N.C. Department of Labor's Mining Star Program is administered through its Mine and Quarry Bureau of the Standards and Inspections Division. The Mining Star Program recognizes and promotes effective safety and health management programs in the mining industry. The Mining Star Program establishes a partnership between management, employees and the N.C. Department of Labor who together implement strong safety and health programs that aim to reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, accidents and fatalities on the job. 

Requirements of the Mining Star Program:

• Management agrees to operate an effective safety and health program that meets established criteria.
• Employees agree to participate in the program and work with management to ensure a safe and healthful work environment. Employees become actively involved in anticipating, recognizing, evaluating and controlling the potential safety and health hazards at the mine site.
• NCDOL verifies that the program meets Mining Star criteria and publicly recognizes the mine’s exemplary program. The Mining Star Program does not exempt mines from MSHA compliance inspections.
• The Mine and Quarry Bureau offers and provides consultation, education and training, and technical assistance to help companies maintain Mining Star status. The bureau also reassesses Mining Star companies every three years to confirm that the mine continues to meet criteria of the program.
• The Mining Star concept recognizes that MSHA enforcement alone can never fully achieve the objectives of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. Good safety management programs that go beyond MSHA standards can protect miners more effectively than simple compliance. Mining Star participants are a select group of sites that have designed and implemented outstanding safety and health programs.

Benefits of being a Mining Star Site:

• Improved employee motivation to work safely, leading to better quality and productivity.
• Reduced workers’ compensation costs.
• Recognition in the community.
• Improvement of programs that are already good, through the internal and external review that is part of the Mining Star application process.

If you have questions or would like to learn more,  contact William Gerringer, bureau chief, Mine and Quarry Bureau, at 919-707-7932 or william.gerringer@labor.nc.gov.