Search Results for agency_names:"Labor Department"

The Department of Labor's Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is requesting approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an information collection about the certification and qualification for individuals to perform specific duties in coal mining, like operating hoists and testing for dangerous conditions. This request is in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, and public comments on the collection are encouraged until February 16, 2021. The MSHA aims to ensure that only qualified individuals perform these critical safety tasks by using a standardized form to assess candidates' qualifications. The collection is estimated to involve 674 respondents, with a total annual burden of 330 hours.

Rockwell Mining, LLC has submitted a petition to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) to modify an existing safety standard for their Coal Branch No. 1 Mine in West Virginia. The company wants permission to use specific Powered Air Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) underground, which are not MSHA-approved but considered intrinsically safe by the company. These respirators, made by 3M and CleanSpace, offer constant airflow and protection, especially benefiting miners with facial hair or those who struggle with tight-fitting masks. The petition outlines detailed training, examination, and maintenance requirements to ensure the equipment is used safely.

ACNR Holdings, Inc. has submitted a petition to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requesting a change to existing safety standards for mining equipment. They want to use a new type of air-purifying respirator, the 3M Versaflo TR-800, in their mines to protect workers from dust. The request is specific to certain mines in West Virginia and suggests that the new respirator meets necessary safety requirements for areas with potential methane gas. Miners will be trained to use and maintain the equipment safely.

Rockwell Mining, LLC has submitted a petition to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) requesting a change to existing safety rules at its Coal Branch No. 1 Mine in West Virginia. The company wants permission to use certain powered air-purifying respirators (PAPRs), which are not MSHA-approved, in various parts of the mine. They argue that these devices provide a safe and comfortable alternative for respiratory protection, especially for miners who struggle with existing equipment due to facial hair or inability to fit-test. The petition outlines training and inspection protocols to ensure safety and seeks to expand respirator options for miners under new regulations concerning silica exposure.

The Employment and Training Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Labor, has announced a new schedule for calculating Federal military wages for unemployment claims under the UCX program. This schedule will be used by states to determine military wages for first-time unemployment claims starting January 1, 2025. If there is no Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD214) on file, states will rely on this schedule for processing these claims. The schedule must be used for claims filed on or after the specified date, while previous schedules apply to claims filed before then.

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration is asking for public comments on a proposed extension of the "Unemployment Compensation for Ex-Servicemembers, Handbook No. 384." The goal is to collect necessary data from State Workforce Agencies to assess the eligibility of ex-servicemembers for unemployment benefits. This process is part of efforts to reduce the paperwork burden. The public can submit comments until May 12, 2025, and these comments will be made publicly available online.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration granted an exemption allowing the Associated General Contractors of America, San Diego Chapter, Inc. to lease its training facility to its Apprenticeship and Training Fund under specific conditions. The agreement ensures the Plan pays fair market rent, verified by an independent fiduciary, and that the lease benefits participants by providing effective training facilities. The fiduciary also monitors compliance with the lease terms and any rent increases must adhere to changes in the Consumer Price Index. This exemption is designed to avoid conflicts with ERISA's prohibited transaction rules.

Consol Pennsylvania Coal Company, LLC submitted a petition to the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) seeking permission to use certain battery-powered vibration analyzers and data collectors at the Enlow Fork Mine in Pennsylvania. These devices, the SCOUT100EX, SCOUT140EX, and vb7 models, are intended to replace a discontinued model and help prevent equipment failures in hazardous areas within the mine. Consol argues that these devices provide an equivalent level of safety as required by current standards, even though they are not MSHA-approved. The alternative method proposed by Consol is to ensure miners' safety while using these devices under specific conditions, including regular inspections and training.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) received a petition from Rockwell Mining, LLC, seeking to modify an existing safety standard at the Flying Eagle Mine in West Virginia. The company wants approval to use specific powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs) that are not MSHA-approved but are deemed intrinsically safe. They argue that these PAPRs provide better comfort and protection in hot conditions, especially for miners with facial hair. The company has outlined a detailed training and inspection plan to ensure these PAPRs are used safely.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) has received a petition from Wolf Run Mining, LLC to modify a safety standard for their coal mine, the Leer South Mine. The company wants to use new respirators, the 3M Versaflo TR-800 and CleanSpace EX, which provide better protection from dust but are not currently approved by MSHA. Wolf Run Mining argues that these new respirators are safer and that using the old standard diminishes safety. The petition details how they plan to ensure safety and training for the use of these new devices, even though they are not MSHA-approved. They assure that their plan will offer the same level of protection required by the existing safety standards.