The grants cover training and retraining of miners working at surface and underground coal and metal and non-metal mines, including miners engaged in shell dredging or employed at surface stone, sand and gravel quarry operations.

Grants were awarded based on applications from states, and they are administered by state mine inspectors’ offices, state departments of labor, and state-supported colleges and universities.

Each recipient tailors the program to the needs of its mines and miners – including mining conditions and hazards miners may encounter – and also provides technical assistance.

The state grants program was authorised by the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969. States first received funding to provide health and safety training to miners in 1971.

Assistant secretary of labour for mine safety and health Joseph Main said: “These state grants support the safety and health mission contained in the Mine Act.

“These federal funds will enable miners to better prepare for the task at hand and arm them with the proper knowledge to avoid accidents and injuries.”

In addition to health and safety training, some states use these grants to support their mine emergency response efforts and other Mine Act functions.