The premiere conference on mining safety is EMLF’s annual Safety Seminar. Tyler Fields, Vice Present-Law for Ramaco Resources, describes the Safety Seminar as “a can’t miss event for anyone involved in workplace safety and health law.” This year’s Safety Seminar will be held Wednesday, September 18 and Thursday, September 19, 2024, in Washington, D.C., and will feature a live oral argument of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.
Those who regularly attend the annual Safety Seminar have come to expect informative discussions led by some of the nation’s leading government officials and lawyers in the field of mining health and safety, and this year’s program will be no exception. Program Chair Arthur Wolfson of the Fisher Phillips Firm said, “We’re excited to present different viewpoints on a variety of legal topics related to safety and health. In these interesting times in Washington, the ability to engage on these topics will be invaluable.”
On the first day of the Safety Seminar, Christopher Williamson, the Assistant Secretary for the Mine Safety and Health Administration, will lead off the program by giving an update on MSHA policy priorities. Then, Stanley Keen, Deputy Solicitor for Regional Enforcement, will provide an update on MSHA and OSHA enforcement actions. The opening day’s morning session will be capped off by three additional presentations. First, Commissioner Timothy Baker and Pollyanna Hampton of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, who will talk about recent decisions and pending cases at the Commission. Next, FMSHRC administrative law judges John Sullivan and Michael Young will provide tips on preparing and presenting cases in front of ALJs. Finally, Bob Wilson of the Department of Labor Office of the Solicitor will end the morning session with an overview of last year’s enforcement statistics.
After a lunch break, panels of experts will discuss Section 105(c) discrimination claims, Part 90 compliance issues, MSHA’s new Surface Mobile Equipment Rule, and hot topics in MSHA enforcement and policy.
A reception will follow the substantive program on the first day, giving attendees a chance to relax and network. Ramaco’s Tyler Fields said, “The cordial and collaborative exchange between judges, health and safety professionals, and attorneys from both government and industry is beneficial for our collective efforts to protect the health and safety of our workforces.”
The second day’s program will include an OSHA update by Doug Parker, the Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA and then panel discussions of OSHA hot topics, how to manage Section 110(c) investigations, and MSHA’s brand new Silica Rule, which was issued in April 2024.
The program will culminate with attendees being invited to sit in on a live oral argument of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission in the matter MSHA v. Geneva Rock Products.
The Safety Seminar will be held in the Frances Perkins Department of Labor Building at 200 Constitution Avenue, NW in Washington, D.C. EMLF plans to apply for CLE credit from Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.