Right to Receive Health & Safety Training

Miners have a right to undergo health and safety training specific to their mines. Independent contractors and their employees working on-site also have a right to receive training.

Under 30 CFR 48, miners are entitled to training during normal work hours at their regular rate of pay. If the training is held off-site, miners are entitled to compensation for travel costs.

MSHA requires all miners to be properly trained in matters of health and safety before starting work at a mine. However, if a miner is laid off from work and his or her training expires, the operator is not required to pay for the miner's training prior to the miner returning to work.

It is a miner's right to refrain from entering a mine site due to lack of proper training. Miners may not be discriminated against, fired, or suffer a loss of pay if they withdraw themselves or are withdrawn by an MSHA inspector. From the time miners are withdrawn until they receive proper training, they are required to be paid at their regular rate.

To learn more about MSHA Part 48 training requirements visit our MSHA Part 48 Subpart B Surface Mining Online Training web page.