Category: Industry News

Get Involved With NSSGA’s Young Leaders

The NSSGA Young Leaders Steering Committee is seeking applicants by May 31 for several vacancies for the 2018-2019 committee term. “Serving on the Young Leaders Steering Committee is a great opportunity for individuals to help advance the group’s mission, grow their own leadership skills and give back to the industry,” said Aaron Ozinga, Young Leaders…

Dodge Machinery Injuries

Using the best practices in this safety alert can help reduce injuries related to using machinery. These types of injuries were the third most-common ones in the aggregates industry according to the most recent data. The NSSGA-MSHA Alliance has produced several of these alerts available for free to anyone in the industry.   To download…

Tell Congress It’s Time to Build

The sixth annual National Infrastructure Week is a time for events, media coverage, education and issue advocacy to elevate infrastructure as a critical issue impacting America’s economy, society, security and future. The week, May 14-21, is the perfect time for the aggregates industry to ask Congress to fund improvements to our surface transportation network, ports,…

House Approves FAA Bill

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bipartisan, five-year Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization today by a vote of 393 to 13. H.R. 4 includes an additional $5.3 billion in Airport Improvement Program funding to bring spending on airport runways, taxiways, aprons and roads to $25.4 billion through fiscal year 2023. Next, the Senate must bring…

Improve Safety Around Powered Haulage

The best practices in this safety alert can help reduce injuries related to using and working around powered haulage equipment. These types of injuries were the fourth most-common ones in the aggregates industry according to the most recent data. The NSSGA-MSHA Alliance has produced several of these alerts available for free to anyone in the…

NSSGA Says Consistency is Key on Regulations and Funding

Bill Schmitz of Gernatt Gravel Products, Inc. in Collins, N.Y., told the House Small Business Committee consistency and clarity should be a priority in federal decision-making. He also emphasized the importance of regulatory reform and a strong federal investment in efforts to fix the nation’s crumbling infrastructure. “When Congress delays the enactment of a highway…

MSHA Adding Time to Comply with Exams Rule

MSHA told NSSGA that the agency will not issue citations related to the new Workplace Exams Rule until Oct. 1, 2018. This move will give operators time to understand the rule and the agency time to provide additional compliance assistance. However, the agency may issue citations in the case of extremely dangerous hazards. MSHA published a final rule…

NSSGA Podcast: Omnibus Bill and MSHA’s Small Mines Office

Where did MSHA’s Office of Small Mines go? Established in 2003, the office offered compliance assistance to operators – particularly small quarries – prior to inspections. The office, which was independent of the inspectorate, was folded into the agency’s field services arm in recent years and is hard to find now. “All it tried to do … was…

Focus on Tool Safety

Using the best practices in this safety alert can help reduce injuries related to hand tools. These types of injuries were the second most-common ones in the aggregates industry according to the most recent data. The NSSGA-MSHA Alliance has produced several of these alerts available for free to anyone in the industry.   To download…

MSHA Finalizes Workplace Exams Rule

MSHA published a final 2018 Workplace Examinations Rule today, April 9, 2018. NSSGA’s preliminary analysis is that the final rule, which goes into effect on June 2, codifies the relatively positive changes proposed in September 2017. The rule broadens the time in which a competent person could conduct workplace exams from just before the shift to…