The Joseph A Holmes Safety Association, founded in 1916 to promote health and safety in mining, was named for Dr Joseph Holmes, a mine safety pioneer and the first director of the US Bureau of Mines.
The non-profit organization involves representatives from federal and state governments, mining organizations and labor and will now consist of two organizations – the Holmes Safety Association and the Holmes Mine Rescue Association.
The changes to the association’s constitution and by-laws were approved at its national meeting and training seminar in Virginia Beach on June 6. They allow it to go back to serving the association’s original purpose, according to the Mine Safety and Health Administration.
“We now have a new partner – a national organization to support and provide the necessary guidance for mine rescue,” MSHA assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health, Joseph Main said.
The Holmes Mine Rescue Association will provide a forum for the mine rescue community to collaborate on best practices, procedures and training to enhance rescue capabilities for coal and metal/nonmetal mines. It also will serve as a vehicle to disseminate guidelines, training and tools to the mining community.
“Mine rescue is among the most dangerous and challenging types of rescue work undertaken in this country, and we owe those who volunteer for these high-risk missions the best training and support we can give them,” Main said.
A meeting to establish the executive committee and officers of the new mine rescue organizational component of Holmes will take place on October 29 at the National Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beaver, West Virginia.
