The National Mining Association (NMA) represents a diverse range of minerals, materials, equipment manufacturers and business activities in the mining industry. The association supports the responsible production of our abundant domestic coal and mineral resources, recognizing the important benefits these commodities provide. In 2020, the NMA established a CEO-led Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Task Force to examine a wide range of ESG issues and policy positions, including health and safety, and to promote innovative solutions that enhance ESG performance amongst member companies.
The NMA supports industry efforts to prioritize safety in order to achieve zero fatalities, injuries, occupational illnesses, and safety incidents. Providing employees with safe and healthy workplaces creates positive effects throughout the mining value chain. This begins with cultivating a culture of safety throughout the entire operation and promoting the well-being of all employees.
To further these efforts, the NMA encourages companies to actively participate in a safety and health management system that integrates leadership and culture into creating safe and healthy mine environments and sets out a process for continuous improvement and collaboration at all levels of the workforce and management to implement proper safety procedures, processes, and systems. The NMA recognizes that its members utilize company-specific mine safety and health management systems that are effective. The NMA’s CORESafety encompasses this type of safety and health management system and encourages companies to participate.
Furthermore, the NMA supports the innovation and advancement of new technology in the mining industry in order to provide American miners with the safest and most efficient equipment in the world.
When incidents occur, they must be investigated to determine the root cause or causes and apply controls to prevent future occurrences. The NMA also supports public reporting on key performance indicators and metrics associated with health and safety performance, so the mining industry can work collaboratively to improve miner health and safety nationwide.
The NMA supports industry efforts to prepare and respond to pandemics and global health emergencies by working in partnership with public health agencies, local, state and national government agencies, workers’ organizations and others. By so doing, companies can identify and implement operational-level preventative measures that prioritize the health and safety of employees, their families and host communities.