Keeping Idaho Miners Out of Harm’s Way
Posted: Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025
The North Idaho College Workforce Training Center has been a cornerstone of miner safety since 2015, when then-Idaho Gov. Butch Otter designated the college as the state’s U.S. Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration grant recipient.
Since that time, the NIC Workforce Training Center’s MSHA program has trained more than 2,500 individuals, and it continues to serve approximately 400 to 450 participants annually. The program’s reach extends to more than 50 companies, organizations, and municipal agencies, fostering a safer workplace culture across Idaho’s mining industry.
The NIC Workforce Training Center received a $171,417 federal grant from MSHA in November, the center’s ninth annual MSHA grant. This year’s funds, part of a $10.5 million national initiative, will directly support the Idaho Mine Safety Training Program at NIC Workforce Training. Through this program, miners, contractors, and operators across the state receive essential safety training tailored to the unique challenges of underground and surface mining environments.
“Training is crucial to ensuring the protection of miners’ safety and health,” said Assistant Secretary for Mine Safety and Health Chris Williamson in a news release announcing this year’s grant awards. “Every miner deserves to end their shift safe and healthy, and quality educational programs will go a long way toward reducing mining accidents, injuries, and illnesses.”
NIC Workforce Training’s Idaho Mine Safety Training Program covers a wide range of critical topics, including miners’ rights, occupational health hazards, accident prevention, and emergency response. With the federal grant covering 80% of the program’s costs, and non-governmental sources contributing the remaining 20% ($42,854), the program ensures miners receive high-quality education and resources.
NIC Workforce Training MSHA Program Manager Jason James, a veteran of the mining industry with over 30 years of experience, leads the initiative at the NIC center. As an MSHA-approved instructor and a Certified Occupational Safety and Health Specialist, James provides training under Parts 46, 48, and 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations Title 30, which includes MSHA rules, making him a trusted authority in the field. His qualifications also include certifications in First Aid, CPR, AED, and OSHA-authorized training for OSHA-10 and OSHA-30.
“Our goal is to equip miners and operators with the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe on the job,” James said. “Whether you’re new to mining or a seasoned professional, safety is a shared responsibility, and education is the foundation.”
The federal funding supports not only instruction but also the development of student materials, delivery of training sessions, and essential operating expenses. This robust framework allows NIC’s Workforce Training Center to adapt to evolving industry demands and reinforce its mission of safeguarding Idaho’s mining workforce.
In 1978, the first year MSHA operated under the Mining Act of 1977, 242 miners died in mining accidents. In 2022, this number fell to 29 fatalities.
The MSHA’s State Grants Program, which distributes federal grants to 45 states, territories, and tribal nations, underscores the national commitment to continuing to reduce mining accidents, injuries, and illnesses.
NIC’s receipt of this grant highlights the importance of local programs in achieving these goals and ensures Idaho’s miners have access to federally mandated safety education. This not only enhances the lives of individual miners but also strengthens the resilience and sustainability of the state’s mining sector.
For more information about the Idaho Mine Safety Training Program at North Idaho College Workforce Training Center, visit nic.edu/minesafety or contact Allyson Zuk at 208-625-2359 or allyson.zuk@nic.edu.
This program is funded 80% through federal grants, totaling $171,417, with 20% ($42,854) funded by non-governmental sources.
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