MSHA Reorganizing

{Washington, D.C.}...MSHA chief Joe Main said Wednesday he's reorganizing to strengthen agency accountability and demonstrate its commitment to making sure the nation's miners know their rights. Main says forming the Office of Assessments, Accountability, Special Enforcement and Investigations will help better focus the agency's enforcement tools on the most serious mine safety violators. He's also creating a new deputy director position for that office which will oversee special investigations and special enforcement activities such as the agency's pattern of violations and impact-inspection programs. Main says the move will keep the management and support of the existing MSHA accountability program independent from the agency's mine inspection program. MSHA is also adding specially trained investigators to help with potential criminal and whistleblower cases.