MSHA Part 48 Online Training: What Is It?

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is a division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The mission of this agency is to establish safety protocols that can prevent U.S. miners from experiencing death, injury, or illness on the job.

If you work in this industry, you may need to complete certain MSHA training courses to ensure you're up-to-date and compliant with these standards. MSHA Part 48 is one of those courses. Designed to educate underground miners, it's an essential safety curriculum that all miners must complete before beginning work.

Today, miners can access MSHA Part 48 online training to fulfill this requirement. Whether you're new to this space or have worked in it for years, this is a valuable resource to use. Today, we're sharing how the course works and what you can expect.

Why Do Miners Need MSHA Part 48 Online Training?

Underground mining can be a rewarding and enjoyable career, but it isn't without serious risks and hazards. Working under the ground places miners in a vulnerable position, where they could be exposed to many issues, including:

• Floods
• Fires
• Collapses
• Explosions
• Toxic contaminants

While these risks were once more prevalent, they have lessened in recent years as a result of advancements in miner training and technology. Still, while injuries and deaths are less likely, they can still occur if workers aren't aware of the hazards around them.

The MSHA Part 48 Training Courses help them identify and mitigate those vulnerabilities. They also inform them of their rights in the field, as well as critical safety considerations to keep in mind as they work.

Is It Required?

Yes. According to MSHA standards, Part 48 training is required for anyone working on most types of mines, including:

• Underground mines
• Surface coal mines
• Some non-metal mines

While it's a key component of new miner training, the material is also relevant and helpful for experienced workers, too.

All miners must complete this course before entering any mine site or accepting any job assignments. In addition to their initial training, they must also take a mining refresher course each year.

While there are programs that offer this training in person, online education makes it possible to complete all of the required course materials in a virtual format. This way, miners can complete the work at their own pace and on their own time.

Creating Your Training Plan

To demonstrate compliance with MSHA's testing requirements, mine operators must create and submit a Part 48 training plan for approval before beginning any mining operations. This mandate is in accordance with Section 115 of the Federal Mine and Safety and Health Act of 1997 (Mine Act).

Under the Mine Act, operators must create and complete a health and safety training plan for all miners under their care. The final version of the plan must be compliant with 30 CFR 48 (Code of Federal Regulations). To assist with this step, MSHA has provided minimum requirements that the agency will look for when assessing each plan.

To meet approval, your MSHA Part 48 Training Plan must include the following elements:

• Site-specific information
• A plan for training new miners
• A plan for training newly hired, experienced miners
• A plan for providing annual refresher training
• A plan for training on new tasks
• A plan for hazard training

If you need assistance creating an MSHA-approved Part 48 Training Plan, we can help. Our online training certification course: Making a MSHA Part 48 Training Plan will walk you through all of the steps. The course is broken into two parts, including:

• Subpart A: Training requirements for underground miners
• Subpart B: Training requirements for surface mining and miners at the surface of an underground mine

Note that in addition to MSHA Part 48 training, all mine operators must also deliver task-specific and site-specific training for their employees. This ensures they know exactly what to do when they arrive on-site and reduces their risk of injury.

This training should be offered to anyone who will be working at the mine site, and not just miners. Examples of other roles that can benefit from this information include:

• Delivery workers
• Office staff members
• Customers and visitors
• Maintenance personnel
• Independent contractors

Other Training Topics Covered

As you create your MSHA 48 Training Plan, there are other topics that you can include and cover within the material. Your miners (both new and experienced) can obtain special certifications in each topic, expanding their expertise, safety credentials, and industry knowledge. In all, new miners must have a minimum of 40 hours of training before beginning work, and newly hired, experienced miners must complete eight hours.

Some of the available topics include:

• Miner rights and responsibilities
• Underground mining hazards
• Workplace First-Aid
• Underground mining emergency procedures
• Mining electrical safety
• Underground mining personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Underground mining powered haulage safety
• Underground mining confined spaces

At Compliance Training Online, we offer individual courses in all required MSHA 48 Training topics. You may use any of our courses as part of your official Part 48 Training Plan.

Each mine operator is responsible for providing their employees with MSHA Form 5000-23 upon completion of the program. This form is required under 30 CFR 48 and demonstrates that the miner has completed all requisite safety training, as well as site-specific hazard training.

Course Timelines

Our online courses will each have their own associated timeline. For instance, the Workplace First-Aid Course will take a minimum of two hours to complete.

With all of our courses, you're free to log on and off as needed. There are no restrictions on how long it takes you to complete your course.

Enroll in MSHA Part 48 Online Training Today

If you manage operations at a mine, you must ensure that all employees and staff members have access to MSHA Part 48 online training. The material covered in each topic can keep your workers safe and reduce the risk of on-site accidents.

Are you ready to purchase these courses for yourself or your team? If so, we make it easy to get started. As you explore our course offerings, simply select the number of students you want to enroll and pay online.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact our team!