More Mine Safety Labels Get Bureaucratic Review
Published Date: 7/27/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre- clearance consultation program for all information collections, to provide the public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments on the information collection titled "Hazard Communication (HazCom)--30 CFR part 47."
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Mine operators must keep HazCom programs
If you operate a mine, you must develop, implement, and maintain a written Hazard Communication (HazCom) program that lists hazardous chemicals, ensures labeling, keeps Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs), and documents miner training. MSHA reports this information collection covers 18,648 annual respondents, 760,972 annual responses, an annual time burden of 196,914 hours, and annual recordkeeping costs of $77,782.
Trade secret disclosure rules and limits
Operators may withhold a chemical's identity as a trade secret if they can support the claim, but must disclose the identity to MSHA on request and must immediately disclose it to a treating health professional in a medical emergency. For non‑emergency disclosures, requesters must submit a written request and confidentiality agreement; denials must be written with reasons within 30 days and can be referred to MSHA for review.
Workers get free first HazCom copy
Miners and their representatives can request HazCom materials and the operator must provide the first copy and each revision without cost; subsequent copies may be charged but fees must be reasonable and non-discriminatory. MSHA requires operators to make MSDSs accessible during each work shift or at an alternative location readily available in an emergency.
3‑month update and retention deadlines
Operators must update container labels and MSDSs with significant new hazard information within 3 months of becoming aware of it, must retain MSDSs for as long as the hazardous chemical is known to be at the mine, and must notify miners at least 3 months before disposing of an MSDS. Temporary portable containers have specific marking and end‑of‑shift emptying requirements.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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Previous: 2026-15137, Proposed Extension of Information Collection: Examinations and Testing of Electric Equipment
The Department of Labor (DOL), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre- clearance consultation program for all information collections, to provide the public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed collections of information, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is soliciting comments on the information collection titled "Examinations and Testing of Electric Equipment."
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