which training you are required to complete.

MSHA Part 46

MSHA Part 46 applies to very specific surface mines, such as sand, gravel, surface stone, surface clay, surface limestone, colloidal phosphate, or shell dredging operations.

MSHA Part 48

On the other hand, MSHA Part 48 covers all underground mines, surface coal mines, and some surface/non-metal mines.

It’s fair to say that MSHA is stricter than OSHA in a few ways. MSHA’s standards are more detailed and specific; OSHA’s standards leave more room for interpretation, since they need to be applied to a wide range of industries and environments.

It’s fair to say that MSHA is stricter than OSHA in a few ways. MSHA’s standards are more detailed and specific; OSHA’s standards leave more room for interpretation, since they need to be applied to a wide range of industries and environments.

Secondly, while MSHA and OSHA’s penalty structures and procedures are different, MSHA’s penalties for similar offenses may be higher than OSHA’s, and the greater inspection frequency makes it more likely that violations will be found.

MSHA also has a tighter leash for accident reporting – they require twelve specific types of accidents to be reported within fifteen minutes, while OSHA has a narrower reporting list including death within eight hours or certain injuries within a day.

To get MSHA training, you must complete a training program that complies with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requirements. First, you’ll need to determine which MSHA training program is required for your specific job. MSHA offers two types of training: MSHA Part 46 for surface miners and Part 48 for underground miners.

You can obtain MSHA training through an approved training provider, such as an online training platform or an in-person class. Training must cover specific topics such as miner rights, accident prevention, emergency procedures, and equipment safety.

Depending on your role and location, you might need new miner training (24 hours for Part 46 and 40 hours for Part 48) or refresher training (8 hours annually). After finishing the program, you'll receive a certification that you can present to your employer as proof of successful completion.

Absolutely, MSHA training can be completed entirely online. OSHAcampus online MSHA training courses can be taken from the convenience of your home. Not only do our training classes allow you to fulfill MSHA requirements at home, but they are also self-paced and can be completed whenever you wish within a year of your purchase.

MSHA Part 46 states that surface miner safety training should be made available to multiple types of workers. This includes rank and file miners and supervisors, as well as contractors and construction workers. Even if you are not directly involved in mining operations, but you work at a mine, you are entitled to receive site-specific miner safety training.

There are also different surface miner training requirements based on your experience level:

• New miner training - Part 46.5
• Newly hired experienced miner training - Part 46.6
• New task training - Part 46.7
• Annual refresher training - Part 46.8
• Site-specific hazard training - Part 46.11
• Responsibility for independent contractor training - MSHA Part 46.12

The number of hours you need is also based on the surface miner training you require. For instance, all new miners are required to complete 24 hours of training while every miner must complete 8 hours of annual refresher training every year.

Once you finish your Part 46 course, you’ll receive a certificate stating that you’ve completed miner safetytraining. You can give this to your employer as a record of your training.

While length of training will depend on the service that you use, 360Training offers both MSHA New Miner Training and MSHA Annual Refresher Training for only eight hours.

The MSHA New Miner Training course equips new miners with necessary knowledge about surface mines, site rules, emergency procedures, and mandatory health and safety standards. MSHA Annual Refresher Training provides regular updates on mine changes that may impact health and safety.

How Long is MSHA Training Good For?

Each miner must receive at least 8 hours of annual refresher training every 12 months. Changes at the mine that could endanger the miner's health or safety must be covered in the training.

Each miner must receive at least 8 hours of annual refresher training every 12 months. Changes at the mine that could endanger the miner's health or safety must be covered in the training.

The cost of MSHA certification varies depending on the training provider and the type of training you require. Generally, prices for online MSHA new miner training can range from $150 to $500, while refresher training typically costs between $100 and $150.

However, in-person training costs may be higher than MSHA training online due to additional expenses like instructor fees and travel. It's important to check with different training providers for the most accurate pricing.

Absolutely. 360training's MSHA courses are designed to comply with MSHA Part 46 regulations, which pertain to surface mining operations. Our training programs are developed by industry experts to ensure they meet federal standards and provide comprehensive safety education. Upon successful completion of our courses, learners receive a certificate that demonstrates their compliance with MSHA training requirements.​ 

It's important to note that while online training is acceptable for MSHA Part 46, MSHA Part 48 (which covers underground mining) requires in-person training by an MSHA-approved instructor.

All miner training must be documented on MSHA Form 5000-23 (or an approved alternative), with a copy of the certificate delivered to the miner upon completion or request. MSHA does not keep duplicates of these records. Copies of training certificates must be kept on file by the operator while employed and for 60 days after it is terminated.

MSHA certification is essential for individuals working in or around mining operations to ensure compliance with federal safety regulations. In California, for example, job postings for positions like Regional Safety Manager, Safety Manager, and Asphalt Plant Operator often list MSHA certification as a requirement.​

• Additional jobs that typically require MSHA certification include:
• Surface miners who extract minerals from surface mines such as sand, gravel, stone, clay, and limestone. 
• Underground miners operating in underground mining environments.
• Mine safety inspectors responsible for inspecting mining sites to ensure safety standards are met.
• Heavy equipment operators of machinery used in mining operations.
• Maintenance and repair technicians maintaining and repairing mining equipment. 
• Contractors and subcontractors providing services on mine sites.

Who Needs MSHA Training?

According to federal law, all miners must receive basic and annual refresher training. In addition to training, all mine operators must maintain an effective training plan. MSHA provides information, guidance, and hands-on support to miners and operators in order to help them satisfy their training requirements and more.