Mine Safety and Health Administration

What Mine Safety and Health Administration does

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is a U.S. federal regulatory agency operating under the U.S. Department of Labor, established by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 and operational since 1978. MSHA's mandate is to enforce safety and health standards at all mines in the United States — including coal, metal/nonmetal operations, independent contractors, and sites in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and select Pacific territories — regardless of mine size, commodity, or extraction method. The agency is led by the Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health and reaches mine operators and miners through inspections, civil penalty assessments under 30 CFR Part 100, compliance assistance (notably the CASH program), training delivered via the National Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beaver, West Virginia, and grant programs including the State Grants Program (49 states plus the Navajo Nation) and Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants.

MSHA's core technology footprint centers on operational safety systems and regulatory data infrastructure. The Mine Emergency Unit deploys an Underground Communications and Mine Tracking System plus Mine Rescue Robots for emergency response. The Approval and Certification Center (A&CC) tests and certifies mining equipment for use in underground coal and gassy underground metal mines. The Mine Data Retrieval System (MDRS), built on the MicroStrategy business intelligence platform, provides mine-by-mine data on inspections, violations, accidents, and employment; adjacent compliance tools include the Electronic Training Plan Advisor (eTPA), Significant and Substantial (S&S) Rate Calculator, Pattern of Violations (POV) Monitoring Tool, and the MSHA Health Resource Locator Tool connecting miners to NIOSH B-Readers, Black Lung Clinics, and related services. Online filing of mine/contractor IDs, accident reports (Form 7000-1), training plans, and equipment inventories is handled through the MSHA EGov portal with Login.gov identity verification.

MSHA does not operate a commercial revenue model. It is funded through U.S. federal appropriations and assesses civil penalties for safety and health violations, but these are regulatory rather than commercial income streams. Customer-facing "segments" consist of regulated entities — mine owners and operators, miners, independent contractors, and state mining agencies — that must comply with federal standards rather than purchase services. Marketing and distribution channels include the agency's website, GovDelivery email subscriptions, social media (Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn), training videos, mine rescue contests, and a network of district and field offices providing in-person enforcement and compliance assistance.

Name

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Legal name

Mine Safety and Health Administration

Website

https://msha.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is a U.S. federal regulatory agency under the Department of Labor that enforces mine safety and health standards at all mines across the United States, serving mine operators, miners, independent contractors, and state mining agencies through inspections, civil penalties, training, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Mining Safety Regulation

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Occupational Health & Safety (EHS) Programs & Training (OSHA-style) (EDAEAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Environmental & Permitting Services for Mine Projects (EIA/ESIA, Approvals, Compliance) (IMAKAOAM)

Keywords

• Mine safety regulation
• Occupational health enforcement
• Federal compliance inspections
• Mining industry training
• Workplace safety standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Funding: MSHA is funded through the U.S. federal budget as part of the Department of Labor. The agency does not generate commercial revenue but collects civil penalties for violations of mine safety regulations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MSHA enforces federal mine safety and health regulations under the Mine Act of 1977 and MINER Act of 2006, conducting inspections, assessing civil penalties, and providing compliance assistance to mine operators. The agency delivers training through the National Mine Health and Safety Academy, operates online filing systems for regulatory reporting, runs the Mine Data Retrieval System (MDRS) for public access to mine safety data, and deploys emergency response technologies including mine rescue robots and underground communications systems. It also administers the Brookwood-Sago and State Grants programs to fund miner safety training and education.

Product overview

MSHA provides a comprehensive suite of regulatory compliance, safety monitoring, and training products. The core offerings include the Mine Data Retrieval System (MDRS) for accessing mine safety data, the Health Resource Locator Tool connecting miners with healthcare services, and various online filing systems (Hazardous Condition Complaint, Training Plan Advisor, Forms & Online Filing, Dust Data Cards, Diesel Inventory Management, SCSR Reporting). The CASH Program offers proactive compliance assistance, while the Underground Communications System and Mine Rescue Robots support emergency operations. Training is delivered through the National Mine Health and Safety Academy, Mine Rescue Instruction Guides, and grant programs (Brookwood-Sago and State Grants). The Approval and Certification Center evaluates mining equipment for regulatory compliance. MSHA also provides compliance calculators (S&S Rate Calculator, POV Monitoring Tool) and the MSHA Information Hub for centralized resource access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mine Data Retrieval System (MDRS) Interactive tool that gathers current and historical data from MSHA databases, providing mine-by-mine data for all coal and metal/nonmetal mines and contractors in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
• MSHA Health Resource Locator Tool Tool that connects miners with essential healthcare services including NIOSH Certified B-Readers, Black Lung Clinics, Audiologists, VA Healthcare Facilities, Buprenorphine providers, Drug and Alcohol Facilities, Federally Qualified Health Centers, and Mental Health Facilities.
• Hazardous Condition Complaint System Online system allowing miners, representatives of miners, or members of the public to report hazardous conditions at mines anonymously. Staffed 24/7 at 1-800-746-1553.
• Electronic Training Plan Advisor (eTPA) Voluntary online tool that provides guidance in developing federally required training plans for Part 46 and Part 48 mines, and allows plans to be submitted electronically.
• MSHA Forms and Online Filing System Web-based system for submitting official MSHA forms including Mine Accident Reports (7000-1), Quarterly Employment Reports (7000-2), Contractor ID Requests, Mine ID Requests, Legal Identification Reports, and training certifications.
• National Mine Health and Safety Academy Training facility in Beaver, West Virginia offering in-person and online mine safety and health courses, with most courses available at the Academy or at worksites upon request.
• Compliance Assistance Safety and Health (CASH) Program Proactive compliance assistance program focused on helping new mine operators, inexperienced miners, and recently hired miners with safety and health compliance.
• Approval and Certification Center (A&CC) Technical center evaluating and testing mining equipment, instruments, and materials for compliance with federal regulations, issuing licenses for products used in underground coal and gassy underground metal mines.
• Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants Program Competitive grant program established by the MINER Act providing funding for education and training programs to better identify, avoid, and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around mines.
• State Grants Program Program distributing federal grants to 49 states and the Navajo Nation to support health and safety training courses and programs designed to reduce mining accidents, injuries, and illnesses.
• CPDM Sample File Transmission System System for uploading, reviewing, and correcting Continuous Personal Dust Monitor (CPDM) sample files.
• Report Commencement/Closure of Operations System Online system for reporting commencement or closure of mining operations, required under 30 CFR §56.1000.
• Pattern of Violations (POV) Monitoring Tool Monthly monitoring tool for Pattern of Violations, helping identify mine operators with recurring patterns of Significant and Substantial violations.
• Significant and Substantial (S&S) Rate Calculator Compliance tool showing the rate of S&S citations and orders per 100 inspection hours, helping monitor mine compliance with critical health and safety standards.
• Safety Program for Surface Mobile Equipment Final Rule Federal mine safety regulation establishing safety requirements for surface mobile equipment in mining operations.
• Respirable Crystalline Silica Final Rule Federal mine safety regulation lowering miners' exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mining fatalities reduced from 242 in 1978 to 34 in 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Essential Minerals AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026The U.S. Department of Labor renewed its alliance with the Essential Minerals Association to promote miner education and training. This partnership is part of MSHA's Alliance Program for outreach efforts.
• National Lime AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026The U.S. Department of Labor renewed its alliance with the National Lime Association to promote training and accident prevention in lime plants and quarries.
• Metallurgical Coal Producers AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 June 2026The U.S. Department of Labor established a new alliance with the Metallurgical Coal Producers Association to build a culture of safety across the coal sector.
• State Mining AgenciescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSHA's State Grants Program distributes federal grants to 49 States and the Navajo Nation. Grants are made to state agency programs responsible for miners' health and safety. Most grant funds support health and safety training courses and programs designed to reduce mining accidents, injuries, and illnesses.
• Brookwood-Sago Grant RecipientsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetitive grant program established by the MINER Act of 2006, providing funding for education and training programs to better identify, avoid, and prevent unsafe working conditions. Recipients include universities such as University of Arizona, Penn State, West Virginia University, and various technical colleges.
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSHA works with NIOSH on mining safety research, training materials, statistics, and health initiatives including the NIOSH Certified B-Readers program and Black Lung Clinics.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): OSHA is the closest federal counterpart to MSHA, enforcing workplace safety and health standards under the U.S. Department of Labor. The two agencies share parent, regulatory philosophy, inspection model, and penalty regime, but cover different industry universes (general industry vs. mining).
• Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE): BSEE regulates safety and environmental performance of offshore oil and gas operations on the U.S. outer continental shelf — a sector-specific federal safety regulator analogous in structure and mission to MSHA's land-mining mandate.
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): NIOSH is MSHA's primary research and training partner under the Mine Act framework, conducting mining safety research and operating programs such as the Certified B-Readers program and Black Lung Clinics. It is the natural peer agency on the research/standards side of mine occupational health.
• Health and Safety Executive (HSE) — UK: The UK HSE regulates workplace health and safety including mines and quarries, operating a similar inspection-and-enforcement model to MSHA. It is a strong international peer for benchmarking regulatory effectiveness and approach to hazard-specific rulemaking.
• WorkSafe (New Zealand): WorkSafe NZ is the national workplace safety regulator covering New Zealand's extractives industry including mining, with an enforcement-and-training model analogous to MSHA. It is a direct international peer operating under a comparable statutory mandate.
• Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission: FMSHRC is the independent federal quasi-judicial body that adjudicates MSHA enforcement actions and citation contests. It is a direct institutional peer, sitting in the same mine-safety regulatory ecosystem and shaping the practical impact of MSHA's enforcement decisions.

Others

• Mine Safety Technology Centre — CSIRO (Australia): CSIRO's Mining Safety Technology Centre conducts research on mine emergency response, monitoring, and rescue robotics — areas adjacent to MSHA's Underground Communications and Mine Tracking System and Mine Rescue Robots. It is an enabling research peer rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA is the broader federal environmental and health regulator whose scope overlaps MSHA's mandate on air quality (silica, dust), water contamination from mining operations, and remediation. It is comparable as a federal enforcement agency but covers mining as part of a much wider portfolio.

Regional players

• Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) — Western Australia: DMIRS is Western Australia's state-level mining safety and health regulator, one of the most active mining-safety regulators globally given WA's dominant resources sector. It is a regional peer operating under a similar statutory enforcement model but with state-level jurisdiction.
• Mine Safety and Health Administration — State Programs: State mining safety agencies in 49 states and the Navajo Nation receive MSHA State Grants and deliver complementary training and enforcement. They are direct functional peers at sub-federal jurisdiction, sharing MSHA's mission but without independent federal rulemaking authority.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MSHA_DOL
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/USDepartmentofLabor
• Facebookfacebook.com/MineSafetyAndHealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mine-safety-and-health-administration
• Instagraminstagram.com/USDOL

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mine Safety and Health Administration